The Pulaskian., 1917-03-16
CHAPTER xv-continued.

Fastening back to the farmstead, he secured a spade from the barn and made his way quickly down to the beach by way of the road through the cluster of deserted fishermen's huts. Fifteen minutes walk brought him to the pool. Ten minutes hard work with the spade sufficed to excavate a shallow trench in the sands above bigh-water mark. He required as much time again to nerve himself to the point of driving off the gulls and moving the body. There were likewise crabs to be dealt with. . ].
 When it was accomplished, and he had lifted the last heavy stone into place above the grave, he waded out into the sea and eleansed himself as best he might, then lay down for a time in the strength-giving light, feel ing giddy and faint.
 What the gulls and the crabs and the shattering surf had left had been little, but enough for indisputable Identification.
 Whitaker had buried Drummond.
 By the time he got back to the farmhouse, the woman was up, dressed in the rent and stained but dry remnants of her own clothing for all their defects, infinitely more be- coming than the garments to which she had been obliged to resort the previous day) and busy preparing breakfast.
 'Well, sir!" she called heartily over
  have you been all this long timer"
 q went for a swim," he said evasively-"t thought it might do me good"
 'You're not feeling well?" She turned to look him over. He avoided her eye. q had bad night
 "Still got the hump, chi"
 "Still got the hump" he assented, glad thus to mask his unhappiness.
 Breakfast and strong cup of tea or two will fix that" she announced with confidence.
 His stout attempts to match her cheerfulness during the meal fell dis malIy short of conviction. After two or three false starts he gave it up lOOh 4CIdGC AAA Alo PAOSl OA AAAOAo position. She humored him with a covert understanding that surmised more in a second than he could have compressed into a ten-minute confess sion.
 The meal over, he rose and sidled awkwardly toward the door.
 You'll be busy for while with the dishes and things, won't you% he asked with an air meant to seem guile less.
 "Oh, yes; for some time," she re- piled quickly.
 TT think I'll take a stroll round the island. There might be something like a boat hidden away somewhere along the beach,"
 "You won't go out of sight?" she pleaded through the window.
 Tt can't be done," he called back, etrolling out of the dooryard with much show of idle indecision.
 His real purpose was, in fact, de- finite. There was another body to be accounted for.
 To his intense relief, he made no further discovery other than a scatter ing drift of wreckage from the motor boats. He turned at length and trudged wearily back toward the farm house.
 Since breakfast he had seen noth- ing of the girl; none of the elaborate 1y casual glances which he had from time to time cast inland had discov- cred any sign of her. But now she appeared in the doorway, and after a slight pause, as of indecision, moved down the path to meet him.
 He was conscious that, at sight of her, his pulses quiekened. Something swelled in his breast something tight ened the muscles of his throat. The way of her body in action, the way of the sun with her hair . ;.
 Dismay shook him like an ague; he felt his heart divided against itself; he was so glad of her, and so afraid He could not keep his eyes from her, nor could he make his desire be still; and yet and yet
 They paused beside one of the low stone walls and the girl sat down upon the lichened stones, then looked up to him with a smile and a slight movement of the head that plainly in- vited him to a place beside her.
 T watched you, off and on, from the windows. You might have been looking for a pin, from your pains taking air, off there along the cliffs" He nodded again, gloomily. Her comment seemed to admit of no more compromising method of reply.
 "Then you've nothing to tell mel"
 He pursed his lips, depreciatory, lifted his shoulders not quite happily, and swung one lanky leg across the other as he slouched, morosely eying the sheets of sapphire that made their prison walls. There was a little silence.