Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-11-22

He laughed, watching the smoke
rings rise laZily in the air.
swell, hardly that, my boy. My hos.
pitality is not to be so strictly limited. !
However, no doubt. we shall discuss
some matters of business Importance
before u return. BY the way, you
have some idle money, l hear?"
!. "Not q large sum at present, al
though it is true l control some capt.
tall"
Darlington pushed back his chair
and arose to his feet.
"That is of no immediate impor-
tance," he said carelessly. But in my
Judgment, we are not far away from a
great opportunity in finance, when it
will pay well to be on the inside. 1t
may interest you to know that a cop
per pool is being organized"
Il suspected as much; you have some
news?'
"~Exceeding,y important news. Lis
ten, Hollis, this is strictly confidential
and worth your thinking it over. Only
two men on board know the truth.
There will be wal in Europe-the big
gest wal ever known in history-within
a month. Do you realize what that
will mean, for instance, to copper!'
81 can imagine, sir. But if We are
on the verge of such q sudden rise in
market value, why do you leave New
York for Il long voyage?"
Darlington smiled, stroking his gray
mustache.
"a natural question, perhaps coming
from one not acquainted with my
methods" he answered good-humored-
ly. because l prefer to be thought
out of it. Everybody on the street
is awarc that l am at sea. l thus
escape being interviewed, importuned
[ for information. / am unsupported of
being where l can manipulate the mar
ket. The Esmeralda is equipped with
a powerful wireless outfit, and we have
on board the most expert operator
10 be procured in New York. l shall
F! be in direct communication with my
: o.ice every hour of the day and night.
t Tomorrow, once safely beyond Point
Judith, l shall explain my plan; mean
u while. Hollis, think it over"
u lie turned toward the stairs, but 1
$ stopped him, more deeply interested in
t something else than in his rather vague
financial scheme. The girl OF board ;
i, was il possible She could have amy con-
nection With this affair?
BY the way" l spoke with an as
sumption of careleSsncsS, "Mrs. Car
rington, | understand, is at present III
%!2urope?'
Yes, in Switzerland; l have cabled
her that she had better return as far
as London at once"
. You seem very confident as to the
truth of your advices."
81 am; I know the men who have
reported to me-"
81 see; and consequently there are
III no ONE on board?"
81 "Women?" He made q swift, expires
sive gesture. "Certainly not. l wrote
"a you to that effect, 1 believe; at least
l so instructed my secretary. Thi:
a voyage is primarily a business affair
I Why should you ask that question
al llollIS /. 1ou 1ltNS llC III lhy SlNolSs
1 hesitated, yet determined to pu'
him fully to the test. If he knew, eli
Their his face or manner would bctra,
y him, irrespective Of his words.
" 81 imagined 1 saw q woman on tn
deck last night, when I ventured OF
to learn why the engine had stopped
Il No doubt it was an Illusion"
nT4 ,,,,o1, ~,,,+ Lo,.o Joo, y, l;, vote.
%evidencing surprise, "for I give you m.
word there is not a on thit
n yacht. What, to your mind, did tn
creature look like?'
Nothing at all definite, a mere out
line in the CLEAN of the stars. 1t ma,
ny have been an odd combination o
e shadow, but, at the time, l felt con
N vinced the vision was actually fesl
and blood"
Darlington laughed heartily.
DISMISS it, my boy" he said, hi
e hand gripping the brass rail. "W
= may indeed have ghost women OF
~ board, but no flesh and blood ones
~ Better join us on deck, and let the SUI
"a and wind clear your brain-perhap
y the champagne caused the mischief?
81 Hardly" I answered, adopting hi
mood, "as l did not touch any. How
ever, I will join you presently"
IL I watched him disappear through tn
companion, stirring my coffee noncha
n lantly enough. Yet I was not satisfied
Darlington did not know, possessed n
suspicion; nevertheless I remained
IN convinced there was a woman OF
board the Esmeralda.
in
IN Continued next week.)
ST PRELiMINARIES.