Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-19
CHAPTER xv-contInued.

cluster of deserted fishermen's huts.
Fifteen minutes walk brought him
to the pool. Ten minutes hard work
with the spade sufiiced to excavate a
shallow trench In the sands above
high-water mark. He required as
much time again to nerve himself to
the poiHt of driving Off the gulls and
moving the body. There were likewise
crabs to be dealt with. : 49,.
When It was accomplished, and he
had lifted the last heavy stone into
place above the grave, he waded out
into the sea and cleansed himself as
best he might, then lay down for a
time In the strengthening 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
NIL their defects, infinitely more be-
coming than the garments to which
she had been obliged to resort the
previous day) and busy preparing
breakfast.
swell, sirI" she called heartily over
her shoulder. "And where, pray.
have you been all this long timer"
II went for q SWIM" he said
vasively-"thought It might do me
good"
you're not feeling well?" She
turned to look him over. He avoided
her eye. II had a bad night"
"Still got the hump, ehT"
"Still got the hump" he assented,
glad thus to mask his unhappiness.
breakfast and a strong cup of tea
pr two will FIX that" she announced
with confidence.
His stout attempts to match her
cheerfulness during the meal fell dis
mally short of conviction. After two
or three false starts he gave 1t up
and took refuge in his plea of indls-
position. She humored him with a
covert understanding that surmlsed
more in a second than he could have
compressed into a ten-minute confess
sion.
The meal over, he rose and sided
awkwardly toward the door.
you'll be busy for while with the
dishes and things, won't your he
asked with an air meant to seem guile
less.
'Oh, yes; for some time," she re-
piled quickly.
I'll 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.
1T can't be DONE" he called back,
strolllng 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 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 moth.
ing of the girl; none of the elaborate
Ily 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 q
slight pause, as Of indecision, moved
down the path to meet him.
He was conscious that, at sight OF
her, his pulses, quickened. Something
swelled In his breast, something tight
cred the muscles of his throat. The
way Of her body In action, the way
Of the sun with her hair -
Dlsmay 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 dow1
upon the llchened stones, then looked
up to him with a smile and n slight
movement of the head that plainly In
a
II watched you~ off and on, from
the windows. You might have beer
looking for a pin, from your pains
taking air, Off there along the cliffs
He nodded again, gloomlly. Hel
comment seemed to admit of no more
compromising method Of reply.
"Then you've nothing to tell met"
T..
lifted his shoulders not quite happily
and swung one lanky leg across tn,
other as he slouched. morosely eyinI
the sheets of sapphire that made thei
prison walls. There was little silence
She watched hirn askance with he
fugitive, shadowy, sympathetic an,
shrewd smile.
"Must make talk. then?" she de
manded at length.
"If we must, / suppose-you1l hav
to show the way. My minds hardl,
equal TO trail-breaking to-day"
"So / shall. then. Hugh .
She leaned toward him, dropping he
hand over his own with an effect O
infinite comprehension. "Hugh," sh
repeated, meeting his gaze squared
as he looked up, startled-"what's tn
good of keeping up the make-believe
You knowp
The breath clicked in his throa
and his glance wavered uneasily, the
steadied again to hers. And throug
q long moment neither stirred, bu
sat so, eye to eye, searching each th
others mind and heart.
At length he confessed 1t with a
uncertain, shamefaced nod.
"That's right" he said: II d
knOw-now."
She removed her hand and sat bac
without lessenlng the fixity of her r.
gard.
"When did you find 1t out?"
'This morning. That is 1t came [
me oil of q sudden" His gaze fell
he stammered and felt his face burr
ing.
"Hugh, that's not quite honest.
know you hadn't guessed, last night
know it. Hugh, look at mer