The Washington herald., 1912-06-23
CHAPTER VI.
An opportune ArrivaI.

~ II
wv his head pillowed by many
W cushions, Rowan lay in 1
long invalid chair at the edge of the Lit.
tie strip Of shingle which separated the
tower of Rakney from the sea. Every
limb was at rest every nerve seemed
lulled into quiescence. The sun and
wind had left their traces upon his hol-
low cheeks, 1t seemed, indeed, as
though Death had lifted her hand from
his forehead II was only when one
looked closer that one realized his ter
rible weakness, realized how slender
indeed, the thread was BY which he held
on to life. There was scarcely breath
of wind stirring. The sun was high
IN the heavens, and the whole country
seemed lulled into state of almost I'M
natural repose. The distant trees were
motionless, as though, indeed, they
were simply painted things against that
background of deep blue sky. The
tages crept upward, straight as a ruled
line. The cattle in the fields seemed all
asleep, exhausted by the unexpected
heat. The sea was like a lake, unruf-
fed, almost unrippled.
his side, with her eyes fixed steadily
and yet absently upon the distant hori-
zon. A week, at most. the doctor had
given him, and after that-what? She
looked backward to the window-the
window through which she had entered
on that wild night earlier in the year
She looked away again uneasily. She
was afraid of such moments as these
IN Ak-N L.
had protested so veheRently against
their accepting Deane's offer Of his cot
tage.
At low tide, a rough, pebbly road led
from the village to the cottage, as well
as the dyke footpath higher up. Along
this came two people, a man and a wo-
tance, but rapidly becoming more and
more evident They walked fast, and
they looked always anxiously toward
the tower, which stood out at the end
of the road against the background of
the sky-a curious, almost uncanny, sort
of building.
IF they see US coming" said Ruby
Sinclair, they will certainly try to pre-
vent our seeing him. Our only chance
is to COME upon them Unexpectedly.
They can watch the dyke path from the
front, but few people ever come by this
road. II winds about so, and it is gen.
orally thick with sea mud"
B., The man nodded. He. too, was keep
ing his gaze fixed in a strained manner
upon their goal. Now that we are so
near" he said, so near to him, we will
make him speak We will not be driv-
en- away. He cannot escape from US
there"
There was a curious air of determina-
ton about these two, a certain grim
ness which seemed common to both of
them, as they hurried along the rough,
stone-strewn road. They had reached
the last hundred yards now, and their
course was perfectly straight. They
walked single file along the little stretch
of marshland which served as a foot
path.
He is in front, lying on a chair" she
whispered They won't be able to get
him in now before we are there"
The road terminated suddenly upon
the beach The man and the girl scram-
bled up a little shingly mound When
at last Winifred heard the sounds of
their approach, they were already be-
tween her and the house Any attempt
at escape was useless. She came few
steps toward them.
Who are you, please, and what do
you want% she asked quickly
Heferom stretched out a hand to-
ward the prone figure of Rowan, who
was lying there still with closed eyes
eve want few words with your broth
er," he said 1--WE shall not keep him
long, but it is very important. We have
rome lo7T NAV 70 hin, -
1T is impossible" she said firmly. |
He IS very Ill indeed. The doctor al |
lows him to see no one l don't know
how you found your way here, but you
must please return at once"
q have come a long way" Hefferom
said slowly.
q am sorry" she answered, 'but
can't you see that it makes no differ |
ence? If Rou. were to ask him ques-
tions, he IS not well enough to answer |
to understand. Any sud
den shock at all-even a recognition
might kill him"
Hefferom hesitated no longer He |
pushed Winifred away, and motioned |
TO Ruby to follow him. At that mo-
ment Rowan opened his eyes and turn |
ed his head. Hefferom walked toward |
him and leaned over his chair
you remember me. Rowan" he |
said. my name is Hefferom, Steve |
Hefferom. We were up the Newey !
Valley together, camped out, you know,
at Princes George, for more than a !
and l and Deane, and lot
Of US"
Il remember" Rowan faltered, trying
10 raise himself. Eyes, I remember!" !"
He had a fit of coughing. Winifred
passed her arms around him and held |
him up. "If you stay" she whispered
10 Hefferom, you will kill him He
ought not to speak even a sentence"
ct isn't much we want him to say, i
miss, Hefferom answered doggedly,
but there's a question he's got to an
5wer If he is as near death as you
say, II can't make much difference what
happens, and it means more than death
% me and to this young lady"
Rowan had recovered sufficiently to
irink from glass which Winifred had
handed to him. He turned once more
oward Hefferom. That is all finish
d." he said painfully-"those days. l
I'M ill-too Ill to talk, too i'll to think,
90 III to live! Please go.
Hefferom bent over him. Rowan,
le said, you and were never enemies,
wen if we didn't exactly hit it off to-
Zether. Listen to me for a moment
Sinclair borrowed my last 900 pounds
n Cape Town to come over here and
ay claim TO the Little Anna Gold Mine