The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18


body and distraught in mind, but she
summoned a half laugh at his words.
You are still saying the wrons
thing. Mr.. Hozier," she murmured.
''The Andromeda will not put iIro
Queenstown. From this hour becOGia
q passenger, not stowaway. My un.
Gle knows now that | am here. Than;
you. You need not hold me any Ions
er. l have quite recovered CaptCin
Coke Is on the bridge, you said? CTH
find my way. This ship is no stran"cr
TO me-
Arl away she went. justifying he"
statements by tripping rapidly FL.
ward. The mere sight Of her crea -
boundless excitement among su.E
members of the crew as were on &c t.
When she reached the hriG.sr. VIII
Captain Coke was propped against the
chart house. y she had lost a good deal
OF the pall,'~ and woebegone semblance
that had demoralized Hozier.
Coke heard the rapid. light footsteps
and turned his head. Certainly he
could not have been more stupefied
had he seen the ghost reported over
night.
''They told me I should find you
here, captain" said she. 81 must apol-
ogize for thrusting my company on
you for a long voyage, but-circum-
stances-were-too much for me
and
Face to face with the commander of
the ship and startled anew by his ex-
preston Of blank incredulity, the glib
flow Of words conned so often during
the steadfast but dreadful hours spent
I'm the lazarette failed her.
"You know me-" she faltered. 81 am
Iris Yorke."
Not a syllable came from the ira te
and astonished man gazing at her
with such bovine stolidity. His shoui-
ders had not abated fraction Of their
stubborn thrust against the frame of
the chart house. His hands were i'm
movable I'm the pockets of his REFER
coat. Had he wished to terrify her by
a hostile reception he could not have
succeeded more completely. though. to
be just. he meant nothing of the sort.
his wits being jumbled into chaos by
the apparition of the last person then
alive whom he expected or desired to
see on board the Andromeda.
But Iris could not interpret his mood,
and she strove vainly to conquer the
fear yelling up In her breast because
Of the grim anger that seemed to blaze
at her from every line Of Coke's brick
red countenance. In the struggle to
pour forth the excuses and protesta-
tions that sounded so plausible In her
own ears, while secured from observa-
ton behind the locked door Of her re-
treat. she blundered unhappily on to
the very topic that she had resolved to
keep secret.
"Why are you so unwilling to ac-
knowledge me" she cried, with a
nervous Indignation that lent a tremor
to her voice. "You have met me often
enough. You saw me on Sunday at
my uncle's house."
"Did II" said Coke, speaking at last.
but really as much at loss for some
thing to say as the girl herself He
had recognized her instantly. just as
he would recognize the moon if the
luminary fell from the sky and with
as little comprehension Of the cause of
its falling.
or course she took the question as a
forerunner Of blank denial This was
not to be borne. She fired into a di-
rect attack.
IF your memory Is hazy concerning
hn ~ aftn a.
be helpful IL / recall the conversation
between my uncle and you In the sum.
mer house." she snapped.
Some of the glow fed from Coke's
face.
"Wot's that you're sayin'" demand
ed Coke, coming nearer and looking
her straight In the eyes.
81 heard every word Of that interest
ing talk" she continued valiantly. II
know what you arranged to do, so I
have promised-tO marry Mr. Bulmer-
when the Acknowledgements backw
A light broke on Ccke's intelligence
that irradiated his prominent eyes.
His heavy lips relaxed into a cunning
grin.
"Oh. is that it?' he said. "Artful
old dog, Verify But why in-why
didn't e tell me you was comm
aboard this trip? We 'aventt the right
fixin's for lady. SO you must put up
with the best we can do for you, Miss
Yorke. Steady. now You amt a-goin'
TO faint. are you? HI! Below tberer'
he yelled. Tumble up, some OF your'
Hozier was the first to gain the
bridge. He had followed the progress
Of events with sufficient accuracy tn
realize that Miss Iris Yorke had met
with distinct rebuff by the skipper,
and, judging from his own experience
Of her physical weakness when she
emerged into daylight, he was not sur
| prised to hear that she had tainted.
Ere. take old" gurgled Coke, who
had nearly swallowed the cigar In his
eurprise at Iris' unforeseen collanse