Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-20
LLOYD OSBOURNE
By
Copyright. 1911. By Ii. sesss,MsntlI Company.

felt that sudden longing TO get back
that overpowering. irresistible. unrea
soning-longing?"
mo-" retorted John Mort sGvagely.
mo, no, no! To me 1t is hell have
left forever"
II wonder at myself" said Matt.
There is not a soul in the world l re-
spect more. admire more-yes. love
than l do you. Yet am going"
John Mort's eyes glistened. and he
put out his hand. which the other
grasped.
"Well. so be It." he said.
"Then, may I sail tonight with land
breezeT
"Yes, you may SAIL"
"And my accounts, my vouchers. and
all that? You ought to pass them. sir.
as well us arrange about the North
Stars return. Pardon my insistence.
but you have put 1t off and off,
What amount have you In the ships
safe2"
Nearly $500, sir. in French. English
and American gold. besides the chest
Of Chile silver"
my friend. 1t is yours. and the
schooner also, 1t is yours 1t IS small
enough return for such loyal service
All, Indeed. much too small, and VIII
Increase it with this AS lie spoke
he drew from his finger superb ruby
ring and forced 1t on Matt. whose
stammering words Of thanks were cut
brusQuely short.
"There's another matter much more
pressing" he exclaimed. "a pledge to
be given and by you sacredly kept
and
"But, sir. how will you manage with
out vessel?" expostulated Matt, alto
gether bewildered. You can not al
low yourself to be marooned here-ut
terly cut off from ALL
"Oh, l fear not that We are self
sustaining now. and besides In n cou
pie of years I look forward confidently
for your return. Isolation has no ter
rors for me-rather charm. pictur
esuueness and q greater sense OF Sc
curity."
John Mort paused on the last word.
peering strangely at his companion.
do you realize Brouglton." he con-
tinued at last, that during our six
years close association. intimacy. you
have never asked me question; that
you have never betrayed the least In
auisitiveness: that you have seen me
draw forth whole packets of Bank OF
England notes. often thousands and
thousands Of pounds. and never once
have you disturbed me by even a
look?"
"Your private affairs were none OF
my business, sir. l have always made
It a point Of honor to keep my curl
Ssity to myself"
"And even now, when you are going
away. perhaps forever. with the riddle
still unsolved. are you not tempted to
ask?'
"Well, 1 suppose it's just this. sir; If
you wished me to know you would tell
me-"
John Mort mused ns though. indeed
he were very near to making conf,
dant of his companion. The spell OF
the moon. the beauty and stiffness OF
the tropic night the faint, mellow
throb Of the wooden drum timing
barbaric chant far across the water
all were conducive to an access OF
friendship, of affection and trust, that
,, might sweep away the last barriers OF
reserve He struck q match on the
corsair's cannon. lit cigarette. and,
with an appearance Of some indecision,
took few whiffs before he spoke.
ut is enough for you. to know that
am a ghost" he said oddly. Mort
means dead, and the fancy pleased me
to take it for my name. Before died
was q person of some Importance; OF
sufficient Importance, In fact-were my
existence here ever to be known-for
the news Of 1t to shake the world.
Broughton, ask no promises. no
oaths. simply tell you that my life.
my happiness, all that Is dearest and
most precious to me. hang on your dis
cretion. Vaster issues are at stake
than you can dream of, and today
there are hundreds on my track. A
chance remark of yours, an unguarded
word, the most innocent Of condolences
and these bloodhounds might seize
clew that would destroy me. Brough-
ton. l rely on you to guard my secret"
II shall guard 1t, SIR"
And you appreciate. even In this
half told way. Its supreme. its vital i'm
portance?"
~ do, SIR"
''Then let US 60 back"
In silence they walked up the path
to the broad veranda Of the house
the house thut had taken three years
to build, whose massive walls were
timbered with whole trees-a low, red
tiled, Spanish structure. in appearance
half fort and half monastery, with a
clustered court where fountain play
ed. It had taken the North Star a
dozen voyages to furnish It with a
splendor almost incredible, considering
the remoteness of the Island and how
recently its only Inhabitants had been
crabs and seamews. Noble pictures,
Venetian carvings and old brocades'
Flemish tapestry. exquisite furniture
still showing the faded gid Of medic
val Italy-nothing. 30 It seemed to
Matt. could vie in taste and luxury. In
grandeur dellcately modernized. soft.
ened and restralned-with this coral
! palace that sheltered Mort In exile.