The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-13
APT XII.

the navigable channel, near the Ma
shawena shore, about midway of the
passage between Vineyard Sound and
Buzzard's Bay; and within ten min
utes OF the time her anchor splAshed
over her bows, Mr.. Appieyard. his
plans formulated and communicated
to Mr.. Coast, was noisily asleep In
the oabin-entoying a rest wnicn
Coast, for all his own WEAKNESS OF
body and mind, could not begrudge
him.
For six hours the younger man
stood a lonely watch, companioned
only by the melancholy voice OF the
bell buoy OF the southern entrance.
a sound, the most fororn and dreaSy
known to man, which came ftfully to
his earns in the occasional lulltng OF
the wind.
AS six bells sounded Appleyard
hoped on deck, ~yawning and rubbing
his eyes, but with a light in the lat
ter, as soon as he permitted them to
lbe seen, and a springiness In his
movements which testified to the re-
freshing soundness of his slumbers.
"Howdy?" he chirruped. Nothing
alarming turned up, en-"
mot a thing" said Coast.
Good enough. Don't look for EN-
till evening. When'd this lull set in?'
Coast informed him. That's all
right; fit in with their plans; they'd
rather make q landing In the dark,
anyway"
"What difference would that
make"
Not much; only the fewer boats
touching at No Mans Land, he less
attention attracted. l s'poSe you
know there's a life saving station on
Gay Head? Sure; and part OF It's ]oo
Is to keep a list of everything that
passes by, from a rowboat to a coast
wise liner"
"Of course; bullock here, Apple
yard" Coast paused, doubt tinting
his tone.
"Sir, to you?"
There's one thing been troubling
me. 1t seems to me we're taking a
lot for granted. OF course, to begin
with, l was only too keen to believe
the worst of Blackstock. But, serious
iy, what warrant have you for believ-
ing he's mixed up with this smuggling
gamer"
Appleyard rubbed his nose refiec-
lively WELL" he drawled, grinning,
ST haven't got any ~sure'nough good
excuse, | admit. l Just know it's so.
That's all"
But"
whats Blackstock sticking out
there for? Not because he likes 1t,
you can bet; not solely because he's
afraid OF getting caught-for he set
tied on No Mans Land before Dun
das come through with his COMES
sion; not because he would be safer
In some corner of the world across
the water"
\ ST told you his wife said"
"She said precisely what he old
her. Naturally. Probably believes it.
Rot,! The real reason is the
reason why he dropped his remit
tances to Dundas; because he's broke,
and down, and desperate-ready to
turn his hand to anything to earn a
dishonest dollar. And this jobs ideal
for his purposes" Appleyard wound
np triumphantly.
But" Coast argued, "she has
money.
"How do you know"
"At least. her aunt had, and it was
to go to her"
"But did it? I'll lay you a hand
some a that either she never got
it or it wasn't much anyway and
BIackstock managed to run through
it with the customary facility OF
scoundrels of his class. +.
Don't talk to me: I tell you. know a
lot OF things for certain that | don't
know for sure; and this is n or
EN-. And now If you'll just
kindly quit finding fault with my un-
impeachable management of this at
fair, and duck below and pound your
ear for a couple Of hours, or until !
call you, you'll be In much better
shape for what's before you this
might"
Coast, soothed by the swash OF
waves and the softly modulated toll
1sng of the distant buoy, presently
6oxe6 OF; nor did he wake until Ap
Icleyard shook his shoulder several
hours later.
He started up in some perturbation
with that singular flutter OF the
heart that men sometimes walker tc
face a crucial hour.
'sWell-?' he asked, half dazed.
''Tfme," returned Appleyard cooily
-aThey're just about to stand in round
Lone Rock. Come on deck"
His small head and narrow shout
ders were momentarily silhouettee
against q violet-shaded square OF SKY
that filed the companion opening
xnen disappeared. Coast realizing
from the twilight within and withou'
that the hour was late, followed viii