Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-16
THE CHAPERoNAGE OF CYNTHIA.

from the launch just off shore. As 1t came nearer the rising moon revealed to her anxious eyes the face of Jimmy Carroll: and she remembered then that before the coming of Miguel Ger zola. Jimmy had been very friendly with Imogene.
 Cynthia was proud. but no matter how humiliating she found it, she must beg his assistance--for Imogene must be saved She met him as he stepped from the boat, and with her shaking hands holding tight to his arm. she told him everything. though she tried her best to shield her foolish little sister by assuming the blame herself. And then, almost before she had fin- ished. Jimmy, nodding understandings ly had the boat afioat and was help ing her in. with comforting:- i Now don't you worry. We'll over i haul them in a jiffyi I must have met them when I was coming in; and they weren't making very good time. fancy Garzola isn't much on rowing"
 They" she repeated faintly, but the note said she was to meet him at Rocky PointI'
 Hmm! I should say that even he would hardly let girl row over there haps he was afraid that her courage would fail and he'd lose her-and the amber box. But don't fear-we'H catch 'em. long before they make the Point. Now I'll lay to, and do you keep a sharp lookout" Then they were off and under the nervous strength of his trained mus cles the little boat seemed fairly to | leap through the foaming water. Soon a black speck showed ahead of them. It grew larger and yet larger. Before long they could distinguish the boat; and Cynthia recognized the slen- der form of her sister. Once sure they were right, Jimmy . sent a lusty "Ahoy there, the Petreli" ringing over the water. There was no answering hail, the man in the Petrel merely redoubling l his efforts. But in a rowing match, l hard muscles are better than soft, therefore it was only a matter of min utes until a boat-hook, skilfuily thrown enectually arrested the progress of the Petrel. Then the Sea Gull was along side. with Jimmy Carroll giving a terse ultimatum to the enraged but | defeated adventurer. Miguel Garzola," he said sternly, 'only for the notoriety it would entail, l would put you where you belong-be- hind the bars, But under the cir cumstances I'll merely relieve you of your passenger and-the amber box.
 You can go free on the condition that you clear out of this country and stay outi And since you will probably wish I rulia on the trip, CPve known for some | days that she is your wife, and also your partner in several shady tran | sections carried on under the guise of her fortune-telling mummery over at the Point) you'd better lose no time. You can swim the short distance be- | tween here and her cottage. since I | shall tow the Petrel back to her moor | ings Now Imogene." With a muttered imprecation the man in the Petrel assisted the girl to her feet; and stepping into the Sea | Gull, the weeping Imogene fell moaning into her sisters arms. l Now hand over the boxi" came the | sharp command, and the amber casket ! changed hands
 | Now jumpl" ordered Jimmy curtly. Instead of obeyinE, the man crouched
 low in the Petrel. muttering @ sulky: | Not! The water-it ees so deep, so black so coldi"
 | Forbearance ceased to be virtue, Jimmy raised a threatening oar.
 See here" he believed. when 1 said jump. I meant jump-and nothing
 elsei Now junp!"
 And Senor Miguel Garzola, with one | shuddeFing look at the menacing oar,
 shut his eyes and jumped:
 Safely back at the cove. Imogene in lcontinently fled But Cynthia loitered l first to thank Jimmy for his assistance; and then to endeavor to appease his supposed wrath at her sisters wild | escapade.
 T hope, I do really hope" she fall tered tearfully, that - this - affair.
 won't make any difference .in your feelings toward Imogene. She Is so young, so pretty; and Senor Garzola fiattered her girlish vanity so adroitly that
 Her companion stopped her with an
 explosive:
 Now see here. Cynthia Harwood, what are you driving at? Look ar me and tell me this: Do look like a man
 who would deliberately fall in love with
 a girl named-Imogene? Think of it.
 Imogene,"
 Cynthia swallowed the troublesome lump in her throat with an effort.
 "But Mama thought the name so pretty" she apoligized. 'she found it in g. novel;
 50 I judge" was the dry response.
 And this experience will be such a
 dreadful thing for her!" pleaded the
 elder sister.
 "Yes," grimly, experience is a mighty hard school, but-well you
 probably know the rest of it as well
 as I do, so I won't finish the quota
 tion-it isn't fattering. But Cyn-
 thia-"
 "YesT'
 Tt was never Imogene wanted. but 6 girl named"
 He paused significantly; and looking
 girl he really loved. spelled her name
 just plain C-y-n-t-h-i-a!IBos Rec
 ord.