The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-05-22


suppose it means nothing to you that
and that must give you UP. sup
pose 1t means nothing to you that
will keep right on loving you because
l can't help myself, but must put on a
grin to hide it from him-from every
body. God! How / do love you!
have the satisfaction. anyhow, Of
knowing that you know It,"
Her regard had remained steadfast
ly locked with his throughout this i'm
FASHIONED TRADE, nor did it waver now
Gently she told him:
you are hurting me, Tom"
In swift revulsion of feeling, he
dropped her hand.
Forgive mel" he begged. 81 am be-
side myself. A fellow can't get used
to thing like this all in a minute
But, believe me. Miss Carew, I'll never
bother you again. It's all been like a
fairy dream-from the second | first
heard your voice as I stood blindfold-
ed before you; when you came to me
where / lay helpless in The dark, and
yet could not see your face; when you
led me out into the night and left me,
still blindfolded; when we came face
to face here-well, 1t seems that have
been blindfolded all along until this
moment but don't want to forget a
single detail OF my dream. Now, am
awake"
She surprised him with an abrupt
cry of Impotence, emphasized with a
stamp of one foot. Her eyes were
swapping.
tom Phinney! Stop that sort Of
talk. You make me tired!"
Pardon me-" He bowed politely. az
have nothing more to say"
well, have" All at once her
voice broke. You are the stupidest,
most exasperating man l ever knew!
And I-I-don't know whether to
laugh or-or cry!" And doing both,
she darted suddenly from the room.
Miss Carew had not been gone a
minute before the stranger he had
costed the previous day appeared in
the doorway.
Can l have word with you, cap
tain?" said the man.
Tom was impatient of any Interrupt
ton just at this juncture. He favored
the intruder with a ecowl and bluntly
asked him what he wanted.
The man stepped inside and closed
the door.
II have learned" said he, chat no
one is allowed to go ashore; | don't
particularly mind about that; but
came away rather hurriedly, and I
would like to send a message to my
my people. Would there be any objec-
ton to that?"
The fellows manner was furtive
and clandestine, and Tom was a bit
puzzled. Before he could reply, the
other drew sealed envelope from his
pocket and laid it on the table, and
upon this he laid ten-dollar bill.
Whoever takes that letter ashore"
said the man. land finds trustworthy
messenger who will deliver 1t right
away, can split the ten-spot with him;
flivver's not picked up for an hours
easy work every day, but it's worth
something to keep ones folks from
worrying"
Sweeping aside the bill, Tom me-
chanically picked up the envelope and
glanced at it.
He did not start or betray by any
sign that the address gave him a dis
tinct shock Of surprise; his suscepti-
bilities were become calloused to any
fresh sensations OF this nature but
nevertheless he was amazed to see
that the name upon the envelope was
none other than Mr.. Phineas Flint's.
The street number-which Tom could
not identify-was police headquarters.
my uncle" explained the man.
glibly.
Very carefully Tom replaced the en-
velope and upon top of it the bill;
then he leaned back and fixed the man
with look.
See here" he demanded with alb
rupt authority, "just how do you come
to be on this yacht, anyhow"
The mans countenance expressed
establishment. Hasn't Mr.. Willard
told your" he asked.
1T makes no difference what Mr..
Willard has told me-I'm asking you"
This abrupt manner left the man un-
ruffled.
why, it was this way" he said
easily. my uncle learned Thursday
that Mr.. Willard was in town, looking
for a young man to take the place OF
somebody that had been hurt; I was
wanting a job, and he put me wise to
it. Mr.. willard was in something Of a
hurry, and 1t didn't take us long to
strike a bargain"
This explanation was Illuminating.
1t required but a seconds reflection to
array the whole thing clear in Toms
mind and at the same time definitely
fix the mans status.
Flint at last had struck Willard's
trail; the latter's urgent need to find
a man to take Calls place had in
some manner come to the detectives
ears, and he had been quick to take ad-
vantage of 1t. Flint knew in a gen.
eral way what Willard wanted, and
had hastily picked a Central office
~.