Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-17


one She huddled her shoulders aud
twisted one foot about the other. They
waited. laughing Ike two children
Nearer and nearer the mighty roll Of
water came; no sign Of crest. higher.
greener. II held them like some spell
Of enchantment- Then it smashed
against the ledge with deafening noise
The impact sent saudder through
the ledge, as IL some giants mailed fist
had hufTeted It. Somehow, as the spray
and foam few M at them greedily.
their hands met and their shoulders
touched.
The movement was neither tempera-
mental nor sentimental: it was iustinc-
tive; one quite naturally shrinks from
an approaching blow. But the result
ant effect upon Crawford was like wine
madness, rather, for he brushed her
cheek with his lips
Forgive me, but / did not mean TO
do THAR he cried penitently. when it
would have been much better to say
nothing.
We are very foolish--or rather,
am" she replied coolly, Tt is my fault
that we are both drenched.'
She wiped the water from her face
aud inspected her dripping shoes. We
! should be sent to bed without supper"
Fear left him. She hadn't noticed; or,
I better still, she chose to ignore the
/ temporary insanity.
/ Now. during this bit of comedy TN
automobile had drawn up on the far
/ side Of the lighthouse. The two on the
ledge had heard nothing. since they
could hear only such sounds as the
! wind carried to them.
a man stood by the side Of the car.
He watched the two tboughtfuIy, saw
/ the comber rise and break, saw the In
clination of the two toward each other
and Cranfords harmless folly. There
was no doubt Of it; 1t was she.
Beautiful always: and now with the
/ sun on her hair and the wind ON her
cheeks~-an oath burned bis lips. lie
made as though 70 step forward, but
beld the impulse in check. Had he not
wilfully forfeited his rights? What had
brought her here?
Crawford espied the car as it rolled
down the incline into the road along
the shore.
Some one from the hotel he said
as he noted the license number. Shall
we return to the farm3 You will catch
! cold.
Come The walk viii warm Us both.
Are there many at the hotcl?'
! Except for two chaps from Phila-
delphia, I'm the lone fisherman They
haven't had q chance 10 get out yet"
1t was quarter to 6 when they ar
rived at the farm.
Tomorrow" she said, and turned ana
walked toward the farmhouse. stop
ping only when she reached the door
She laid her hand upon her cheek
How brisllly he strobe away. She
wondered If he was whistling. The
manner in which he held his head sue
Eested it, He had kissed her but il
had been only a boy and girl kiss
clumsy. awkward, didideut, honest.
The thought of it warmed her heart
little He hadn't meant to 90 it
May she never be forced TO accept trib
ute from any man less innocent than
that kiss. He did not love her; he only
imagined he did.
As Crawford mounted the hotel step:
a smile lay hidden in the crook Of hi.
lips.
What we're these chaps up to? The
short. wiry man with the stubbly blacb
mustache he had instantly recognized
as one Of the Two men lie had seen il
the hotel bar just before leaving New
York.
The handsome chap was without
doubt the same Warren had advised
him to watch. Al the train gate he haC
not been able to take All accurate i'm
preston Of the young mans face, tbs
light being Insufficient. but the scar
, made his identity a certainty.
Mr. Hanchett and Mr.. Denuison
very good. He had joined them in
/ game Of three cushion billiards the pre-
, vious night. and they had played re
! markedly we'll. 1t amused him f,
} think that If they we're laughing Il
their sleeves there was room enough
| in his for smile.
Hello he said. stopping befor.
their rocking chairs. Hard luck yol
/ chaps are having You'll get out to
morrow all right. though. The gale i,
blowing itself out If / were you II
try the bay over the way. There's beer
, lee there. and bass will have gone in.
III be glad to meet Mr. Bass sait
Mr.. Dennison, stroking his mustache.
That's the trouble with the waite
up here" said Mr.. HaDchett. feldln,
his newspaper. Great fishing grounds
, but it blows too much
: You have fished here before?"
/ oh, no! The guide has been tellini
r me. How about a little game Of bill
! lards after dinner?'
Glad to" Crawford proceeded int
the office.
Mr. Hanchett smiled. and Mr.. Dan
t nison coughed slightly behind his hand
l Not tumble, murmured Mr.. Den
Z nison.
] There's where you're wrong. II
4 recognized mellow | don't know-th
t moment he laid eyes on me- Just
t little start. but it was enough for ms
:: Now ne thinks We think be doesn'
: know us, and On that side I'm going I
get him"