The evening world., 1911-05-13

oerOre. 4 was now beyond IL,
In uch a chaos of puzzled
hat j could not even
- think reasonably. much less
come to sensible conclusions.
The italian sailor with his impos-
sfble charge against Mr.. Tabor. and Mr..
Tabor's " impossible charge against
me. were new elements which might o.
might not work into tho situation: but
at least ! could not place them now; nor,
FOR want OF q motive that would bear
dissection. was I ready to confess my
desire to stay on the ground until
! had seen the matter through.
l would go away to the sanity Of the
seaside and give the vexations Of tho
last few days time to clear. The whole
experience had been SO strange that I
must have moro perspective through
which to view II clearly. and I could
see nothing to gain by haste. For all
that. i was perfectly clear that at
length everything must come out right.
Not that I could define to myself ex-
actly what Coming u right would
mean. except making Mr.. Tabor admit
himself outraseously mistaken. and his
daughter-but Il was better not to
VI pou MS uduButcTs unleSS Il was
ready to risk thinking too much about
her.
The very memory OF her Vivid face
IN the car window. Of her quizzicai i'm
p~ertinences on the way, the sight Of
her lying motion,ess In the unnatural
meadow. and most poignant of all. her
distressed and shrouded beauty In the
dim hall. lit up the last few hours as
!, With The glamour OF q dream broken
AsAA.a,s "a, - -A~... -
un~convincfnG. She must be put aside.
u possible. with tho res until I could
see clearly. Bob Ainslie and Mrs. Bob.
boating. bathing. golf. and tennis.
should be my devouring interests for
the next week. After that-we should
~.
For . couple OF miles my car travelled
Through open country: then with tho
Sound on Its left. passed through small
wooded patches that gave way continu-
ally 70 opsn giades where lawns from
little cottages n great ran down to
the waters edge. My destined hostelry.
remembered. fourished under the
original name OF Bellevue. ! did net
especially pine for 1t. with It's green
lined mating. white enamelled furniture.
and chattering p~iazxas: but It had the
unQuestionable advantage Of being only
Q couple of hundred yards from the
Ainsiie's cottage.
There I hurried into my anneis and
set forth in search OF Bob. whom I
found playing the gentle game OF cro-
quet with himself, the pink ball against
the green. When he saw me he gave q
viking whoop that brought Mrs. Ainslie
from her chair upon the 'veranda. while
:. he executed a solemn w~sr-dance around
me.
''Why, how do you do. Mr.. Crosby"
said Mrs. Ainslie. Bob, what on earth
will the neighbors think OF you?'
Laurie. where Is that bag? Or heaven
f! grant It be a trunk"
ITS a bag" l said. land ! left It in
my room at the Bellevue. and a very
good room 1t is"
Observation-Disclosures Bob snorted. you
60 back to that whited c~aravansary
n wrest away your belongings and
come over here. We are going to have .
house party In a couple of days, and
We need you in our business. Your
room is now southeast corner second
floor. beautiful View OF the Sound or
within sound Of the view-whichever
you please
you are an idiot. but I love you"
said I. Nevertheless. Tn going to
I where I am. Can't he bothered
with house parties. came down here
for some exercise
IT think you look tired" Mrs. Ainslie
put in ~thoughtfully.
"He looks sulky TO me-" said Bob.
"All light, stay where YOU are until
YOU feel the need OF a decent bed, Bet
I can beat you at croquet and give YOU
two wickets."
''You are a fattening, lndolent per-
SON. I said. "What I want, and what
you stand in crying need OF. is exer-
else and ! dragged him off to tbs
hotel tennis courts.
was very sure in nv own mind that
] wanted the scuffllng solitude OF a
hotel. Ny temper felt unsettled. and
the last people in the world | wanted
to meet were q lot OF conversational
visitors. Bob had a hard future cut
out for him. and indeed for three days
j led him a life that must have nearly
killed him. Perhaps he may have
scented some trouble behind my un-
usual energy, for he stuck to me like a
man, losing to me at tennis. heating
me in long games Of golf. bathing with
me In the morning and taking an oar
as we rowed Mrs. Be- about In the
evening,
Miss Tabor had spoken OF a coming
visit, but Of course after the disturb
|. ances In her home she would have aban-
, doned all plans. And ] certainly did not
care TO start the banterlng food of
: questions which | knew Bob could no
! restrain should ! show even the mildest
curiosity about her coming. And yet
she came.
had come over prepared to drag
Bob TO the altar of another strenuous
day. and I found her sitting alone on
the veranda as quietly at ease as though
nothing had happened. ] was not even
sure that she looked tired certainly she
looked serene. She stood up and shook
hands with me smilingly. ! thought the
blue veins throbbed a trife In her
throat. but her manner was frankly free
from embarrassment.
you are getting a very seaside color,
J air. Crosby" she said. Your vacation
must be agreeing with you"
could not answer for a moment;
then. as she drew her hand from mine.
what have l done?" / stammered.
"What was It all about? Did you too
really believe
I stopped. for she was looking coldly
rsst me. her face blank and her eye
brows raised.
u beg your pardon" I said. taken