The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-18
BY ROBERT AMEs BENNETT
Copyright, 1908, by
A. g. McClurg Il Co.
CONTINUED from Our Last Issue.)
CHAPTER VIII.
The Storm

CHAPTER VIII.
The Storm.
IL was several days later that
Miss Leslie, returning from her
egg gathering, found Blake put
ting the finishing touches to a
door for her private sleeping cave.
The first barrier that he had
CONSTRUCTED he had torn away, and
in its stead he had constructed a
door of solid bamboo, interviewer
with thorns in such a manner that
the sharp spikes were all on the
outside. This whole was bal
anced on a cross bar in the mid
die, and swung on this as on a
pivot. On the inside he had ar
ranged q bar and socket that,
dropped in place, secured the girl
absolutely from all intruders.
But it's absurd for you to go
to all this needless work" she
protested. mot that | do not APP
preciate your kind thought for
my safety. Yet look at your
bhands!"
Blake fastened to put his bleed
ing hands behind him.
They are no sight for LADY,"
he muttered, apologetically. but
first, | want to make sure you
understand fastening the door.
Try the bars yourself"
She obeyed, sliding the bars in
and out until he nodded his salts
faction.
Good" he said. Now promise
me you'll slide 'em fast every
night"
IF you ask it. But why?"
Il want to make perfectly
safe"
Safe But am l not secure
with -
Look here, Miss Leslie, prom
Use me straight you'll lock up tight
every night"
Very well, l PROMISE" respond
ed the girl not a little troubled
by the strangeness of his express
sion.
He turned at once, swung open
the door and went out. During
supper he was markedly taciturn,
and immediately afterward went
off to his bed. I.~
That night Miss Leslie duti-
fully fastened herself in with all
six bars. She wakened at dawn,
and fastened out to, prepare
Blake's breakfast, but she found
herself too late. There were evil
dences that he had eaten and gone
off before dawn.
She bit her lip in her dbap-
lpointment, for she ha4 sphnned
to show him how much she ap-
preciated his absurd but we'll
meant concern for her safety. AS
lit was, he had gone off without a
word, and left her to the ques-
tionable pleasure of tete-a-tete
with Winthrope. Hoping to avoid
this, she hurried her preparations
for a day on the cliff. But before
she could get off WINTHROP saun-
tered up and began to speak very
rapidly: Miss Genevieve, II
wish to apologize. I've thought
lit over. I've made a mistake
i mean my conduct the other
day was vile, utterly vile! Permit
me to appeal to your considerable
ness"
The girl threw out her hand in
little gesture of protest.
I'll do what you ask. I'll make
allowances for your-for your
feelings toward me, and will try
to forget all you said the other
day. Let me begin by asking a
favor of YOU ...
"Ah, Miss Genevieve, anything,
to be sure, that l may dol"
1T is that l wish your opinion.
When Mr.. Blake finished that alb
surd door last evening, he would
not tell me why he had built it
only a vague statement about my
safety"
"Ah! He did not go into par
Iticulars?" drawled Winthrope.
mo; not even a hint; and he
looked so-odd."
Winthrope slowly rubbed MS
soft palms one upon the other.
DO you-er-really desire 10
know his-the motive which act
uated him?" he murmured.
II should not have mentioned
it to you If did not" she an
swered.
"Well-er- He hesitated and
paused for a full minute. Il will
begin by explaining that | have
known it since the first
known what?"
"Of that bound-of-er-
Blake's trouble"
"Trouble?"
"Ah! Perhaps should have
said affIiction; yes, that Is the
better word. To own the truth,
the fellow has some good quail
ties. 1t was no doubt because he
realized, when in his better mo-
ments-" ''.@'
Better moments? Mr. Win
thrope. I am not a child. In JUS
tice both to myself and TO Mr..
Blake, ! must ask you tn speak
out plainly" ~
my dear Miss Leslie, may J
first ask IL you have not observed
how strangely at times the fellow
acts-'looks odd as you put it
how he falls into melancholia or
senseless RACES? I may triithfully
state that he has three.o times
threatened my life." sfatfa
| VI thought his anger quite