Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-18

against the ensanp uiaed sky.
Ramon WAS clutchins the rail with
both hands staring on into the sunset
like a man entrauccd. His eyes were
wide and CLASSY. his liDs little
parted There was fear in his face
Day was dying in weller OF scar
let. from horizon wclluish TO zenith
the slly OF ,umbled clouds glared with
sinister fires: the sea mirroring their
complexion rcscmblcd a sea of blood
through which tho slim white yacht
atolc hastily like u guilty thing in
haste 10 reach the friendly refuge OF
tn. night.
The sign of blood was in the skies
ana the guilt OF blood WAS Oh lannon's
head.
With 4 supreme effort lie wrcnchcd
his iSaZe from that :,we-inspirins sight,
md, stun SraspinG the rail With such
force that lie seemed DESTROYS OF sink
ing his fingers into the solid teak.
looked down over the side.
Eut The color OF blood still tinted
his vision. The waters that swirlcd
away from the vessels flank wore that
shade. And in them something seemed
to move, something pallid seemed 10
surge toward tho surface.
The blood in Eamons veins seemed
10 CONCEAL. Ills flesh crept lie shiv-
tlt' ollltEWlSC lie ulu
not stir. lie could not. had his life
depended, have stirred from that spot
OF lifted his raze from that mask of
horror which seemed ever about To pop
up through tho waters. lie
could sec il now quite plainly-philip's
face. rs white as chalk, its features
violently distorted with the stamp OF
agony. SWAN alongside the yacht, just
beneath tho surface Of the crimsoncd
,,l,g md r,IVT ftl 70
l'nconsciuosly Ramon groaned.
He came 10 himself abruptly. reused
hy the grasp Of IN Imperative hand on
his shoulder that swung him round
away from the rail, to face it's owner
the SavatH.
She peercd mauisitivcly into Ra-
mons countenancc, trace OF contempt
~ hrr regard
What under tho sun Is the matter
,ciin you?" she demanded III her ma
tive tongue. You seemed about to
throw yourself over the rail"
Ills ghost" the haunted man lai-
tered. trembling in every linn. Philips
;:hoSt-doym therc-ov.r the aiGe--fol-
lowing the ship--houndng me
The wolnanS fingers frightened iorci-
patiently.
Fool" she whispered. Hold Your
siliy tongue AFRO YOU mad There's
no such thing down there. You arc
the yiotim Of All hallucin"tion'
"Eu, tell you raw
You SAW n"thing--nothinG. Il" YOU
hear You've been drinking too much.
ami your nerves have tricltcd yvar
senses. Get below and Try to sleep II
om-hut don't in the name Of sanity
take another drink
Almost witlcsS with fright the man
suffered her to lead him I" the head OF
tic comrauionway. Released. he STUN
blcd down to the saloon.
Nictorue waited there . minute. cyc-
ms the princess. who had neither
moved nor showed u sign OF interest
in tho scene.
From below came Tho noise Of glass
striking class as tho neck ~ = de
cantcr chartered against the rim OF a
lumber.
With II gesture OF hopolcssncss. Vic
ioriiir returned to her chair.
The princess remained movelcSs.
bullets.
Declining TO dine In tho saloon with
Count Ramon. Nile. Snvatz ard the Of
,icers Of the yacht. the Princess Julia
AT. sparlngIy from the meal brough;
Ia her on a tray hy ono OF tho stew
atds-sparinGly. yet with more relish
than would seem meet IN GA" who
mourvs n sweetheart.
SHE saw nothing more o. the count.
When she left hcr chair, at ABOUT .
o'clock, to fetch dark cloak ana man
tiila from her stateroom, tn" saloon
was deserted.
The SaVatz. on the otiIor hand, Kept
her company on tile dcck till nearly six
bells Then. wcaryinS OF the silence
pcrsistcntly maintained by her prn-
cess in tho face OF all her friendly over
lures. the intriaantc took herself oil
80 l,t n llNp nNI M.
sun Julia waited OH. almost with
OF stirring, in her chair. Eut had the
darkness permitted h.r countcnance to
lie scrutnzcd it would Rave betrayed
growing excitement ana Al ANNA
tion widely ut variance with tho sad
lancuor OF her day-loGG pose
Her eyes searched narrowly every
visible inch Of tho aftcrdcck Eut the
slip had quictcd down for the night.
She Was left altogether alone.
seven bells tl:3w sounded through
thc stiffness. The princess rose quick
iN, paused mstauiancouSly at ono OF
the ports in the supcrs,rncturc which
commanded view al tho saloon be
low, made sure that ii was still un-
tcuantcd. and Slipped forward with
liGht and soundlrss footsteps. her cloak
Rugged closely round her slender body.
h"r black mantilla yelling her head
AND all Of hcr face but her cyes-that
Shonc like stars.
No ghost could have moved less con
spicuous,y than she
Amidshirs the decks were unbro,< n
Dy supcrstructurc between the deck
house that sheltered tho officers quar-.
t"rs ana that which rooted the saloon.
Here, ia the darkness. one NIGH; stand
unseen rs those upon the bridge AND
here the princess paused ana turned
aside.
< Gip Il ~. .