Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19
CHAPTER XVII.
Which Treats Of Sylvia In q New
Role.


nightmare. Wherever I turned my eyes
Dubois pale face seemed to confront me;
could hear his last words ring over and
over again in my ears. And, as my
senses cleared, I began to understand the
nature Of the trick which had been played
upon me. I was now irrevocably identt-
fed with criminals, branded as a criminal
myself-as the murderer, perhaps, Of one
Of my closest friends. The affair Of the
stolen bonds was as nothing compared to
my present predicament. Anderson had
spoken better than he knew when he had
told me that they would find means Of
forcing me to join their band.
The success of the plot was clearly evil
denced by the satisfied gr1ns OF the men
as they passed me where l lay huddled
up against the bulwark. But they re-
spected my feelings sufficiently to leave
me alone in my misery; and even when
we had landed. they allowed me to stink
off to the hut without appearing to notice
that had gone. 1 washed out the cut on
my head and rebandaged It; then. dead
with fatigue. I crept into bed and slept
the clock twice around.
The next morning. as I wandered out
on the veranda after solitary breakfast.
Pierre, waylaying me. thrust a newspaper
into my hand.
M ieu' Hayward wish me to give you
zis,' he said, in reply to my questioning
look.
For what purpose2
He shrugged. "If m'sieu' will road
1 opened the paper.
MORTON RENFREw TURNED Pr
RATE"
read in capitals three inches long.
"RECOGNIZED LAST NIGHT DURING
DESPERATE RAID ON THE HOME
OF HENRY DUBOIS AT
WOODS HOLE.
Mr.. Dubois Wounded BY His Old College
Mate
And then. In smaller type. the most I'M
portant item Of all:
Mr. Dubois Wound Not Dangerous.
Doctors Hold Out Strong Hopes Of His
Recovery"
I glanced through the lengthy columns
devoted to the case. read over carefully a
more extended account Of Dubois favor
able condition, and gave the paper back
to the Frenchman with a sarcastic smile.
Thank Mr.. Hayward for his Kindness
I said. HE certainly wastes no time In
getting, the newspaper reports OF his
crimes"
1--WE were ashore again las night" the
man explained. ito dispose of ze jewels. :"
Were you successful?'
1--WE have re money
Have you? I've not yet received my
share
Pierre's face frightened. you will join
us, 'sieu'? You will make yourself one
wiz us?"
why, OF COURSE" I laughed. Cant
you see how eager I am at the ideaT"
He caught the hooking tone In my
voice and frowned reprovingly.
"M'sieu Is not serious"
II was never more serious in my life"
/ answered. shortly, turning away.
And, indeed. 1 spoke only the truth.
though not as l meant Pierre to under
stand it. My waking hours since our re-
turn to the island had brought me a clear
realization of the state of affairs. I had
reviewed the situation as well as l could,
had foreseen its exigencies and require
ments. and had determined to face them
sQuarely.x But when 1t had come to the
point Of decision between the only two
courses left open. 1 found myself utterly
unable to choose. If death had been sug-
gested as an alternative, would have &C.
cepted 1t gladly. But I knew only too
we'll that it was to Mr. Hayward's interest
to keep me alive. and 1 Stunned the
thought of suicide as q cowardly act. In
almost literal sense I was between the
devil and the deep sea-
This mood was still upon mo when l
turned away from Pierre, and 1t remained
with me for the rest Of that day. Mr..
Haywards anxiety that I should see the
newspaper article had only made me more
obstinate In my indecision-. If. as his
promptness to show me my position
seemed to indicate, he was In immediate
need of my services, I might be able to
put him Off with some vague promise, and,
In the meanwhile, l could afford to tenn
porize, waiting upon the course Of events
before declaring myself in any way.
But, as day after day slipped by, and
no further attempt was made TO force me
to conclusion, l began to wonder and
then to grow suspicious at the delay. Elk
cept for the fact that the men, when by
themselves. spoke more openly of their
experiences, the surface life of the place
went on with its usual colorless monot-
ony. I was still the we'll fed guest, toll
Grated by the men, treated with unfailing
kindness by Mr.. Hayward But In the
light Of what had passed such good will
seemed merely q clumsy subterfuge. a
thin veil dropped over my eyes to conceal
Interior purposes
But If Mr.. Hayward sought to win me
by fair appearances, Dick stopped to no
such underhand methods. Since our
fracas On the boat he had thrown all re-
straint to the winds, and now seemed to
take peculiar delight in trying to bring
the quarrel to an open rupture He
tainted me to my face, insulted me be-
hind my back-did everything, In fact,
which should have provoked me to anger,
then, finding me impervious to his attack,
he began to utter threats against my life.
was disposed to treat the matter as of
no consequence. but Pierre seemed to view
it in a more serious light.
He has try twice." he said. He may