The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-21


Coasts tone was o perfection Of 20
Ete surprise. Surely" It seemed to
say, "you must've been looking for
mel" Distrusttng deliberately art-
flcial infections, he was at pains TO
speak crisply, as was not his habit:
such being the only way he could
think Of TO disguise his voice. He
was watching Blackjack closely. alert
for q sign Of recognition In the mans
expression. Somewhat to his surprise
he detected none Il got orders 10
come here and relieve Power last
night" he continued. "Came down
this morning TO New Bedford and
The words frose upon his lips A
door to his left had opened; Katherine
stood there. watching. listening. Ap-
parently she had started to enter
without any suspicion that her has
band was not talking TO one Of the
servants, and in her astontshment
had stopped. The figure Of the man
by the door could not but be strange
10 her. masked Is its every line and
contour was BY clumsy and 6t1ess
oilsktns and the deep shadow cast By
the broad turned.down brim Of q sou'.
wester. Yet Coast thought 20 discern
q death1ess apprehension IN her pose.
q mute but Infinitely pttifu1 question IN
her eyes. And his heart stood stu,
for the crucial instant was tnminents
IN another minute two at most, she
would know him. And than :?
'well2" Blacistock reused him.
''what you stopping fort I'm listen
tng!"
81 beg pardon" Coast tugged at
the button ON the chin-strap Of his
sou'wester. '"The lady Ehere I
didn't know
Blackstock turned his head impar
tiently, moving his s1gEtiess eyes IN
the direction Of Katherine. %Oh," he
said, my wife"
The woman moved quickly into the
room. Eyes," she said. still with her
eyes to the stranger. ct Is !, Dong
las. / didn't know fancied one OF
the servants :"
This is Mr.. Handyside," Blackstock
told her sharply, as # irritated by the
interruption; hes to take Powers
place"
Coast removed his sou'wester and
came forward O pace, 20 that the light
was strong upon his face Yes,
ma'am." he said, I'm the new opera
tor. How d'you do?" He contrfved
to keep his tone coolly respectful and
impersonal, but his eyes were plead
ing with her, and he hung upon the
Issue Of her response as q condemned
maa lives IN the hope Of repr1eve.
She knew him now; his action In
discovering hts features had but
FASTENED slightly the confirmation OF
her most dread premonition. And OF q
sudden her face was q mask Of chalk
set with eyes that blazed with cold
fires Of terror. Coast saw her sway,
but though he feared she was about
to faint, dared not move to her as
aistance. Indeed. there was no need;
she was fashioned of sterner stun;
though every atom Of her being shud-
dered, she remained mistress OF her
self. An instants delay would have
been damning; she knew that t.
and her answer fell pat as he ceased
to speak.
sGood evening" she said so admira-
bly, that there was even q htntrof ham
guild indifference in her voice. you
have surprised US, Mr.. Handyside."
Lord, yes!" Blackstock broke IN.
Its hard to believe. D'you mean to
tell me you made the run through this
Storm"
The blood flowed back into Coasts
heart. He flashed the woman a look
of thanks, but her gaze was blank as
It met his, and he knew that as yet
she existed and guided her actions au-
Dramatically. The real awakening to
the situation was yet to come-nOr
with her would II be long delayed.
The crisis was not yet past.
Well" he said, with a careless
half-laugh, I'm here, you see. II is
q blow, that's a fact. Had me
frightened; I've seen some storms
but they were from the decks, OF
steamships" He began to unfasten
the oilskin coat. Lucky to get here
at all, guess"
that's true, or I'm no judge OF
weather. I wonder you managed to
get Finn and Hecksher to take the
chance"
They didn't want TO-" Coast Of
fered UP q fervent prayer of gratitude
for the fortuitous turn of the CONVEX
sation that had supplied him with the
names of Mr.. Handyside's travelling
companions. But was told to hustle
because Power was leaving you prac-
tically without notice, so insisted.
OF course the fog held us NJ = morn
Ing; and then we had TO have an ac-
cident"
"How's that?" Blackstock sat down
heavily, still with bis staring eyes
turned toward Coast, his face clouded
with thoughtfulneas. Where are
they, anyway" he continued without
pause, as one reminded Of an over
sight. n-Hecksher-why aren't
they with you?"
ooh, they're all right" Coast par
ried, making time for Katherine,
whose struggle to retain her poise
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