Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-08-26

tired, and Tom was enabled once more
to contemplate the Kohinur more as a
vessel of which he was master. and
less as an isolated corner of Already.
One OF the first things he observed
was the presence Of a stranger. For
some minutes. underneath his troubled
meditations. mad stirred vague un-
easy senee that he was being watched;
and happening to look in certain d.
rection, his glance encountered man
whom he had not before seen. He
promptly walked up to the stranger
and demanded to know what he was
doing on board Winnard, the second
mate, was a witness to the episode,
and he took it 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 HE cabin.
Alone, he took up again the burden
OF his doubts and uncertainties.
I Should he not warn Willard that
Flint was close upon his trail? What
would Willard think OF the Man of
Irons 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 ez-
IRENE; he ought to go over to the
Claremont and phone Flint where VIII
lard was to be found: IL the latter
were really engaged In no dishonor-
able employment, then no harm could
come to him. But then, II he
was to be believed, Tom would thus
be lending himself to the defeat of JUS
tice and right.
And so on, round and round in cir
Gle went HIS thoughts, with no hope of
arriving at a solution OF the many diff
ficulties. II he could only talk to
Della, alone. for half an hour, perhaps
she could help him. But he did not
see her again that day.
Friday evening brought change.
The male element OF Wizards party
became animated by an unusual ac-
tivlty. There was much going and
coming between the Kohinur and the
landing. and the girls retired before
nine o'clock. as II to be out OF the way
And then. some time close to mid
night, Max Willard and two OF his
young men boarded the launch; but
now. instead of going over to the
Cla-emont 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. conviction that
something was about to happen. When
he heard the launch returning after
two o'clock In the morning, be was
curious enough to go above to see II
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 box as is
used as a container for coffin. The
three went quickly below with their
burden. and quiet reigned over the
Kohiuur.
In point OF fact. from that time on
until the Anal terrible hour when de-
spair and horror laid their icy clutch
upon Tom Phinney's heart, an unnat-
ural calm seemed to prevail. It was as
II the yacht and all on board we're
subdued by an apprehensive dread OF
impending tragedy.
And still Tom could not make up his
mind as to what he ought to do.
But this lntolerable high-tension
mental stress was in a measure re-
lieved by two occurrences OF Saturday
afternoon.
About three o'clock Max Willard In.
structed him to get up full head OF
stt am at sunset and be in readiness
during the night TO drop down the
river
Are we to clear tonlght?" asked
Tom with considerable eagerness.
Il don't know positively yet" VII
lard replied in a lifeless tone. 'Wher
the signal comes to get under way. Il
will come in hurry and from then or
until we are well out at sea speed will
be matter OF considerable impor
lance. You will know before morn
ing"
Everything is in readiness" Ton
advised him
THAT is very gratifying" The mag
netie eyes rested searchingly upon tn,
skipper for a moment
Captain Phinney." Willard aske,
after the pause. do appear com
posed?"
why. yes" returned Tom In sur
prise, Il shouldn't have thought 9th
erwise."
Indeed. save for the burning bril-
nSnce of his eyes, Max Wizards miel
wan. IL anything. duh and tispirited
We'll, then" he said. eft will be diff
hcult To make you believe that no mar
ever lEbored under q greater ments
and nervous strain than do at thi,
moment. God help us ALL"
With which cryptic and Ciisquietln,
utteranee he abruptly walked away.
Tom had not yet ceased ponderin,
the incident when Della approached
alone. She met him with a charming
was unique figure in many ways. an
while he was never very popular. fe,