Meade County news., 1917-11-08

"Why refer to that now?" reproach-
fully. ut is not so delightful men,
ory."
"The shipwreck-no; but the first
evening we met / cannot forget. But
you promised to make the mystery of
your presence on board the Esmeralda
clearW
"Has 1t not revealed itself?"
"NOt to me-"
"But has not Philip Bascom told you
who ann"
1 shook my head, not altogether
happy at this introduction of his name,
but unable to resent it.
"But you knew he recognized me !;
that we had been friends"
"All the more reason why should
remain silent. AS long as you evident
ly preferred that 1 should not know"
"Oh, but / didn't, Mr.. Hollis" she
interrupted. "It never once occurred
to me that you were still in doubt as
to my identity. OF course at first I
thought it safer to guard my secret
II did not know you at all then, only
by name; you were merely guest on
board my fathers yacht"
"Your fathers yacht Why, of
course-how stupid Of me. Vera, Vera,
why the name had strangely familiar
sound from the very first, but l could
not recall the association; you are
Gerald Carrington's daughter?"
II am Vera Darlington"
"But supposed you to be in Eu-
rope"
"Dld papa say so? You must have
misunderstood. Mother would have
taken me with her, but had so much
1 wanted to do in New York. 1t is
strange you should not have suspect
ed; that no one should have told you.
Why, both Mr.. Bascom and Mr.. Nc
Cam knew me-"
"Not McCann, surelyT
"Why not2 We have met socially
In New York. 1t seems hardly pos
sible, now that realize the true char
acter Of the man. But probably you
never asked; never discussed me be-
tween your"
"That is the truth. OF course 1t was
quite impossible for me to question
McCann, and have seen very little of
Bascom. Besides, you rather threw
yourself on my honor"
"On the Esmeralda-yes. 1t was nee
essary then, for l simply had to keep
my presence a secret until we were
a safe distance at sea. There were
several on board who would have rec
Ognized me at once, and would have
told papa. Mr.. Hollis, I realize fal
more than you can, all that has oc
Cured through the mad whim of a girl
But for me you would not be here or
this unlucky ship. You would be with
those others rescued from the Esme
ralda safely in New York. Mr.. Hollis
tell me, is there real trouble on board
Is there doubt of your being able tt
take the Indian Chief into port?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because-well, have heard things
not much, but enough to arouse suspi
cion. Then you had some trouble jus
now, and locked man up in one ot
the staterooms. 1t was to ask yor
| about this that 1 came on deck. Wht
was the man, and what had he done?'
"Our old friend, Fergus McCann,"
answered, deciding to be frank will
her. 'It was not so much what he haC
done, as what he proposed doing. Ell
was attempting to corrupt the crev
forward by the use of money, and un
fortunately, there are some scamp
aboard only too willing to max
trouble. / felt 1t safer to nip tn
scheme early"
"But what-what does Mr.. Mccain
seek? Why should he endeavor to bu
up the men? What is his purpose?"
"To have the Indian Chief returne
to an American port. I'll do him tn
| credit Of saying that, until 1 toll
him a while ago, he possessed n
. knowledge whatever that BascoI
owned the vessel, or was on board. II
uuIcS OhoCOLh yClp uAu Will NC Ohiy W
glad to ruin him. And he hates m,
because of what occurred in the boa
This is what dhderlies his action, n
doubt; then he believes money will az
r compllsh anything, and he has foun
sailormen forward ready enough to d
3 the dirty work, If he will only pay we
for it."
t "You know themT'
? "The two most prominent are Jill
| White and a fellow known aboard q
3 Liverpool Red, both typical forecast
5 bullies. know how to deal with the
E sort"
4 "You-you have decided what to d.
a then~
S II have decided to fight 1t out, {
e least. gave you my promise, Mi:
Vera, to take this ship to Hamburg
t it was possible to get there"
"And there is no other way Of savir
v the investment in this vessel an
n cargo?"
i 81 know of none."
d "Then we must go on, must we MOI
= IL hope you will, Captain Hollis"
e Before l could stop her, or add al
n other word, she was gone, and i W;
apparently alone on deck.
remained on deck the greater pa