Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-19


Divine during their conversation
They cannot have treated you very
badly. larry" she said. you are as well
groomed and we'll fed, apparently, as ever
slight flush mounting to the mans face
made the girl wonder a bit. though II
aroused no suspicion in her mind.
"Oh, no." he hastened to assure her they
have not treated me at all badly-why
should they? If / die they can collect no
ransom on me- II is the same with you.
Barbara, SO think you need apprehend no
harsh treatment"
II hope you are right Larry" she said.
but the hopelessness Of her air rather belied
any belief that anything but harm could
come from captivity with su ~ as these who
differed and manned the H1lfmoon.
1T seems so remarkable" she went on,
that you should be a prisoner upon the
same boat. | cannot understand 1t. Why,
only few days ago we received and en-
tertained friend of yours who brought
a letter from you to papa-the Count de
| Cadenet."
Again that telltale flush mantled the
| mans cheek. He cursed himself inwardly
| for his lack of sef-control The girl would
| nave his whole secret out of him In an
other half hour If he we're not more careful.
They made me do that" he said jerking
| his thumb in the general direction of Skip
| per Smms cabin. Maybe that accounts
/
Cadenet is n fellow named Theriere. second
| mate of thts ship. They sent him to learn
| your plans; when you expected sailing from
| Honolulu and your course. They are all
| crooks and villains. II I hadn't done as
they told me they would have killed me-"
The girl made no comment, but Divine
| saw the contempt in her face
81 didn't know that they were going to
| do this If | had I'd have died before I'd
! have written that note" he added rather
| lamely.
The girl was suddenly looking very sad.
| She was thinking of Billy Mallory who
| had died in an effort to save her. The
mental comparison she was making between
| him and Mr. Divine was not overly fatter-
| ing to the latter gentleman.
They killed poor Billy" she said at last.
He tried to protect me-"
Then Mr. Divine understood the trend of
| her thoughts He tried to find some excuse
| for this act but with the realization of
| the true cowardliness and treachery of II
| that the girl didn't even guess, he grasped
the futllity of seeking to extenuate 1t. He
| saw that the chances were excellent that
after all he would be compelled to resort
| to force or threats to win her hand at the
| last.
BILLY would have done better to have
bowed TO the inevitable as did" he said
| Living I am able to help you now. Dead
could not have prevented them carrying
| out their intentions any more than Billy has
nor could have been here to aid you now
any more than he Is. l cannot see that
his action helped you to any great extent
| brave as 1t was"
The memory of It and him will always
| help me-" she answered quietly. "They will
| help me to bear whatever is before me
| bravely; for shall always feel that upon
the other side true, brave heart is wait
| ing for me-"
| The man was silent.
After moment the girl spoke again.
II think should rather be alone, Larry"
she said, 81 am very unhappy and nervous
Possibly could sleep now"
with bow he turned and left the cabin
For weeks the Halfmoon kept steadily
| on her course a little south of west. There
was no material change In the relations
of those aboard her.
| Barbara Harding finding herself un-
molested. finally acceded to the repeated
| pleas of Mr.. Divine to whose society she
| had been driven by loneliness and fear, and
| appeared on deck frequently during the day
| light watches.
Here one afternoon she came face to
| face with Therere for the first time since
| her abduction. The officer lifted his cap
| deferentially; but the girl met his look of
| expectant recognition with n cold, blank
| stare that passed through and beyond him
as though he had been empty air.
A tinge of color rose to the mans face
| and he continued on his way for moment
| as though content to accept her rebuff: but
after a step or two he turned suddenly and
| confronted her
Mile. Harding" he said respectfully,
| 1T cannot blame you for the feeling of
distrust which you must have toward me,
| but in justice l think you should hear
| me before finally condemning."
"I cannot imagine" she returned coldly,
| 'tVhnt defense Won can have"
| ~ have been utterly deceived by my
| employers" said Theriere. hastening to take
| advantage of the tacit permission TO ex-
| plain which her reply contained. II was
| made to understand that II was all to he
one practical Joke which Mr.. Divine was
to play upon his old friends, the Hardngs.
| and their guests. Until they wrecked and
deserted the Lotus In midocean I had
no idea that anything else was contem-
| plated. although | felt that the matter,
even before that event, had been carried
| quite far enough for a Joke.
"They explained" he continued. that
| before you sailed you wished that some
thing really exciting and adventurous would
come-that you were tired of the humdrum
of 2Oth-century existence-regretted the
| vanishing of romance from the seas.
mfr Divine, they told me, was a very
wealthy young man to whom you were
engaged to be married, and that he could
| easily afford the great expense OF the re-
"
saw no harm in taking part in it, espe-
cialy as / knew nothing of the suppos-
tious purpose of the cruise until just before
we reached Honolulu. Before that l had
been led to believe that it was but pleas
ure trip 10 the South Pacific that Mr. Divine
intended.
"You see. mademoiselle. that have been
as badly deceived you. VIII you not
permit that l atone for my error by being
your friend? l assure you that you will
need one among this shipload Of scoun-
drels"
Whom am TO believer" cried the girl
Mr., Divine assures me that he, too. has
been forced into this affair but by threats
of death rather than deception"
The expression on Mr Theriere's face was
eloquent of sarcastic incTedulty,
How about the note OF introduction that
carried to your father from Mr.. Diyine?"
asked Theriere.
"He says that he was compelled TO write
1t at the point of a revolver" replied the
girl.
Come with me, Mile. Harding" said the
officer. Il think that shall convince you
that NJ. Divine is not on such bad terms
with Captain Simms as he would be II his
story to you were true"
he spnlra ha ata rtad foXEa ard the con,-