The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-27
(CepyTisht. Isso. by Losis Jeseph vanesl

He could not keep his eyes from
her. Not q detail Of her attitude es-
capped him. not q convulsive movement
OF her hand Tin whose rosy hollow lay
his life and hers) . She stood
unmoving by the table, one hand
touching It for support.
Meanwhile he. heard himself talking.
responding glibly to Blackstock's
testy catechism.
But how the devil'd you get here.
them"
Pure luck. We'd been stuck about
half an hour when a isherman-fel-
low named Wise, from Vineyard Ha-
ven-came along, trying to bent the
storm home. We hailed him and he
iuffed up to us-he could do that with
his boat, q light-draught Cape Cod
cat; and / offered him Q tenspot to
bring me on. You see. / understood
1t was an emergency case. He held
back q bit, but the Sight Of the money
fetched him; and he earned 1t. I
wouldn't take that trip again for q
hundred dollars"
We'll, then . But what's be-
come Of him?"
"Oh, he went back to his boat
said he didn't dare to leave her for
fear she'd drag and come up on the
beach. Besides, he said his wife'd
b fretting about him and he wanted
to be ready to beat back the first
sign of a let up"
II see." Blackstock nodded slow
iy. "You must be pretty well used
up" He laid his hand as II abstract
eddy upon the table beside him, moved
1t to and fro, found the edge of the
whisky tray, and grasped the neck Of
the decanter. You've earned q
drink, Handyside?"
Thank you," he said, "but I'm on
the wagon"
I Blackstock chuckled. That's your
affair" he said. I'm not" There was
a grain of combative bravado in the
latter words. He splashed whisky into
a tumbler and diluted it with a little
water, finding the objects with an
adroitness on a par with that which
had excited A~ppleyard's interest.
&ASoitAy uC odiOs tCAoSiy anu oioAh'
The woman reused herself. Per
haps Mr.. Handyside will sit down."
she suggested in a toneless voice.
Her eyes challenged Coasts. He
looked away, unable to endure their
lpitiful defiance. The drama of her
life had needed but this last heart
rending touch. There r tragedies
In women's life beside which death
itself is triling.
mo, thanks; I'm all wet" He won
dered to hear his own voice SO steady
and in character with his im%persona-
ltion. about done up, too. If you
don't mind, I'd like to turn In"
"r1l show you the way" Black
stock rose. You're to have Powers
room"
Coasts glance was instant to the
swoman's face and found 1t inscrutable.
Did she or did she not suspect? .
Power won't mind?" he asked
quickly; and still she showed no
sign.
"Power!" Blackstock laughed
lharshly. mo, he won't mind" he re-
piled, ironic. Powers gone already.
We had a little falling out and he took
one of my rowboats-the only rowboat
and left, without so much's by-your-
leave; rowed across to the Vineyard,
/ guess. In the fog, too-the poor
fool. Serve him right if he got car,
ried out to sea and was never heard
of again-the hound!"
And still Katherine's expression
evinced no indication that she under
stood.
You don't seem to like Power
much" Coast suggested uneasily.
mo, | didn't like the dog" he said,
measuring a drink with the same III
canny accuracy, his prominent and
ssightless eye seeming to watch the
liquor mount in the glass. He was
"a surly devil with a devils temper.
One of my servants-Chinese are the
only kind we keep in a place like this
tried to prevent him from taking the
boat, and Power turned on him and
nearly Drained the poor fellow with
n rock. We missed him and after a
long search found him ~insensible
down on the beach. He's been out of
Ibis head ever since-delirious. You
may hear him during the night. Hope
he won't keep you awake"
He set down an empty glass.
"It takes q deal to keep me awake
when my minds set on sleep" Coast
aevaded. I'm sorry about Powers
misbehaving, though"
well, profit by his example, and
don't mix in matters that don't con-
.cern you-here, at any rate" said
5Blackstock insolently. "Kate!"
Coming" The woman r~eappeared'
81 couldn't find your cane" she said,
Al she crossed to the man. A CLEAN
of white, a slip OF white paper be-
tween the fingers of her left hand
caught Coasts attention. He sought
her eyes and found them meaningful.
With a word OF grudgfng acknowl.
edgment Blackstock took his hat and
stick. "Come along, Handyside. We
won't need a light; light hasn't any