Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-23
CHAPTER Y
CONTRETENTPS

strategic position IN the rear OF the
young man. whose wits just then
were all with his vision. wandering
fndoiently over the distances OF sea
that shone like a sheet OF sapphirine
satin. softly undulant Mr.. Critten-
deur'-and there was a brave ring or
Indignation in her accents, when he
faced her. startled. II want 20 know
what you mean by IT." she declared.
and held her chin high and ciasped
her hands behind her. meaning him TO
infer she would not shake hands until
he had explained himself.
But there were incorrigible irnps in
her eyes 10 give the lie to her show
OF ire: and as ne recovered from the
surprise Crittenden's slow smile deep
ened indulgently.
How dyou dor he inquired. with a
bow OF quaint punctillO. I'll be only
too glad 70 have the privilege OF max
ing plain what 1 mean by whatever-it-
maybe. But" he added, his
eyes openly critical. you're so changed
every day-one hardly knows you
Us that the reason you've been avoid
ing me all day" demanded the young
woman with spirit
Avoiding your he repeated in a
tone so whimsically persuasive Of in
jured innocence that Cynthia laughed
outright.
ImpulsiveIy she whipped a hand from
concealment and placed it in his. u
am glad 70 see you" she said, en-
phatically, though / have got every
reason in the world TO be displeased
with you"
But Why he insisted. dropping her
hand with more reluctance than he
permitted TO be apparent either to Gym
thia or TO the observast Senior Persez
AS for himself. II indicted for that re-
honest plea OF not guilty.
FOR dereliction OF duty" Cynthia
fmpeached him; for gross discour-
tesy and for plain. downright unkind-
ness"
awhewr' Crittenden whistled. dis
mayed DO you mind giving me a
bill OF particulars7 I'D no idea l was
so hopelessly uncivilized."
Very we'll" Cynthia backed up to
the rail- and recxoned the several counts
upon the tips OF her fingers. "Dere-
nction or duty: because as purser yOu
should look after your passengers: and
you haven't taken enough interest to
ind out whether we were comfortable
or not DiscourteSy: because you
should have done 50 anyway, ex officio.
Unkfndness: because you haven't given
me the ghost OF q chance-till now
70 thank you and tell you how happy
i
which ! wouldn't be but for you.
sFm sorry" he said penitently-
sorry, I mean. that I've been so busy
trying 10 be a regular purser. ever
since I came aboard. that hadn't taken
the time for this-this talk with you
that I've been looking forward TO all
day. Honestly I have. only"
Go on; I'm rapidly becoming plaza
ted" said Cynthia demurely.
g. 81
matter is. he confessed. Il would not
be here myseyf. II it wasn't for you.
had no idea you were to sail with
US until nearly midnight-long after
you had come aboard and. 1 presume.
were asleep. You see, all yester-
day I was in two minds about this
business: first / was for il, end then
again I thought perhaps I'd better try
a bit longer TO stick il out at the old
stand Finally. late last night some
thing brought me 20 the point Of max
ing the trip to Brooklyn TO ind out what
il was all about Then Rhode got hold
OF me-and-weIl. he'd set his heart
on having me- don't in the least know
why. I was trying to insist on being
let in on the know mean. told what
all this was about-and he was just as
determined he wouldn't tell; and in the
end he ciinched the matter for me by
informing me you were on board-you-"
Crittenden amended hastily, with Me d
anne Savaran and her maid
DO you mean me 10 understand you
gave in on my account alone2 demanded
Cynthia Of the straightforward eyes.
There must be no hint Of nonsense
between them; she had made up her
mind on that point
That's about the truth Of the mat
ter he conceded I felt responsible.
in . way-having been the agent-un-
conscious enough-who involved you
fn-well. whatever all this nonsense Is
about"
His earnestness impressed the girl
Then you. too. really think there's
something under the surface-T
Crooked" he gave her the final
word-cant OF the hour. like many OF
ITS kin. inevitable in its expressiveness
Yes. do think-Td hope not but I'm
sure OF it-there's crooked work at the
bottom OF this. Everything points that
way"
and thereu be danger"
Il don't know. Perhaps not-proba-
bly, not I was afraid at first there
might be"
'sWhat7"
~Weli-hlibustering-g running for
some South American revolutionary
junta- But don't take much stock in
mat now. I've ndu NAiIle 10 w d NIT
thinking and looking about since 1
Joined the ship. and-well. matters don't
lock that way. for a number of rea-
sons"
You don't mind telling me-"
Certainly 1 don't To begin with.
there's little incentive for gun running
Just now. Things are quiet all down
the coast It's funny. but it's so.
There's not even a cloud the traditional
Bizs Of a mans hand on the political
horizon. And then-as nearly as / can
make out. and I'm in a position TO
rnow, being purser-we're not carrying
guns or ammunition The manifests
show practically nothing that could dis
Euise that sort Of thing. We carry
practically no machinery. The cargo's
rich one-suspiciously rich 10 my
nind-but all goods OF a domestic
slass. Finally. Rhode has pledged me
ais word we're not flibusters; that
wouldn't mean so much. perhaps, with
put the burden OF proof in its support
Hes probably telling the truth"
az see" said Cynthia slowly. intent
follow his exposition But still one
must believe there's something wrong!
'-you can't get away from It." Crit
tendcn declared. ITS in the air; the
ship fairly smells of IL. To besin
with. A. as they've. been pretending,
he Cynthia were really being taken
delivery n Argentina