The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-08-13

| lIlN cN'' shu
good fun, ii you ,uly GET Goc a,,
weather ~
Inc mention of yachting brough,
back 10 my mind the visit Of the Lola
and Its mysterious sequel.
your father has a yacht, them" I
remarked with as little Concern as +
could.
"Yes. The Iris. My uncle is cruising
on her up the Norwegian Fiords. For
us it is Change to be here, because
we are SO often ahoat"
so you must have made MANY long
voyages and seen many odd corners Of
the world, Miss Leithcourt | re-
marked, my interest in her increasing
for sne seemed so extremely intelli.
gent and we'll informed
'oh' yes. We've been to Mexico.
and TO Panama, besides Morocco
Egypt and the west coast of Africa"
Ana you've actually landed at Leg
horn! | remarked
Yes out We didn't stay there more
than an hour--to send a telegram. /
thlhh II was. Father said there was
nothing 10 see there He and | went
ashore and must say | was rather
disappointed"
you are quite right. The town it.
self Is ugly and uninteresting. But the
outsklr's-San JaC0po, Ardcnza and
Antlshiaho are all delightful. 1t was
unfortunate that you did not see them.
, was IL long ago when you put in
there"
Not very long. really don't recol-
lect the exact date" was her reply.
I'VE were on our way home from Alex.
andria."
Have you ever, in any of the ports
you've been, seen yacht called the
Lota?' | asked eagerly, for it occurred
to me that perhaps she might be able
to give me information.
THE Lola" she gasped, and instant
ly her face changed. A flush over
spread her cheeks, succeeded next mo.
ment by deathIike pallor, The
Lola" she repeated In a strange,
hoarse voice, at the same time en-.
deavoring strenuously not to exhibit
any apprehension. mo. have never
heard of any such a vessel Is she a
steam yacht? Who's her owner?"
regarded her in amazement and
suspicion, for | saw that mention of
the name had aroused within her some
serious misgiving. That look in her
dark eyes as they fixed themselves
upon me was one of distinct and I'm
speakable terror.
What could she possibly know con
corning the mysterious crafts
Il don't know the owners name"
said, still affecting not to have noticed
her alarm and apprehension. "The
vessel ran aground at the Meloria, g
dangerous shoal outside Leghorn, anG
through the stupidity of her captain
was very nearly lost"
"Yes?' she gasped, in halfwhisper
bending to me eagerly, unable to suf
ficientE conceal the terrible anxiety
consulting her. And you-did you g
abpar ses -"
Yves" was the only word l uttered.
A silence fell between us, and as m,
ewes fixed themselves upon her. ! saw
that from her handsome mobile coun
teuance all the light and life had sud
denly gone out, and | knew that sht
was in secret possession of the Ike!
to that remarkable enigma that so puz
lied me.
Of a sudden the door opened, ard {
voice cried gayly:
why, I've been looking everywhere
for you, Muriel Why are you bidder
here? Aren't you coming?"
We both turned, and as she did so {
low cry of blank dismay Involuntary
escaped her.
Next instant | sprang to my feet
The reason of her cry was apparent
for there, in the full light of the COLDER
sunset streaming through the Ions
open windows, stood a broad-shoul
dered, fair-bearded man in tennis fan
nels and Panama hat-the fugitive
knew as Philip Horribly!
faced him, speechless.