The Tupelo journal., 1912-08-30

that you'll win out, or do you prefer
to blunder on In your infatuated, bull
headed way and take your chances?"
"But-but-who are you? What do
you know"
I'm the man in the know In this
case. all right. But that's not the
point. I'll explain. and to your salts
faction, later. For the present, the
questions is: VIII you or won't you
trust me?"
Coast made q helpless gesture. Go
on" he said.
Good enough. Now" continued
Applsyard, rising, the first thing to
do 10 to clear out Of this. You get the
anchor up and I'll start the machin-
cry"
"But-"
tut, tut! Leave 1t to me; I'm tho
doctor, and I'm handing you the only
possible prescription, based on an ex-
haustive diagnosis of the symptoms.
ct cetera. And you'd better hump
yourself. AS things stand" the little
man paused to explain with q trace
of Impotence, seeing that Coast made
no move and was on the point OF In
terposing further objections, I'VE have
the advantage of our friends ashore.
We know who they are, but they don't
know us. But II we stick round here
it's only q question Of time before
we're discovered. Whereas, II we fold
our tent and silently beat 1t, we can
return anon (get that 'anon?) and
they'll have less excuse for identity
ing us with the first rash i~ntruders.
Moreover, we shall have had time
to study the situation in detail and
plan our campaign accordingly. i. /.
Now will you get that mud-hook
upr"
He turned his back to Coast and
prepared to uncover the motor, while
his putative employer, mystided and
talked into q condition OF semi-hypno-
sis, silently rose and clambered for
ward.
BY the time he had weighed In the
light snchor and rvtusnsd 20 ths
cockpit. the little engine was trob-
bling busfly and the Echo had begun
to move. Appleyard at the wheel. Inn
perturhAbie, steering By the compass
on ths seat at his side. He nodded sat
isfaction as Coast began to coil the
cable, stih dazed and almost inclined
to credit the p~repostarous situation
to a waking dream.
Good" said the little man. Nov
get below and change-you can't af-
ford to catch your death, standing
round in those dripping rags-and re-
lieve me, that l may do the same.
Furthermore. I'd be glad OF a drop OF
grog. Well talk later"
do you mind telling me where
we're bound?" Coast inquired with
mild sarcasm.
mot at all. This III ought to
take us clear of Devils Bridge" re-
turned the little man helpfully.
Coast was in a more cheerful mood.
too, when he returned, the confidence
and courage of his manner bearing
witness to the restorative power OF
plenty of hot coffee and bacon and
eggs.
"A change has come over the spirit
OF our dream-yes? Appleyard In
quired. Nothing like food on the hui
man stomach to make the skies seem
brighter. Not that 1t seems to AFFECT
this weather any: it's thick as curds.
We ought to pick up that buoy before
long-won't be happy till I get It."
You're sure about this thing?"
asked Coast, perhaps not quite CO
herently. The other seemed to I'M
derstand him, none the less.
"Ab-solut-lully," he returned. i
know where we started from and what
we're aiming for; this Is a perfectly
good compass, SO long as you keep 1t
from flirting with the coil; and I've
made allowance for a lee-tide. You
watch"
Coast sat down. "Well?" he said,
with the air of one no longer to be
denied.
"Wel-l," said the little mar re-
IL you LuuSI hno"
. :" Coast received an amused
glance. Il read the papers"
whats that go to do"
$50, when you were kind enough
to tell me your real name, after your
gallant rescue yesterday morning,
knew at once just who and what you
were
"O!" said Coast, a thought blankly.
Gust so. 1t never occurred to you
that you we're a public character, In
a way? | noticed that. And your lack
of self-consciousness interested me.
Also the aroma of mystery you ex
hale, intrigued (f | may coin the
word) my romantic imagination"
Coast flushed. The deuce it did,"
he exclaimed angrily.
Don't lose your temper-please.
I know I sound impertinent, but |
don't mean to be so; it's just my
temperament makes me such a cut-up.
When l walked up before you
did yesterday, / thought 1t all out,
and l SEE to myself. SEE 1: His biog-
raphy amt half-written yet, and un-
less I'm mistaken something grievous,