Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-15
CHAPTER XVIu-Continued

1 ness. half jungle. that marked the beach
| he delayed his anxious footsteps. going
| more cautiously and with eyes jealous to
| reconnoiter the sweep OF sea and sand
and sky that was momentarily more
| widely revealed
Suddenly. with an exclamation. he step
ped boldly out into open sunlight. cup
ped hands to mouth and sent a hail ring
ing out over the waters.
| "Aho-o-oy.'' he shouted, at the full
strength of his lungs
From a stocky. lead-colored steam
launch, fairly we'll filled with men in
livery Of white. which was just then ne
gotiating the entrance to the lagoon
picking its way warily at half. speed
there came an answering hail.
He fingered for an instant in semi-con-
| fusion, straining his vision in futile at
tempt to single out or recognize fa-
miliar figure among those on board the
bOat-as yet too far away for any one OF
| it's occupants to wear distinction from
| his fellows - discovered. with stupid
wag OF his head. the British flag Tapping
| Imply at the little vessels stern; then,
with a swing OF his arm, turned back 10
| go to Cynthia.
He found her almost at his elbow
| just within the sheltering shadow of the
trees.
Il COOldnt walt. Sne SAID. DredtnleSSly
what Is it? What does il mean
Its a launch from an English battle
ship IL I'm not mistaken he told her.
1T means-well. the winding UP of all this
| nonsense. That message | made Thur
low send must have caught on, for here's
| a rescue-prompt to the minute-by all
that's wonderful,
You're sure?' she countered. fearful
| to believe.
"Sure? OF course I'm sure. There
1a,, hot Off ha
Orion or the Cynthia-there couldn't have,
been. naturally. This is no trick OF theirs
nor Of misfortunes either. I'll go bail
if that's what you mean.' Crittenden rat
tied, excitedly. Dear girl said he.
more soberIy, quoted by his tender care
for her. Il am SO glad for you!
But come; we haven't any time to waste:
they'll be here i'm another five minutes,
and we don't want to keep EN- waiting
or ourselves on this COMPOUNDED. blessed
island a minute longer than We have to-
He started of at a rapid stride back
toward the spot where he had bade Gym
thia await him: she by his side. trotting
to keep up, divided between laughter and
tears. relief and curiosity.
But why back?' she insisted. in a
gasp. why don't We wait here?"
ITO get Nine Savaran's jeweIry." he
replied. in needless precipitance.
ITO get what?'
"Of COURSE he cried, apologize. real
izing her ignorance OF all he knew.
forgot to tell you when you woke i
hadn't time. really. you know. They're
here, you see-yes. really, on this very
island. You brought them ashore with
you this morning.
81 brought them ashore-I?' demanded
Cynthia. in thorough amaze. She halted.
impeach his reason. Il did nothing of
the sort, Bruce. What are you talking
about?'
They were already returned to the
glade where Crittenden had watched over
her in her sleep. He, too, had paused.
standing over the lifebelt Cynthia had
worn. while he made his explanation.
But you did, he persisted, with
boyish laugh of enjoyment of her Won
der You didn't know it, but you did.
In this" He bent and lifted the lifebelt.
with its empty pockets. together with the
two tin boxes he had removed there
from. Adkins idea. Read this he
said. offering her the slip of paper he
had found beneath the bandages and
medicine.
Cynthia read with widening eyes that
laughed with animation. delight and ad
miration Of the stewards ingenuity:
These two boxes contain Nine. Sa-
varan's jewelry. Please bury or hide
them i'm a safe place Immediately You
read this. had meant to bring them
ashore myself, If necessary, but ] am
poor swimmer. Mime. Savaran under
stands. Don't worry il left behind by
relief without delay. probably arriving in
the course of this day"
Clever bit of work, that, don't you
Think" asked Crittenden, when Cynthia
looked up from the note.
Almost too clever for Acklin." said
the girl, with a smile deprecating her
wonder. 81 hardly understand it yeti
mean. 1 find it hard to believe. Who is
Acklin. anyway? And why did Nine
Savaran trust him with her JEWELS
Had to trust somebody, and a steward
would be the last person to be suspected
of being in her confidence" Crittenden.
having hastily replaced the precious tin
cases in the pockets of the lifebelt, swung
it over his shoulder. Still" he admit
ted. as side by side they hurried back
to the beach. lit doesn't seem exactly
In character. 1 grant you. l begin to
have grave suspicious Of Mr.. Acklin. OBJ
serve his failure to sprain his spelling
or the king English either, for that
matter. He seems triie too ubiquitous
and persistently helpful. In short he
begins to wear a startling resemblance
to the god out of this machine
1T has struck me once or twice." Gym
thia suggested. that his accent was a
wee bit too careful-a trife overdone.'
Whereas true British accent is
rare thing-and precious one?" Critten-
den laughed light-heartedly. True for
you. However. We'll soon know every
thing good for us to know. Now, them"
They broke for the last time from the
Sllelterlng trees, and Tor the last time
trod those incredible, painted sands.
Before them, on the incredible, painted
waters, the duli-gray launch like an
ugly duckling, was floating without per-
ceptible motion, its engine stilled. its en-
sign dropping in lazy, stirless folds.
Half way between II and the shore a
tender was driving i'm at the vigorous
propulsion of four long oars, worked by
two sturdy, Whitehead oarsmen. In the
stern were two passengers. one a youth
ful-looking, we'll set-up officer of his maj
esty's navy. the other an understood.
round-shouldered little figure of a man
in a stewards white coat and nondescript
trousers. little man whose carriage and
sharp but friendly grin were peculiarly
Acklin's and not to be mistaken
BY the time Cynthia and Crittenden
had reached the waters edge the sailors
had shipped their oars and the dinghy
was gliding in over the rapidly shoaling
waters. AS the keel grated the oarsmen
jumped out. bare legs spashing and
Selling the thwarts ran the bows we'll up
on the dry beach.
The officer rose, stepped forward. and
jumped out cap in hand. with clear eyes
in a bronzed face flashing admiration of
Cynthia.
Miss Grayce. believer he said. pleas
antly. with the clear and individual
enunciation of the British. And Mr..
Crittenden?" He bowed to the one, for
mally, and. with more Of a suggestion of
impulsiveness, extended his hand to the
other. I'm glad to meet you, SIR he
said, as Crittenden's palm touched his.
"Mr Macklfn has heen telling me- tho