The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-03-08
CHAPTER x-Continued.

~
what / wished to convey was sim
ply my intention no longer to bear m!
masculine weight upon women-e1
ther you or any other woman"
A smile contended momentarily witt
the frown. and triumphed brilliantly
II mean to ask you," he said delib
erately, ito whom am indebted"
To his CONSERVATION the smile van
ished, as though cloud had sailed be,
fore the sun. Doubt and something
strongly resembling incredulity in
formed her glance.
DO you mean to say you don't
SnOw" she demanded after moment.
Surely Mr.. Ember must have told
SOu?"
'Ember seemed to be laboring under
the misrepresentation that the Fiske
1lace was without a tenant"
"Oh!" Her tone was thoughtful.
"Has he gone back to town."
Business called him. At least such
was the plausible excuse he advanced
for depriving himself Of my exclusive
society"
81 see," she nodded-"I see :"
But aren't you going to tell me?
Or ought to prove my human inteIli-
gence by assuming on logical grounds
chat you're Miss Fiske?'
''If you please" she murmured, her
intent gaze seeking the distances of
the sea.
''Then that's settled" he pursued in
accents of satisfaction. "You are Miss
Fiske--Christian name at present I'M
known to deponent. And we are neigh
bors. Do you know, think this
very decent sort of world after all?"
"And still"-she returned to the
charge-''you haven't told me what you
mean to do, since you refuse my help"
Il mean," he asserted cheerfully, ito
sit here until some kind-hearted person
fetcheS me stick to serve as emergen-
cy staff. Then l shall make shift to
hObble to your motor boat and thank |
you very kindly for ferrying me home"
She shook her head in dainty annoy |
ance, then, light-footed, darted from |
sight round the side of the bathhouse.
Presently she reappeared, dragging an
eight-foot pole. He rose on one foot
and tested the staff with his weight.
Twill do" he decided. And thank
you very much"
But even with it's aid, his progress
toward the boat necessarily consumed
a tedious time. 1t was impossible to
favor the injured foot to any great ex-
tent. He made little or no attempt to
converse while in motion, so she had
plenty of opportunity to make up her
mind about him.
If her eyes were q reliable index,
she found him at least interesting. At
times their expression was enigmatic
beyond any reading. Again they
seemed openly perplexed. At all
times they were warily regardful. Once
she sighed quietly with a passing look
Of sadness of which he was wholly
unaware.
"Odd-about that fellow" he OBJ
served during halt. II was sure he
vas Drummond-untilI saw"
"Drummondp
ErlenQ OF mlQe LOU uOH | G
y any chance know Drummond, do
,ou?"
I've heard the name"
"You must have. Supposed to have :
suicide-jumped off Wash =
ngton bridge a week before he was to q
marry Sara Law, the actress? Il !
may as well tell you-it's no secret,
Though only a few people know it q
Imber saw Drummond, or thinks he \
i'd, alive, in the flesh, good half-hour n
fter the time of his reported suicide" I,
"How very curious" There was D
othing more than civil but perfume n
Dry interest Ia the comment Are
on ready to go onr d
And another time, when they were II
ear the boat:
"When do you expect Mr.. EmberT' "
sked the girl.
Tonight, probably" "
Il shall be glad to see him." said e
le girl in what Whitaker thought a al
Irious tone. please tell him, win
,u7 Don't forget" W
III that's the way you feel about M
m, I shall be tempted to wire him hi
II to come"
Absurd !" she laughed. vi