The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-03-11

mfr. Hazard. wait! want to speak
with you
Felix Hazard had just descended the
"L" steps at Fifth avenue and Madison
street, and was hurrying to his office
at the Sutherland Detective agency. to
take up the labors of the day. when
his steps were arrested by soft femi-
nine voice. He stopped instantly, and
not without some surprise wheeled
round and met the speakers anxious
look. He knew the voice.
Certainly. Helen" he agreed. You
sound mighty serious
The two drew closer together and
moved under the steps away from the
jostling sidewalk throng.
Nominally. Helen Bertel was ste
nographer at the Sutherland offices;
but. besides being a striklngly pretty
girl with a Dianalike length of limb
and litheness, she had on more than
one occasion. when asked to meet an
emergency. shown capability and
adaptability that placed her in the
rank with the company's best opera
tives. Accordingly, she drew an oper-
ative's salary.
Felix Hazard and Helen Bertel were
good friends, Indeed. it was hard
sometimes for the man to smother the
warm glow that was wont to leap into
his eyes at sight of her; he made no
attempt to hide his admiration, how
ever.
The girl smiled family.
Perhaps 1T is serious" she returned
Anyhow. it's awfully queer-what
want to see you about. I'm glad we
met here instead of having to wait till
We got TO the Office.
Last night. as maybe you remem
ber, was beautiful full moon-and
] was out lots later than l should have
been, alone in my canoe. and l went
out into the lake lots farther than
venture"
Her fine gray eyes were dancing
with suppressed excitement.
"In the middle of the lake," Hazard
inquired.
Goodness, no! But was far
enough off shore to make it very
strange and mysterious. The moon
glare was behind me at the time, and
once when l looked back saw a row
boat 1t was white-like shell of
alabaster on a path of cold silver fire."
Felix Hazard smiled whimsically and
remarked:
The moons influence still fingers,
/ see. What queer girl you are!"
She made little mouth at him and
went on:
ut was empty, or I thought 1t was;
one doesn't find empty skiffs floating
on the lake every night. you know:
and of course l turned and padded
straight to where it was.
well. it wasn't empty. A man lay
unconscious in the bottom, his white
face turned up ghostly to the moon.
l thought he was dead; but even while
/ was holding the two boats together
and peering down at him, he opened
his eyes and looked up at me.
at was funny! To save my life
1 couldn't think of word to say!
We Just stared at each other like two
ninnies for all of a minute. Then he
all at once sat up and groaned. He
caught at his head with both hands
and toppled forward over one of the
thwarts.
81 knew then that he had been hurt,
and got busy. Would you believe it?
He hadn't the slightest idea how he
got injured, or how he happened to
be out on the lake in a rowboat at
nearly midnight
"By this time l was making mental
note of everything. He had an un-
buttoned appearance, If you know what
/ mean-shirt unfastened, shoes un-
laced; his collar and tie were lying on
the grating, and his nat was missing
utterly. Also he didn't have an oar
to his name.
He was too weak to help much. and
there wasn't another boat in sight any
where-just US two away out in the
silent, moonlit lake. 1 tied my canoe
to the boat and towed it back to the
beach; not so easy to do with only
single paddle
Hazard was intensely interested, not
alone because the episode was unusual
in itself. but also because he knew
that Helen Bertei would not be telling
him about it with so much detail II
she were not moved by some under
lying purpose.
Well he prompted her. whats
the answerr"
why, on the way to land 1 made
another discovery-several OF them.
to tell the truth. He is a yoIns msu