Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-06-08

She laughed gayly and turned TO face
him. His voice took on a subtle quail
ity of polite insistence:
surely you met him somewhere be-
fore Gibraltar"
"How could | when this is the first
time Captain Woodhouse has been out
of Egypt for years?'
"Who told you that?" The general
was quick to catch her up. The girl
felt a swift stab of fear. On the in
slant she realized that here was some
body attempting to drive into the
mystery which she herself could not
understand, but which she had pledged
herself to keep inviolate. Her voice
futtered in her throat as she an
swered:
"Why, he did himself, general"
"He did, Ell? Gave you a bit of his
history on first meeting? Confding
chap, what2 But you, Miss Gerson-
you've been to Egypt. you say?"
mo, general"
Jane was beginning to find this cross
examination distinctly painful. She
lClI thuI dl1CdQy Cl DltOSCs 81 6llDl
given at Captain Woodhouse's insist
ence, was involving her in a situation
the significance of which might prove
menacing to herself and one other.
She could sense the beginnings Of a
strain between herself and this genial
elderly gentleman, her host.
do you know, Miss Gerson'-he
was speaking soberly now-"I believe
you and Captain Woodhouse have met
before"
you're at liberty to think anything
you like, general-the truth or other
wise" Her answer, though given
smilingly, had a sting behind it.
I'm not going to think much longer.
I'm going to known He clapped his
lips shut over the last word with a
smack of authority.
Are you really, General Crandall?'
The girls eyes hardened just percepti-
bly,. He took a urn of the room and
paused, facing her. The situation
pleased him no more than it did his
breezy guest, but he knew his duty and
doggedly pursued it.
"Come-eome, Miss Gerson! 1 be-
lieye you're straightforward and sin
cere or I wouldn't be wasting my time
this way. I'll be the same to you.
This is a time of war. You understand
all that imn'ies, ! hope. A Serious
question concerning Captain Wood
houses position here has arisen. If
you have met him before, as l think
you have. it will be to your advantage
to tell me where and when. l am in
command of the Rock, you know"
He finished with an odd tenseness of
tone that conveyed assurance of his au-
thority even more than did the sense
of his words. His guest, her back to
the table ON which the roses rested and
her hands bracing her by their tense
grip on the table edge, sought his eyes
boldly.
General Crandall," she began, "my
training in Hildebrand's store hasn't
made me much of a diplomat. All this
war and intrigue make me dizzy. But
l know one ~thing-this isn't my wal
or my country's, and I'm going to fol
low my country's example and keer
out of it,"
General Crandall shrugged his shoul-
ders and smiled at the girls defense.
maybe your country may not be
able to do that" he declared, with a
touch of solemnity. Il pray God it
may. But I'm afraid your resolution
-,.It - l.l1 1Is~rx Gou,O, -
I'm going to try to make it any
way" she answered.
Gibraltar's commander, baffled thus
by a neutral-a neutral fair to look on
in the bargain-tried another tack. He
assumed the fatherly air.
LADY Crandall and l have tried to
show you we were friends-trfed to
help you get home" he began.
you've been very good to me-" Jane
broke in feelingly.
"What l say now is spoken as a
friend, not as governor of the Rock.
If it is true that you have met Wood
house beforehand our conversation
here veriies my suspicion-that very
fact makes his word worthless and re-
leases you from any promise you may
have made not to reveal this and what
you may know about him; also 1t
should put you on your guard-his mo-
tives in any attentions he may pay
you cannot be above suspicion"
81 think that is a personal matter l
am perfectly capable Of handling
James resentment cent the flags to her
cheeks.
General Crandall was quick to back
water. Eyes, yes! Don't misunder-
stand me. What I mean to say is
He was interrupted by his wife's
voice calling for Jane from the nearby
room. Anticipating her interruption,
he hurried IN:
For the present, Miss Gerson, Wen
drop this matter. l said a few minutes
ago l intended shortly to-know. 1
hope l won't have to carry out that
i