American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-04-15

l went to the o water-tOwer and
scanned the movements of the Stiletto
with a glass while l waited. The sloor
was lacking slowly away toward An
Mandate, her skipper managing his
sheet with an expert hand. 1t may
have been the ugly business In which
the pretty toy was engaged. or 1t may
have been the lazy elaboration Of her
oblique progress over the water, but ]
felt then and afterward that there was
something sinister In every line of the
Stiletto. The more I dellberated the
less certain became of anything that
p~ertained to the Holbrooks; and
tested my memory by repeating the
alphabet and counting ten. to make
sure that my wits were still equal to
such exercises.
We drove into Annandale without
incident and with no apparent timidity
on Miss Pats part. Helen was all
amiability and cheer. l turned per
force to address her now and then, and
to find that the lurking smile about
her lips. and a challenging light in her
eyes, woke no resentment In me.
l left Miss Pat and Helen at the
general store while l sought the hard
ware merchant with a list of trifies
required for Glenarm. l was detained
some time longer than l had ex
pected, and In leaving l stood for a
moment on the platform before the
shop, gossiping with the merchant of
village affairs. l glanced down the
street to see II the ladies had ap-
peared. and observed at the same time
my team and wagon standing at the
curb In charge of the driver, just as l
had left them.
While l still talked to the merchant,
Helen came out Of the general store,
glanced hurriedly up and down the
street. and crossed quickly to the post
office. which lay opposite. l watched
her as | made my adieux to the shop
keeper, and just then l witnessed
something that interested me at once.
Within the open door of the ~post-office
the Italian sailor lounged idly. Helen
carried a number Of letters in her
hand. and al she entered the post.
N>t 80 Sot0 a. Ol1S play gu liz
no trick-deftly. almost imperceptibly,
an envelope passed from her hand to
the Italians. He stood immovable. as
he had been, while the girl passed on
into the office She rearpeared at
once, recrossed the street and met her
aunt at the door OF the general store.
| rejoined them. and as We all met by
tho wniffn0 tran fhA Ttaliaa lAf. ~
post-office and strolled slowly away
toward the lake.
| was not sure whether Miss Pat
saw him. If she did she made no sign.
but began describing with much
amusement an odd corptryman she
had seen in the shop.
You mailed our letters. did you,
Helen? Then | believe We have quite
finished, Mr.. Donovan. | like your
little village: I'm disposed 20 love
everything about this beautiful lake.
yes: ever the town hall, where the
Old Georgia Minstrels seem to have
appeared for one night only. some
time last December. is a shrine worthy
OF pilsrimages." remarked Helen. And
postage stamps cost no more here
than in Stamford. Il had really ex-
pected that they would be a trife
de arer."
laughed rather more than was re-
quired. for those wonderful eyes of
hers were filled with something akin
to honest fun. She was proud of her
self. and wGs even flushed the least bit
with her success.