Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-10-30

tuht j nave ledIueO " lOfe yOu.
suppose 1t means nothing to you that
you are the fiancee of my best friend.
and that must give you up. l sup
pose 1t means nothing to you that l
will keep right on loving you because
1 can't help myself, but must put on a
grin to hide 1t from him-from every
body. God! How I do love you! l
have the satisfaction, anyhow. OF
knowing that you know it."
Her regard had remained steadfast.
ly locked with his throughout this i'm
passioned TRADE. nor did 1t waver now.
Gently she told him:
You are hurting me. Tom"
In a swift revulsion of feeling. he
dropped her hand.
Forgive mel" he begged. II am be-
side myself. A fellow can't get used
to a 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 I first
heard your voice as 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 m abrupt
cry of impatience. 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. 81
have nothing more to say"
well. have" All at once her
voice broke. You are the stupidest.
most exasperating man l ever knewl
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 ac-
costed the previous day appeared in
the doorway.
"Can have a word with you. cap
tain?" said the man.
Tom was impatient Of any Interrupt
ton Just at this 1uncture. He favored
asked him what he wanted.
The man stepped inside and closed
the door.
II have learned" said he. that no
one is allowed to go ashore: / don't
particularly mind about that; but
came away rather hurriedly, and
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 a sealed envelope from his
pocket and laid 1t on the table. and
upon this he laid ten-dollar bill.
Whoever takes that letter ashore" !"
said the man, "and finds trustworthy
messenger who will deliver It right
away, can split the ten-spot with him:
a fivver'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 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.
fv 10 Lett hA
glibly.
Very carefully Tom replaced the en-
velope and upon top of 1t the bill:
then he leaned back and fixed the man
with a look.
See here" he demanded with alb
rupt authority. Just how do you come
to be on this yacht, anyhow
The mans countenance expressed
astonishment. Hasn't Mr.. Willard
told you?" he asked.
ut makes no difference what Mr..
willard has told me-I'm asking you"
This abrupt manner left the man un-
rufied.
why, 1t 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; l was
wanting job, and he put me wise to
1t. Mr.. Willard was in something of a
hurry, and 1t didn't take US long to
strike bargain
This explanation was Illuminating.
1t required but seconds reflection to
array the whole thing clear In Toms
mind and at the same time definitely
fix the mane status.
Flint at last had struck Willard's
trail: the latter's urgent need to find
man to take Calls place had in
some manner come to the detective's