Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-10-11

perate need. may rely upon you.
may | not?"
For answer, he sought her hand
found it and held it fast. 1t was
very cold.
Il was sure of it," she said, and
her fingers closed upon his. 81
knew, in my first glance at you,
that you were to be counted on
Dams heart was glowing and he
could not trust himself to speak.
My need is this" she went on
rapidly, as though, having nerved
herself to speak, she must hurry
through with it before her reso-
luton failed. MY father has
perfected all invention = oh, a
great invention-which he fears
some one may try to steal from
him. He has many enemies who
would stop at nothing to gain pos
session Of it. Even on this boat,
perhaps, there are some Of them
he does not know; there is no way
that he can tell but he is very
anxious. For eight years he la
bored at this invention, and at last
it is finished. But if some one
should steal his model, all this
would be for nothing-for worse
than nothing. 1t is not a money
loss he fears--this invention will
not bring him money-but his
whole life would be wrecked-all
his plans, all his hopes. Today
he agreed with me that this model
should be destroyed; he put it in
my hand and he expected me to
drop it into the sea. But | was
afraid to do that; perhaps he
could not make another. 1t is SC
complicated, so delicate, perhaps
he would go wrong. So | thought
and thought thought if 1 had
a friend whom | could trust abso-
lutely, whom no one would suspect
OF possessing it, | might entrust
IL TO nlm
Dams pressure on her hand
grew stronger.
"Give it to me-" he said.
Kasia gazed into his eyes for a
moment, as though reading his
very soul; then her other hand
came forward under her cloak and
touched his. He felt that it held
a package; and he took it quickly
and slipped it into the pocket OF
his coat.
"Now it is safe," he said. "You
are not to worry about it any
more"
She breathcd a deep sigh of re
lief.
"But you must make me two
promises" she said.
What + they?"
"You must permit no one, I'm
der any circumstances, to open
that package"
II promise"
Rather than do that, rather
than permit any one to see it, you
must destroy it-throw it over
board, stamp upon h-destroy ii
in some way"
II promise"
mo matter who may be trying
to get 1.-THE captain Of this ship.
an officer of the police-it must
make no difference"
II promise"
She leaned against the seat.
suddenly relaxed as from a great
strain, and closed her eyes. But
she did not draw her hand away
Then she opened her eyes and
looked at him, and her lips were
quivering. An immense longing
to take her in his arms, to stoop
and kiss those lips, to hold her
close to him, rushed through the
mans veins. But he held himself
back. To do that would be base
to do that would be asking pay
ment! He could not do that. But
sometime, sometime =
!! She saw the change in his face.
sat Tor an instant very still, Their
drew her hand away, got out hel
handkerchief and passed it across
her eyes.
Nov we can talk" she said
in another tone. lyon may choose
the subject
Dan pulled himself together.
"Oh, any subject will do" he
laughed. aShips or shoes or seal
ing wax-just SO you do the talk.
ing"
And he got out his pipe anc
filled it with trembling fingers
He was absurdiy happy.
CHAPTER XVII.
TEE FIRST CONFERENCE.
In the captain cabin mean.
while, another conference was 20