American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-21

wonderful for you to fight your way
like that, when your father was rich.
1t was a mans work. Tell ME about
it. Your sea life, I mean"
The eagerness of her voice must
have touched a responsive chord, for
almost before I realized my purpose, l
began speaking. 1 began at the first,
relating my life as cabin boy, and as
mar before the mast, my first voyage
as mate, and the experiences of my
earliest command. I told Of shipwreck
In the South seas; Of a battle for life
in the Indian ocean Of strange peoples
met in every quarter Of. the earth
Of fighting windy gales off the Allan
tic coast, and the silent desolatiOn of
tropic seas. Breathless with interest,
she questioned me-, and 1 answered,
feeling the magic of her eyes on my
face, the soft i~ntoxication Of her pres
ence beside me. She was natural,
wholesome, the very sort Of woman l
had dreamed about, as being
where In the world, yet had eve met
before. Her very presence was inspi-
ration, but beyond this vague impress
sion my dream did not go. Then 1
looked aside q. her and laughed, realiz-
ing suddenly how loquacious l had
been.
Really, 1 must have nearly talked
you to Sleep" I said regretfully. Il do
not know when I have before been
guilty Of such egOtism."
do not say that. It was most In
teresting. 1t is nice to be spoken to
as though n was an intelligent hu-
man being-it Is quite an experience"
perhaps I do not understand"
Doubtless not, for you are not a
girl, and you tell me you never sought
society. The very nature of your life
has left you frank and straightforward.
You talk to me just as you would to a
man."
IF my ~frankness has interested
you" 1 ventured, "can you not realize
how much 1 desire to learn more-who
you are, why you are here7"
"Of course; but l cannot tell you,
Mr.. Hollis-not yet"
She looked at her wrist watch, hold
ing 1t out into a s~tar-gleam, which re-
vealed the white shapeliness of her
arm.
Il dare not even remain here with
you longer"
"But you will come again7 This Is
not to be our last meeting2"
She hesitated, her eyes meeting
mine almost kindly then she held out
her hand.
"The last-yes, in this way. You
will meet me again, but not as we are
tonight. I have truly enjoyed being
with you, of hearing your story, Blu.
this meeting here alone was not M
i. choice. You understand 1 could no
avoid it, and after I was discovered
l had to remain and win your pledgI
to secrecy. You will not forget that?
"Assuredly not. You will not return
to the deck tomorrow night?"
/, She laughed softly, and Withdrew
/ her hand, which l still held.
Tomorrow night! Oh, l canno
: tell we may be far enough at sea b.
then so l need no longer seek fresh al
= by night. l told you my ~concealmen
was only temporary. Good night, Mr.
! Hollis"
The gray dress she wore left upoI
me the impression that she fade'
from sight, her dim outline vanished
so suddenly amid the shadows. 1 tool
a swift step forward, impelled by al
irresistible desire to ascertain in wha
portion Of the yacht she found conceal
: ment, yet paused almost as quickly
= Who she was, and why she had choseI
[ so unconventional a manner of joinin
us, was beyond my guessing. l essaye
t many a theory, yet n after the othel
all broke down, and left me cropping
darkness. Only one fact RENAME
steadfast, to which 1 could cling wit
= conference.-the girl was no mere az
ventures, no criminal she was dom
nothing of which she was In the leai
; ashamed, nor had she the slIghte.
t fear the consequences.
: l slept so soundly as to be the laI
guest at the breakfast table the ne1
morning, although as / sat there Rlon
I Fosdick returned from the deck to II
cabin, seeking a r~aincoat. and repor
1 ing a heavy fog, through which Ii
yacht was proceeding slowly. The We
d sci was still within easy view Of MOI
It tauk. or had been before the mist shI
J. down, but the really important new
: had come to Darlington BY wireless
r. positive information Of the outbrea
& Of a Russia and France were pi
ted against Germany and Austria
J. the death grapple. The German trooT
d. had already begun an invasion Of Be
4. GUM on their drive toward Paris.
y was still unknown what course En-
d land would take.
The nature of this news obscured a
else. and left me unable to complei
my meal. Other messages were m
l mentarily expected. and l dressed ha
% lily, and Joined the little group on Il