Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-02-17
CHAPTER Xii-Continued.

THE most amiable person / know !"
he cried, elated. "Greetings!"
She paused by the steps, looking up,
fascinating vision.
you're able to stand without assist
ance?"
"As a matter of fact I can move
only at the cost of excruciating agony"
She considered him with a sober face
and smiling eyes. 81 don't believe you.
You're a fraud. Besides, l didn't
rome to see you at all; came to find
out why Mr. Ember dares So to neg
Iect me. Did you deliver my invita-
nou?"
Il did. unwlllingly. He was desc
lated, but he couldn't accept-had to
run back to town Immediately after
dinner"
He's as great a fraud as you are.
But since he isn't here. shall 60"
"please-rm famlshed for human So
clety. Have pity. Sit down. Tell me
where you've been with the boat"
Merely to the head of the bay to
have the gasoline tanks filled. A most
boresome errand. If / promise to come
over this evening and play you a rub
ber or two-will you permit me to 20
home now?"
"On such terms I'll do anything you
can possibly suggest" he declared, en-
chanted. But how will you
get here? Not alone. through the
woods l can't permit that"
Elsie shall row me down the shore
aud then go back TO keep cook COM
pany Sum Fat can see me home-if
you find it still necessary to keep up
the invalid pose"
I'm afraid" he laughed, 81 shall call
my own bluff. Must you really
go so sOon2"
Good afternoon" she returned de-
,nurely; and ran down the steps and
off to her boat.
Smiling quietly to himself, Whitaker
watched her cast the boat off, get IN
der way, and swing it out of sight be-
hind the trees. Then his smile wavered
and faded and gave place to a look Of
acute discomfort. Three mortal hours
10 fritter away in profitless anticipa-
at seven Whitaker was merely nery-
Gus.
Ky eight he was unable to sit still.
Half an hor~ later the house was too
small to contain him. He found him
self at the end of the dock, tingling
with Impotence, but finding some little
consolation in the restless sweep of
The wind against his face and body. He
could see little-a mere suggestion of
the shore line picked out with the dim,
nlphosphorescent glow OF breaking
|2Feiets. Some minutes elapsed. The
paiior OF the east grew more marked.
whitaker fancied he could detect
iE1re moving on the Flske dock.
Then, startled, he grew conscious of
tae thick drone of a heavily-powered
motor boat near inshore. Turning
quickly, he discovered a black, vague
sHdpe act twenty yards from where he
stood showing neither bow nor side
"shts; stealthy and mysterious APP
partition creeping toward the dock with
something Of the effect of an animal
about to spring.
ana Immediately he heard a mans
'oiee from the boat, abrupt with anger:
Not this place. you ass-the next"
Shut up" another voice replied.
1aeres somebody on that dock"
Al the same time the bows of the
'oaI swung off and the shadow slipped
away to westward-toward the Fiske
place.
4 wondering apprehension of some
'aAeless and desperate enterprise.
somehow involving the woman who
''9esSed his thoughts, crawled in Whit
0'I mind. Automatically he turned
'4eA' let himself down to the beach.
e-l began TO pick his way toward the
Sse dock, half running despite his
- ankle. But i've had not gone half
way before he pulled up with q
p'as heart, startled beyond ex-
''.9R by cry in the night-a cry
Wiz appeal and protest ringing
down the wind a voice whose
---.fe was Enthusiastically that of q
4n AUX secours AUX secours Z"
vice It cried out, and then was
@4ea as grimly as the first inco-
'I screams. No need now to guess
"Aat was towards: Whitaker was
.as, needless of lbs injured foot
".aE' slipping. stumbling, leaping-
+AoT making progress.
by now the moon had lifted above
raeh high enough to all him some
at with its waxing light: and look.
aaead, he could distinguish djuIv
ts about the dock aud upon IL that
e1 10 bear out his mos. cruel
TIE power boat was passablv
22t, her white side showing plairIv
.sa tile tempered darkness. Md
~ '2"D .he dock he made out sfr7r-
'-.-s @s-tes-two of them he indeed
7 q close grips with frantic
Ian and where thu structure
The land. a second pair. again a
A1l woman. strove and swavad
F a.l his haste. he was too slow.
,I fair thirty yards away