The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-15

baby; and Ronald, muttering, "Ye es, suppose so, Smithers," passed OF, but not before Smithers had remark ed casually and with quiet cheerful ness:
 Well, whatever it is, sir, I'm ready for it, as the starvin' man observed when he saw the basin O soup."
 That same evening, when Vane and Ronald were at dinner, Ronald said, ''There is nearly a full moon tonight. feel like taking the boat and row ing over to one of the other islands Care to come?"
 Vane declined-said he was tired; and little later Ronald went off by himself. As he was starting, Vane called to him, "Got a revolver?"
 ''No," replied Ronald, with some surprise.
 Better" said Vane gravely. "You might come across some one, though it's not very likely. Don't forget that we're in Sicily and an out-of-the-way part of it, and that the people are not particular when they are dealing with strangers. The knife first and the word afterwards is the motto of some of these gentry
 Ronald laughed, but he loaded Q revolver and stuck it away in his beach, where Snithers was taking a stroll and enjoying pipe after his culinary labours.
 Shall I come and row you sir? % he asked; but Ronald declined his services.
 There are certain times when one is desirous of solitude; and this moon lit night Ronald felt that he would like to be alone, to forget the buried treasure, if such forgetfulness were possible, and think of his old home. of his London life, which seemed so distant and so misty now of Evelyn yes, and of the girl whom he had seen at the mill on the moor. It struck him as strange that he should
 
 wondered why he had done so, and wondered still more at the fact that he remembered so wildly the girl and the scene in which he had taken a part.
 He rowed slowly, easily, across to the nearest island; but, obeying some whim, did not land there, but pulled on to a smaller island lying behind the larger one. He found suitable landing-place, ran the light dinghy up the sandy beach, and, drawing her out of reach of the tide, sauntered inland. There were a few clouds that now and again obscured the moon, but there was was always light enough for him to see his way be- dergrowth.
 Suddenly, so suddenly that he al- most started, he saw a fgure-which must have been either seated on the trunk of fallen tree, or lying on the ground-raise and stand in the uncertain light. Instinctively he crouched down, and his hand went to his revolver; then, to his surprise, he saw that it was a women. She was standing quite still, ard looking in his direction. It was evident to Ronald that cautious as his move ments had been, she had heard him. He considered the position for a mo- ment. She might approach him, and, if she did so, would be suspic- ious if she found him crouching in the undergrowth. It would be better to put a bold and innocent expression on his presence.
 He waited until the moon was ob- scured again, then rose and approach ed her. She had stood quite still and Ronald. raising his cap, said, with careless courtesy, in Italian-they were amongst the few words he had picked up:
 Good evening, signor1na!"
 He saw the girl start-for it was a girl, tall and slim and graceful she turned her head; and Ronald stopped short, stod stock still, and gazed at her in wild astonishment.
 For here, on this out-of-the-way island, was the girl of the mill on the moor!