The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-19
iI.iiiIisFIilii.sH i,,siiisiiiiiiiiiiiiliii'
Continued from our last issue)
MARY ANNE proceeded TO tel
NM ~ with much circumloeu

N
M us, with much oiroumloeu.
Ava ton and attention TO detail,
that the previous summer famous
band OF smugglcrH had carried on
successful operations under the
very noses of our customs officials
located In the little town Just across
tho water.
She added that a police boat had
recently been assigned 10 the sta
ton and that a large reward had
been offered for the capture OF tho
chief offender
nut lawi" finished Mary Anne
exul,antly. no common man q H..
they say. but mayhap one OF these
ere islanders wot comes fur the
summer. with their steam yachts
and their fine clo'es. WIN you be
havin clear soup ag'in tonight,
miss"
"As you please. Mary Anne.
Elizabeth spoke Rhsently, and
Joined us In tho living room With
an ali OF suppressed excitement
DO you think TIA possible7" she
inquired. laying Mr.. Gordon Ben.
nett's card on tho table as tho fear
ing Il might explode.
mo. | don't" said Gabrielle blunt
". IT'S just servants gossip.
Don't think about II any more"
or course. after that We talked
OF nothing else. aud when Lord
Wiifrld and Lady Edith came up
tina, evening we told them all about
Il. beginning with our experience
on the steamer. Lord Nllirid dis.
posed OF the steamer episode In one
succinct word
Drunk" he said. with n shrus
OF his shoulders. and really II
seemed not improbable. now that
Il was suggested To vs..
Lord Wiifrid appeared In a new
light that evening, he Was so ,alk.
alive and agreeable. he also cor.
roborated Mary Anne'a story about
the smurglers. End gave Us o good
deal OF information on the subject
The village was quite excited. he
said. and the fishermen who hired
sail boats could talk 81 nothing else
lie, By the nay. had hired a boat
By the week. ho told Gabrielle. and
Was ready to take us out NJ any
tins.
we have boat.house. but no
boat" remarked Gabrielle. and We
can't got inside Il because Mary
Anns'A brother iuconsiderately lost
the key
Perhaps ono OF mine will III. !"
suggested Lord Wllfrid. producing
his kcy.ring. Let Us try and
see
SO We all went down 10 the little
boat house beneath the bluff. ard
waited on the slip while hn tried
the various teya with no success
We are right under the cottage, :"
said Elizabeth. and yet one can
hardly see It. I don't believe like
# down here-it f. 30 dark and
creepy"
Suddenly. however. a beam Of
light Illuminated the little dock. 80
dazzling In It's hriilianey that We
were completely blinded and stood
blinking helplessiy.
IT'S a searchllght.' ! said. with
great originality. and added by way
OF announcement IT viii be
gone In an instant
But Il wasn't. ! don't know how
long We stood motionless In the
white light. but u seemed an eter.
nifty 10 mo. I, was most unpleasant !.
but so also wAs the intense dark.
ness into which We we're plunged
by tho unexpected removal % the
light. and wiih ono accord Ne made
for the steps leading back 10 the
cottage.
We went inside. and grew quite
cheerful and happy again. while
Lord Wilfrld told us about big game
hunting in Africa. But !, seemed
to me Lady Edith vas tired tonight.
for she was paler than usual. When
at last they rose 10 10. Lady Edith
laid her slender white hand on mine
and slipped her other arm around
EllEabcths waist.
Il hope you will pardon me. -
ahe said gently. = do not mean to
be oificious. and OF course nj home
We looked at such things different.
iy--"
She paused as tho she found OK.
precision difficult. and then contin.
ucd with some hesitation:
But you are Just three girls liv.
ing here alone. and I've been think.
ing about what you told us to
night. and II has made me a little
uncomfortable. II is 60 easy 10 be
imposed npon that we're ! In your
piacA ! would be very cautious
about admitting promiscuous young
men. Now. pleage don't misunder.
I stand me. will you7"
She looked anNiously into orr
eyes as she spoke. and ~ We In.
voluntarily smiled In response she
kissed us and Joined her brother
without another word.
II was her first advance beyond
the ordinary courtesies OF mere &C.
auaintaneeship. aud We were graft
fled az well as surprised for with
all her grace OF manner she had an
air OF reserve difficult to penetrate
Her words carried weight. too
I for when Mr.. Gordon Bennett re.
( peated his call within the week he
vas informed that the ladies' begged
/ to be excused.