American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-11-09

tne since / have enjoyed the pleasure
OF your presence on deck In the night"
why refer to that now7 7" reproach-
fully. 1T is not so delightful a mem
Dry"
THE shipwreck-no; but the first
evening we met l cannot forget. But
you promised to make the mystery Of
your presence on board the Esmeralda
clearT'
HAS II not revealed itself7'
mot to me-"
but has not Philip Bascom told you
who am37
l shook my head, not altogether
happy at this Introduction of his name,
but unable to resent 1t.
but you knew he recognized me
that W. had been friends"
"All the more reason why / should
remain silent. AS long as you evident
ly preferred that | should not know"
"Oh, but l didn't, Mr.. Hollis" she
interrupted. ut never once occurred
TO me that you were still In doubt as
to my identity. OF course at first |
thought it safer to guard my secret
II did not know you at all then. only
by name; you were merely a guest on
board my fathers yacht"
Your fathers yacht Why. of
course-how stupid OF me. Vera, Vera,
why the name had a strangely familiar
sound from the very first, but l could
not recall the association you are
Gerald C~arrington's daughter?"
Il am Vera Carrington.'
but l supposed you to be in Eu-
roper"
Did papa say SOP You must have
misunderstood. Mother would have
taken me with her, but l had so much
| wanted TO do In New York. II is
strange you should not have suspect
ed that no n should have told you.
Why, both Mr.. Bnscom and Mr.. Nc
Cam knew me-"
mot Mccain, surely?"
why not? We have met socially
In New York. 1t seems hardly pos
sible' now that | realize the true char
acter of the man. But probably you
never asked never discussed me be
TWEEN NOu
THAT is the truth. OF course 1t was
quite impossible for me to question
Mccain, and | have seen very little of
Bascom. Besides, you rather threw
yourself on my honor"
O the Esmeralda-yes. II was nee
essary then, for l simply had to keep
my presence II secret until we were
a safe distance at sea. There were
several on board who would have rec
ognized me at once. and would have
told papa. Mr.. Hollis. | realize far
more than you can, all that has oc-
CURED through the mad within of a girl.
But for me you would not be here on
this unlucky ship. You would be with
those others rescued from the Esme-
ralda safely in New York. Mr.. Hollis,
tell me. is there real trouble on board7
Is there doubt of your being able to
take the Indian Chief into port?"
why do you ask"
"Because-well. l have heard things;
not much. but enough to arouse suspi-
cion. Then you had some trouble Just
now, and locked Il man up In one Of
the staterooms. II was TO ask you
about this that | came on deck. Who
was the man, and what had he done?'
"Our old friend. Fergus McCann," |
answered, deciding To be frank with
her. 1T was not so much what he had
done. as what be proposed doing. He
was attempting TO corrupt the crew
forward by the use Of money. and I'M
fortunately. there are some scamps
aboard only too willing to make
trouble. | felt It safer to nip the
scheme early"
"But what-what Toes Mr.. Mccain
seek7 Why should he endeavor to buy
up the men? What is his purposeY"
ITO have the Indian Chief returned
20 an American port. I'll do him the
credit Of saying that, until l told
him a while ago, he possessed no
knowledge whatever that Bascom
owned the vessel, or was ON board. He
hates Bascom yet. and will be only too
glad TO ruin him. And he hates me.
because Of what occurred in the boat.
This is what underlies his action. no
doubt: her he believes money will &C.
complish anything. and he has found
sailormen forward ready enough to do
the dirty work, II he win only pay well
for IT,"
"You know them7"
The two most prominent are Jim
White and a fellow known aboard as
Liverpool Red, both typical forecastIe
bulies. know how 10 deal with their
sort"
"You-you have decided what to do.
thenT'
Il have decided TO fight II out. nj
least gave you my promise, Miss