The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-16
H-Sn0ne1

Mt sea would spoil your plan, Mr.. Hol-
, lis7"
1T would render our chances of sue
cess much less. The only possibility
would be the meeting of some Ameri-
can ship, homeward bound, whose CAP
tain would promise to make no report.
Such one might be hard to find, espe
cially II he suspected we were endeav-
oring TO carry munitions of war to Ger
many"
"Do you believe the Germans are
right in this war-.that you ought to
aid them?"
II cannot answer that" answered
honestly enough, "for I do not fully
understand the conditions. To be per-
fectly frank, however, my sympathies
are with England and France. In
this case I am not considering either
side, but the poor devil who owns this
ship and cargo. What we carry on
board here will not be drop In the
bucket, but its loss will spell ruin to
him, and that is the thought which in
fiuences me-"
"And I could not even dispatch q
message-wireless7"
"The Indian Chief has no equipment.
No, Miss Vera, we shall be absolutely
lost TO the world until we are either
captured, or safe In some German port
I would not deceive you-the project
Is both a desperate and a dangerous
one"
The girl remained silent. her eyes
lowered to the deck. / had said all
possible, determined as was not to
influence her decision. AS she did not
speak, or change her attitude, l arose
and walked across the cabin to where
/ could look out forward.
"Mr. Hollis"
Eyes" I turned.
~ must decide this? You mean to
leave 1t all to me?"
"1here Is no other way"
"But do not know what to say. I
thought Mt first I could answer yes.
gladly. I am not afraid, not the least
bit afraid; and II could only get some
word back to my people In New York
that am safe, would almost welcome
the adventure. I am only girl, you
know, and II like such things. But
they will worry horribly, for they have
no knowledge OF where I am No one
knows. II have simply disappeared,
and papa will have detectives hunt
ing for me, and will have to tell
mother. They will imagine all sorts
of horrid things. And you say II may
be weeks, or even months, before l
could get message to American"
81 am afraid so, Miss Vera wished
you to understand the exact truth"
"Oh I do not think that would be
right-do you?"
81 thought you might feel that way,
and SO made no pledge before telling
you the story. or course, I knew moth
ing Of how you were situated or un-
der what circumstances you had left
home"
"I stole away unknow, TO anyone
II was just lark fool III joke. No
one knows where am. If / could only
send them word!"
I touched the bent head gently with
my hand.
"Do not worry" I said kindly. "We
will give the scheme up entirely, and
port. Perhaps lick may favor us, and
If we meet an American ship. we can
transship you, and then take chance,
knowing that you are safely homeward
bound"
"But | understood you to say that
that would only Increase your peril"
at might. and II might not. At least
/ will not consent TO have you implI-
Gated in the affair any further than you
are now. / will not sacrifice you to
help our friend yOnder save his for
tune. I'll give him my answer now"
took step aft, but paused sudden
ly, for the door OF the owners cabin
opened, and he came limping forth,
resting heavily on a cane. his white
face clearly revealed in the glare of
the skylight. I stepped back beside the
girl, who. aroused by my sudden move.
ment, glanced up and saw him. Almost
instantly she was upon her feet, hest.
tated an instant as though perplexed
at the mans appearance; then ad.
vanced and met him.
"Mr. Bascom," she exclaimed, "can
this indeed be your"
You speak my name, certainly" he
replied, but gazing into her face SEEM
ingly without recognition. "Yet I do
not recall"
"Oh yes, you do; surely yeu must"
she interrupted. "Why, you have
changed more than I. Do you not re-
member the moonlight nights at Palm
Beach? The fishing parties along the
cooot