Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-03

proposaIs7 You don't agree with
me? Wen, we'll And as the re.
suit Of your Internal biackguardism my
girl has slipped her cable and is lost M 20
both OF us. You'll have TO pay TOT
that. my man" Martin knocked the bow
OF his pipe aRainsi the heel OF his boot
Meantime, II may interest you and your
dear friend Mrs. Plessey TO learn that
don't believe her yarn about the admiral
and that fancy I've got clue to the
real murderer Ahl that makes you start
eh2 When i've got my hands on
the real man your power for good and
evil, my friend, will be at an end. You !
be sorry, ! reckon, that you drove Maud
| Plessey away from her home"
The sick man had been listening at
/ tentively without moving muscle. NOW
he shifted uneasly beneath the coverlet.
IT'S tremendously good Of you to have
come to see me. Captain Arrol,' he said
| meckly, "and our talk has cheered me
| immensely. But I am feeling very sleepy
and must ask you to 20 now. When I'm
| all right we must have some long talks
on deck. Shall I ring for the steward to
| show YOU out?'
Martin laughed His enemy's sang
! frold appealed to him Pray don't trou-
ble," he said, ~ had hoped that you
would let me bring you your tea, but I'll
leave you since you prefer to sleep in
fast tomorrow"
MIR Huron did not appear at break
fast next day. nor the day after. The
passage was bad one for the time of
year. though for the matter of that
smooth passages to New York are the
exception at all seasons. Huron kept to
his cabin. and hearing from his steward
that he was even In the hands of the
doctor, Martin forbOre to disturb him.
Within bCt pf ha Iinhr
ran into calm weather. The sea shone
gloriously, gliding with its rays an enor-
nous iceberg sailing majestlcally toward
the South. The sea was smooth as glass.
At luncheon Martin was surprised to
discover how popular the ship was. The
remotest cabins now disgorged their sal
low occupants. hungry for the first meal
they had tasted since they sailed. And
among these famished ones was Mr.. Gil
bert Huron.
Martin nodded to him as he passed his
table and remarked II shall be round
about the smoking room till dark" He
had not much hope that the other would
accept the invitation, expecting rather
that he would hurry back to his cabin
and deny himself to visitors. But within
ten minutes of Martins own appearance
on deck, Huron Joined him.
II feel very lt," he announced. "I be-
lieve the doctors are right--that a bad at
tack of sea sickness does you lot of
good"
Il am sure that is most gratifying"
remarked Martin ironically; he glanced
Mt his companion. "well, what have you
to say to me?"
81 don't know that / have anything in
particular to say to you. l rather gath
cred that you had something to say to
me-"
well, that is true" admitted the sailor
II have no doubt you would have pre-
ferred me TO leave you alone" He seized
the other man by the arm and whispered
to him, "As 1 told you in your cabin the
other day. l would like to drop you in the
sea-"
Huron shook himself free. "I don't
doubt IT," he replied coolly. but
shan't give you the opportunity. AS an
unlucky chance has thrown us together
perhaps we might arrive at a better un-
derstandlng. We are on a very old, ele-
mental relation to each other Captain
Arrol. We are simply two men after the
same girl"
That's The proposition reduced to its
lowest terms, grant" said Martin but
II Is complicated by the fact that you are
endeavoring to force the girls hand by
Hlegitimate influence by downright
threats. You are a blackmailer. Huron"
who calls me that-not Maud?" The
older man glanced sharply at his com
panion.
Maud? 1 daresay she does, but
haven't seen her since the night of her
arrival In England" Huron looked away |
suddenly TITS who call you that ac-
cording to information supplied by your
own friend. Mrs. Plessey"
The tension of Huron's face relaxed a |
tritiing degree. "Gracie-Mrs Plessey-- |
gave me some account of her interview |
with you. / have-er-a great respect for /
that lady, hut-er-her memory at times |
plays her false. She is in fact bit
"Of a liar?"
Exactly, exactly. I gather that she
made out that If Maud refused to marry |
me 1 should publish the circumstances |
OF her unfortunate husbands death and |
all that. Isn't that so?"
Certainly she said So" admitted Ar
rol in some wonderment. isn't II true?''
The white-halred man shrugged his
shoulders and smiled in a superior way |
MY dear Captain Arrol.' he said, men |
don't do that sort of thing. I'm amazed
that you should have believed such a |
story When you started abusing me In |
my cabin the other day let you run on
because I wanted to find out exactly !
what Oracle had told you" He sighed. |
"WeI It does not matter, so long as /
Maud herself has not that impression"
THAT is all very WELL" cried Martin /
impatently and incredulously. But you |
or some one must have threatened Maud |
or she wouldn't have run away. II you
had simply asked her TO marry you she /
would have refused and there would have |
been an end OF 1t. / don't blame you |
for trying to save your face, Huron, but |
] should want fuller explanation before /
/ swallowed this new yarn"
Huron's face took on an expression of |
impressive solemnity. Briefly, Captain
Arrol, the facts are these 1 am In tove |
with Maud. and have been for many |
years. / would forget everything else that |
/ hold dear to possess her, So doubtless |
would you-let us give each other so much |
credit. Mrs. Plessey favors my suit be-
cause alone am In possession OF certain |
facts which viii have TO transpire. as the
journalists say. upon her marriage. The |
revelation OF those facts 10 a stranger |
would be fatal to Maud, TO Mrs Plessey. |
70 her dead husband, and 10 many other /
persons That at least Is Mrs. Plessey's /
opinion, and 1 am bound 20 say that l |
agree with her. That's not blackmail, |
fancy. Captain Arrol"
Huron could not suppress a triumphant /
smile as he watched his companion's /
brows wrinkle into frown OF bewilder-
ment.
Arrol turned on him fercely. what |
the dickens Is all this humbug aboutY"
he demanded furiously. Mrs. Plessey /
says that her husband was a traitor and |
was shot by a spy. II that is true, why /
,,.ru-.s NE,Vag r4Ff..- -t,-..II