Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-06-26

At which they were all the more
curious and eager, concluding that
Tom himself was in some way in
volved-or, at least. that he really
possessed some inside information.
This drew an explosion.
Il don't know d thing about
it," Tom shouted, beating the air
with his hands. 81 saw a lot of fel-
lows going into the house. and wom-
an Confound you chaps! Why
can't you let fellow alone when he
wants to think by himself"
"A woman!" he was quickly taken
up by both. "Who was she?"
But Tom relapsed into an obstinate
silence. He was angry and morose,
and his two friends left him in hum,
calling him impolite names and guy
ing him for expressing desire to
put his mental processes through an
unaccustomed exercise. This made
him gioomier still. And when he re-
fiected that, after all, he had men
toned the mysterious woman in the
taxi, his depression became acute.
He drove the balls around a de
serted table with vicious jabs of his
cue. the while he too bewailed the
fate that kept him away from the
Carterets' yacht. For he could not
think of availing himself of this
pleasure unless Ruddy were along.
Toms income did not permit of his
owning yachts or motor-cars; but
what he did not know about them
was not worth anybody's time trying
to find out
He was thus reminded of a catboat
over at Rocky Cove. belonging to
friend who was in Europe. and which
he could use whenever he wanted to.
He threw down his cue. hunted up
time table, then hastened home to
toss battered but wonderfully com
Portable negligee outfit into bag.
and HE himself over to Long Island.
AS he passed through the lounging-
room-it is worth recording-Van
Vechten was brooding in his corner.
and so did not see him. Tom sur
veyed him a second or so. then con
Guiding that he had better not break
in upon his cogitations. hastenrd
away.
While 1t was yet daylight. Tom
found the sail where 1t was stored in
his friends boathouse, shipped the
single mast and rigged it up, then
went up into town after a box of pro-
visions. He meant to cruise around
the Sound for day or two. thus Civ
ing Ruddy plenty of time to think.
and perhaps learn something definite
about his Cousin Paige's movements
into the bargain; afterwards they
might find time to join the Carterets.
He was profoundly disgueted that a
girls caprice was depriving him and
Ruddy of jolly good time.
That night. after a couple of pipes,
he went to sleep in his little crafts
cabin. and before daylight he was
astir and taking advantage of light
off-shore breeze. All day he loafed
around the lower Sound, enjoying
himself immensely and incidentally
emptying the provision locker TO the
last crumb. He viewed this circum-
stance with a rueful laugh.
Moses and green spectacles! And
| thought | was laying in supplies
for a weeks cruise!"
Then he laughed again-light-heart-
edly this time-and trimmed about for
home.
Dusk was falling when he drifted
close in toward Rocky Cove. He was
possibly two miles off shore when
he heard the mufled exhaust and
warning pipe of a motor-boat. And
here is where his adventure may be
said to have begun.
Glancing back. he made out the
craft bearing down upon him under a
smother of spray of her own kicking
up. She swept by SO close to port
that, despite the half-light, he was
afforded distinct view of several of
the boats occupants.
CTO BE CoNTINUED)