Charlevoix county herald., 1916-06-16
CHAPTER XVII
The Secret of the Sands,

ne ScCTct OF inc SdUOS.
Before the party broke up for the
night the twins told again Of the
wreck of Tyler's little schooner and
prevailed upon Marriott, for safety's
sake to bring the yacht into the la.
COON.
After this was accomplished, early
next morning. Edith and Helen ex-
pressed a desire to make tour OF the
island. They all started out together.
but 1t was only natural considering
the romantic conditions, that the party
should become separated before the
journey was completed.
1t was not surprising, therefore, that
Helen Marriott and George Carteret,
in the course of time found themselves
by themselves and seated in the shade
of clump of palms quite near the
west shore of the island.
They had reached that stage of in
timacy where Helen thought it good
time to chide George for having been
so careless of the pin she had given
him. George feVently protested his
innocence.
Helen, as she listened played in the
sand with the point of her parasol. and
George, leaning on one elbow, scooped
out the sand from under the point of
the parasol
And so it was that at the end Of
five minutes a hole of quite respect
able size had been dug.
well. anyway" said Helen, with a
charming pout. "the fact remains that
your brother was very careful of the
pin my sister gave him, while you
stuck yours in the side of the state
room and forgot all about it. Please
-eXplain-that!"
To properly emphasize the last
three words she made three Vicious
digs in the sand hole with the point Of
her parasol. And with each dig The
point of the parasol struck a sub
stance that gave forth the sound of
hard board.
That's curious" remarked George,
glad, doubtless, to change the subject
Let 3 look lntO tnlS.
He went on his knees and digging
with both hands, quickly uncovered
and brought forth a box.
"Hemenway's!" he exclaimed well
what do you make of that"
"Mr. Hemenway's!" cried Helen ex
citedly springing to her feet. dig
some more; there ough, to be twelve
or fifteen of those boxes"
George gazed at her in amazemen..
what in the world do you know
about Hemenway's boxes?" he man
aged to say at last.
81 know a lot about them replied
Helen with smile-"much more than
you do"
81 don't understand how you"
please, Mr.. Carteret, don't waste
time in talking. Dig!"
Helen fell on her knees and began
feeling around the sides of the sand
hole.
Here, Miss Marriott, you'll muss
your clothes and soil your hands. I'll
do the digging"
George lifted Helen's hand slowly
and carefully from the sand hole and
held them a moment.
what is this-a wedding rehear-
sal?" laughed the young woman.
MAY l call you Helen?" said the
young man. "We1l be calling each 9TH
er by our first name before the voy-
age ends, anyway"
Helen pulled her hands away.
"rll think it over. First, want
satisfactory explanation about that
pin. But, please-George-hurry ana
find those other boxes. There must be
lots more of them.'
George fell to and quickly uncover
ed another box, and then another.
He paused and said:
Look here, Helen, this is wearing
on the finger nails. Suppose ! carry
two of these boxes to the house, and
then well bring down an old shovel l
saw out back and make quick work OF
this"
So he shouldered two of the boxes
and started for the house, Helen walk
ing beside him.
Have you any idea what's in
them?" asked the girl. a.,
mot the faintest. Have your"
"Of course. I know all about them.'
"Then, for goodness sake, tell me-"
Helen laughed gaily. Keep cool,
my friend, keep cool and don't get ex.