Evening star., 1912-06-10
THE ISLE OF STRIFE
GEORGE c. SFiEDD
ccspyr4A. By S.sr.N a %,

| l remained. that the subject of my sur
veiiiance naturally came up fo' discus
sion. One could not have such shadoH
as Esper following at heel or wai'irS he
fore door like a patient terrier Tor III
| master. without creating comment. .herc-
fore I narrated the visit which had bee
made TO me by the fishermen. mentioning
, merely that they suspected me OF dis
posing OF military map stolen from
| France to a German stranger.
such Is not the case. Mr.. Woodworth
| II was Davis who asked the question. I'm
his usual impassive voice
Il can assure you that it's not sail
l. II also recognize your interest In tho
| matter since our embodiment upon tia
| lawn
Perhaps could Justify YOU to La
I vouche." Mr. Moore said. smoothly. 4:
| i examined the document"
That would be agreeable to me
Since the villagers have seen tt he
| continued. 1T has become more or less
| OF public document You stand Mt
present in need OF an advocate. OF course
the charge is an absurd canard. ana it's
| rather remarkable how IL started. Soma
one is usually responsible for such a re-
port"
"A fellow named Piion seems to be the
| chief busybody.''
i've heard Of him. also heard that YOU
threw him into the water. Was not that
4 the story. Betty? However. IL doesn't
explain the circumstance OF the insinua-
4
| freely"
! There's stranger In the village. IS
there notT' Senor Del Hervalle inquired,
blandly.
4 Muriel now entered the conversation
And q very d-looking one. l passed
| him once In the wood road. What he
doing here on the island, I don't know.
but I'm sure he's a gentleman who would
be well worth making the acduaintanee
| OF. Mr.. Moore, you might bri1g him
| over. You and Senor Del Hervalle and
Mr. Davis are always busy over papers.
and Mr.. Woodworth. apparently. has no
| time to spare"-she flashed a disdainful
| look at me-"so all the excitement Betty
and l can have is I'm going down and
| sighing over the sad sea waves.
IF you've nothing left but signing,
shall certainly bring this gentleman over
to occupy you. young ladies'"
Thank you. I'll put on my best frock
tomorrow afternoon and be waiting at
the door,"
BY this diversion the subject of the
map was reiterated to the background.
nor did wish II to be elsewhere. gave
my attention chiefly to Betty. who sat
by my side. and In a minor degree To
Muriel to whom I owed a return for her
| intimation as to my lack of gal'antry.
so. and we crossed swords more than
once in little encounters. She was not
J partial: Mr.. Moore Senor Del Hervalle.
Davis. all of us. had our wit kept busy
Talk drffted on. Betty. with whom |
had been conversing. turned to Davis.
who sat on her opposite side. and engaged
his attention. Through the banter pass
Ing back and forth I could catch the trend
of their words. She was lightly chatting
him about his attentions to Margot or the
village: It had been reported that he had
been seen sailing with her. again walking
a low voice and with shadow OF a
smile. Probably he experienced secret
exultation. Betty had soundly rated me.
he remembered. for once interrupting
their talk: indeed. she had not nee dis
played any difference OF attitude toward
him as result of his presumotuous
| words, as might have been expected. and,
moreover, she showed reeard for ms
cominss and goings. Was there q ~
/ malice in her talk Of Margot. little
jealousy? Thus. probably. he was moved
| to believe. He did not deny her impeach-
ment nor excuse his actions: he left her
to infer that all she said m ght have been
possible, and with others, too, m ght not
be impossible. The innocent questions
she now and then slipped into the gen
eral talk were unno'ed. IL wen sonis.
thing like this: Margot mad toid her
| (white little Abb that he confded In her
A man desired friendly conhdant said
| he Had Margot said that no other
woman should walk In the WOOD with
him? Oh, Margot might say foolish
things. Margot had temrer; What dd
Margot mean when she said that he knew
everything? He considered, then said
that Margot was a strange woman.
Betty's talk ran on for time What
place had MargOt meant when she told
her that some one ought to beware OF
strange doors?
The place? Why. the house He
stopped suddenly and gave her SWIFT.
searching look. did Margot say that?
Eyes. and I've wondered at what she
hinted."
II regret that I'm not Informed"
You started to mention place, she
said, her bright eyes exercising all or
their fascination.
Half an instant he hesitated, then
passed the subject with an evasiye an
swer Betty had nearly SHARED him
nearly, but not quite; just in time he hal
caught the words back and now was Ola
guard. 1 could imagine. judging from
neeting scowl on his face. that he was
not AT that moment considering Margot
with favor
(To be continued tomorrow