The daily star-mirror., 1914-12-05

nized-but still he didn't understand.
The inevitable inference seemed
thing unthinkable; his brain faltered
when asked to credit it. Only when
he saw her tearing frantically at the
painter, striving to cast it off and with
it the dory towing a hundred feet or
so astern, and when another wonder.
ing glance had discovered the head
and shoulders Of Mr.. Barcus rising
over the stern of the dory as he strove
to lift himself out Of the water-only
then did Alan begin to appreciate
what had happened.
Even so, it was with the feeling that
all the world and himself as we'll had
gone stark raving mad, that he seized
the girl and, despite her struggles, tore
her away from the rail before she had
succeeded in unknotting the painter,
"Rose!" he cried stupidity. Rose!
What's the matter with you? Don't
you see what you're doing?"
Defiance infamed her countenance
and accents. Cant you ever say any
thing but Rose! Rose! Rose! Is
there no other name that means any
thing to you? Can't you understand
how intolerable 1t is to me? love
you no less than she-better than she
ever dreamed OF loving you-because
l hate you, too! What Is love that
10 no more than love? Can't you un-
derstand?"
Judith" he cried in voice of stu-
pefaction. "But-Good Lord!-how
did you get aboard? Where's Rose?"
"Where you'll not find her easily
again." the woman angrily retorted.
Trust me for that!"
what do you mean?" Illumination.
came in binding flash. do you
mean it was you-you whom brought
aboard last night?"
"Who else?"
"You waylaid her there in the hotel,
substituted yourself for her, deceived.
me into thinking you-!"
"Of course" she said simply. why
not? v hen | saw her sleeping there
the mirror Of myself, completely at
my mercy-what else should l think
of than to take her place with the man
l loved? l knew you'd never know the
difference-at least l was fool enough
for the moment to believe l could
stand being loved by you in her name!
1t was only today, when I'd had time
to think, that l realized how impos-
sible that was!"
A sudden slap Of the mainsail boom
athwartships and a simultaneous cry
from over the stern reused Alan from
his CONSERVATION to fresh appreciation
of the emergency. With scant cons1d-
Grafton he hustled the woman to the
companionway and below, slammed its
doors and closed her in with the slid
ing hatch-all in breath-then
sprang to the taffrail, Just in time to
lend helping hand sorely wanted by
Mr.. Barcus in his efforts to climb
aboard, after he had pulled the dory
up under the stern by its painter.
He came over the rail in towering
temper.
81 hope you'll pardon the apparent
impertinence," he suggested acidly,
as soon as able to articulate coher-
ently-"but may I inquire II that
bloody-minded vixen is your blushina
bride-to-be?"
Alan shook helpless head. The
thing defied reasonable explanation,
He made q feeble stagger at it with
out much satisfaction either to hinF
self or to the outraged Barcus.
'No-its all a damnable mistaken
She's her sister, mean, the right
girls sister-and her precise double
fooled me-not quite right in the head,
I'm afraid"
You may we'll be afraid, you poor
f1at!" Mr. Barcus snapped. "D'you
know what she did? Threw me over
board! Fact! Came on deck while
ago, sweet as peaches-and all of a
sudden whips out a gun as big as
cannon, points it at my head and orr
ders me to luff into the wind. Before
Il could make sure l wasn't dreaming,
she had fired twice-in the air-a sig
nal to that blessed fisherman astern
there-at least, they answered with
two toots Of a power whistle and
changed course to run up to us. Look
how she's gained already!"
"But how did she happen to throw
you overboard?"
Happen nothing!" Barcus snapped,
getting to his feet. "She did it a.
purpose-few at me like wildT14
and before l knew what was up-
was slammed backwards over the
rail-"
'I can't tell you how sorry am"
Alan responded gravely. There's
more to tell-but one thing to be done
first"
"And that?" Mr.. Barcus inquired
suspiciously.
ITO get rid Of the lady," Alan an
nounced firmly. MAKE that fisher
man a present of the woman in the
case. You don't mind parting with
the dory in a good cause-if pay for
it?"
"Take it for nothing" Barcus
grumbled. Cheap at the price!"
He took Alan's place, watching him