Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-11-15

knowing that you are safely homeward
bound"
But understood you to say that
that would only increase your peril"
''It might, and it 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 adj
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
ing1y without recognition yet I do
not recall"
"Oh, yes, you do; surely you 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
coast?"
"Vera :" he cried, a note of delight
in his voice. "Of course I remember !;
but you have become a. woman, the
very last person in the world expect
ed to see. And so you are the lady
we were fortunate enough 70 rescue.
Mr.. Hollis never even mentioned your
name"
''There was no reason why should"
I said, Having no thought of your pre-
vious acquaintance. The young lady
and have just been discussing the sit
uation-"
"Wait just a moment, Mr.. Hollis"
she interrupted, her eyes still on Bas-
CONS face. ''This discovery changes
everything. Mr.. Bascom is an old
| friend"
$50 Judge; but I do not intend to
let that influence your decision"
| "But it will, and does" a certain
not understand before, as 1 do now.
You are the owner, Mr.. Bascom? This
is your boat and cargoF"
| "Yes, Vera; things have not gone
well with me of late. and my entire for
| tune is here" he answered rather BIT
terly.
81 am sorry; had not heard. You
have been terribly ill, from your looks,
and are lame. lit was that affair
| in New fork, from which you never
recovered?"
81 was in the hospital for months,
and scarcely hoped to live. That was
| when my business went to smash
Father never told me; and your
mother?"
as living in Philadelphia, but in
rather straitened circumstances, and
ill my younger brother has been COM
PEELED to leave school and seek employ
ment." He smiled weakly. 81 had
hoped this voyage would set us all on
our feet again.
She released her hand from his
grasp, and sank down once more into
the chair, her glance leaving his face,
and seeking mine.
"Mr. Hollis" she said, almost def
antly. cit is my wish that the Indian
Chief continue its voyage"
"But cannot consent"
"You left this decision to me. Well,
II make that decision. My comfort,
even the mOmentary fear which my
family may feel over my strange disap-
pearance, could never justify my re-
fusal. / know this gentleman, and
have met his mother; we were good
friends. He shall not be ruined
through any within of a girl. I urge
you to go ahead, not considering me in
the least"
81 cannot quite understand so sud
den n change"
perhaps you do not understand
women" she said, and smiled. "Surely
you recall who Mr.. Bascom is?"
"Not in the remotest degree"
sBut we spoke of him in the boat
1 Philip Bascom."
Ny eyes widened, and / caught my
breath.
"Good heavensi yes; now I recall
the affair. He is the man Fergus Nc
Il Cam shot in the hotel restaurant. That
was the accident he speaks of. Why
this is strange enough to be fiction"
Bascom stood, leaning on his cane
looking at us, as though failing to com
prehend what it was we were talking
about. Possibly he did not catch oul
words clearly, for his white face ap
peared puzzled.
you speak of me?- he asked, "of m,
difficulty with McCann?"
She looked up ut him earnestly.
!. Eyes; it is very strange You should
4