Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-08-06

| easy sense that he was being watched
and happening 10 look in certain d.
rstuon. his glance encountered a man
whom he had not before seen. He
I r7omptly walked UP 70 the stranger
and demanded TO know what he was
doing on board. Winnard. the second
mate, was witness TO the episode.
and he took II upon himself TO explain,
He's all right. sir. Mr. Willard
brought him aboard last night"
With the moral certainty that the
newcomer had been watching him all
afternoon. Tom went to his cabin
Alone. he took up again the burden
u his doubts and uncertainties
Should he not warn Willard that
Flint was close upon his trail? What
would Willard think OF the Man OF
hons interference? His position
strongly urged him to go TO the char
terer and lay the matter before him.
Then his vacillating will would take
a pendulum swing to the other ex-
IRENE: he ought 10 80 over to the
/ Claremont and phone Flint where vii
lard was 10 be found; II the latter
were really engaged in no dishonor-
able employment. then no harm could
come TO him. But then. II he
was 10 be believed. Tom would thus
BE- lending himself to the defeat OF jus
tice and right.
Ard so on. round and round in a cir
Gle went his thoughts. with no hope Of
arriving al solution OF the many diff
fculties. II he could only talk to
Della, alone, for hall an hour. perhaps
she could help him. But he did not
see her again that day.
Friday evening brought a change.
The male element OF Wizards party
became animated by an unusual &C
tiyity. There was much going and
coming between the Kohinur and the
landing and the girls retired before
nine 0 clock. as il to be out OF the way
And then. some time close 10 mid
night. Max Willard and two OF his
young men boarded the launch; but
now, instead OF going over 70 the
Claremont landing, the little craft fiut-
tered away downstream and was soon
lost in the night
Tom retired to his cabin. but could
not sleep. He was oppressed BY a
sense Of anticipation. a conviction that
something was about 10 happen. When
he heard the launch returning after
two o'clock in the morning, he was
curious enough to go above to see IL
anything would transpire TO account
for the secret midnight excursion.
Willard came first up the ladder Is
suing low-voiced directions TO the two
men. Then they came. with consider.
able difficulty by reason OF their I'M
wieldy burden.
As well as Tom could make out In
the darkness. in shape and size what
they carried was Just such a box as is
used as a container for a cofiH The
three went quickly below with their
burden. and quiet reigned over the
Kohinur.
In point OF fact. from that time on
until the final terrible hour when de.
spair and horror laid their icy clutch
upon Tom Phinr VS. heart. an unnat-
ural calm seen prevail 1t was s
II the yacht an all on board were
subdued BY an apprehensive dread OF
impending tragedy.
And still Tom could not make IN his
mind as to what he ought to do.
But this intolerable high-tension
mental stress was in a measure 70.
lieved by .wo occurrences Of Saturday
afternoon.
About three O'Clock Max Willard in.
structed him to get up a full head OF
steam at sunset, and be in readiness
during the night TO drop down the
river.
Are we to clear tonight?" asked
Iom with considerable eagerness.
l don't know positively yet" VIII
lard piled il lifeless tone. "Whan
the signal comes TO get under way II
Will come in hurry, and from then on
until we are we'll out at sea speed will
be matter OF considerable imnor.
lance. You will know before morn.
ing"
Everything is in readiness" Tom
advised him.
That is very gratifying" The mag.
neuc eyes rested searchingly upon the
skipper for a moment.
Captain Phinney," Willard asked
AFTER the pause, do l appear com.
posed?"
Why, yes" returned Tom in sur.
prise. Il shouldn't have thought 9th.
erwise." w"
Indeed, save for the burning bril-.
lance Of his eyes, Max Willard's mien
was, II anything, dull and dispirited
We'll, then" he said, ut will be Az,
ncult to make you believe that no man
ever labored under a greater mental
ana nervous strain than | do at thta
moment God help US ALL"
With which cryptic and disoulet,nv
itterance he abruptly walked away
Tom had not yet ceased ponder,n.
The incident when Della approached
alone. She met him with a Charming
friendly smile which. in his estimation
July compensated for all his hours ~
loneliness. and her first words m.da
him forget his cares