The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-05-03
SHEDS
AUTHOR Of THE LONE
WOLF, THE BRASS
6OWL,"ETC
COPYRIGHT BILIOUS JOSEPH VANCE,

so" OF someone swearing fretfully
OF a third voice rapping out an oath of
rage; Of sounds like the crack Of a
pistol shot, the thud of a heavy fall, a
grunt of pain, a vile expression from
him who held her
And then she was free-and the fog.
horn still s%ereechingl
She staggered back to the rail, her
Drain Keeling, no true Conference in her
consciousness-only the struggle be-
tween instructive desire to scream and
the knowledge that for some reason
she mustn't.
Then a friendly voice saluted facul-
ties just beginning to comprehend that
chance had sent a rescue. "You, Miss
Cravenf Your Quoin was bending
solicitously over her as she chung trem.
bling to the rail.
Words come with difficulty from a
throat parched with fright. "Ohl" she
cried, n hand to her bosom. "Mr.
Quoin 7"
you're quite safe now. But are
you hurt, Miss Craven?"
I'm all right, / think. Oh, thank
you, Mr.. Quoin !"
"Therel I've done nothing-just
happened along at the right time
thank Cod But the first thing is
TO get you out of this COMPOUNDED fog p
"No-please-one moment"
The girl was searching frantically
for the lining pocket in her cloak.
And then at last she found 1t, and
1t was empty.
puzzled regard. A sense of suffoca-
ton oppressed her, and his voice
sounded from a far distance:
Whats the matter? You're sure
you're not hurt? Can l do anything?''
'Tve been robbed |" she managed to
a%rticulate piteously.
'"Then," he urged, "let me see you to
your stateroom. Afterward I'll find
the captain"
mo, mol Oh, please. mol Don't
tell anybody"
He stared. "Let me get this straight"
he said after a moment. you've been
subjected to a dastardly attack, and
robbed, and don't want me TO lodge
a complaint with the officers?"
"Yes, yesl" she nodded. Eyes,
that's it-don't tell anybody. Promise
me ~that-please promise !"
IF that's your WISH" he said coolly,
"Tve no right to oppose it."
"Tm sorry" she faltered "but It's
something I can't explain. If I'd only
myself to think Of" She checked in
CONSERVATION at that slip.
81 see," Quoin said gently. .~It's an
others. secret-not all your own"
She was silent.
But" he persisted, 'you've been
robbed of something valuable-whether
yours or another's. Do you mean to
let 1t go without effort to regain it?'
"Oh, no-something must be done !"
She worked her hands together In help
less torment.
'Then you don't mean to let the
matter drop? But a you accomplish
anything unaided? 1 don't want to
seem intrusive. but I'm really a bit
experienced in such matters, you
know. And Of the many who have
trusted me, none has ever regretted
It,"
ooh, I know, l know, Mr.. Quoin
But what can l tell you? That ! don't
know what 1t is I've lost?"
His brows lifted at this. us that
possible, Miss Craven?"
"It's the truth" she protested. SIT
something was given me to take care
Of, something's don't know what-in
a little wooden Chinese puzzle box, and
that has been stolen from me-"
Quoin nodded. "These men who at
you-do you know themT
II haven't the slightest suspicion
who they were."
There was honesty in her accents ;
Quoin believed her. 81 think-possi-
bly, can find them for you, with your
permission"
"You saw themT'
"No. But among our fellow passen-
are two card sharps, one of whom