Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-16

cheerfulness during the meal fell dis
mally short Of conviction. After two
or three false starts he gave it up
and took refuge in his plea of indis.
position. She humored him with q
covert understanding that surmised
more In a second than he could have
compressed into a ten-minute comics.
sion.
The meal over, he rose and sidled
awkwardly toward the door.
you'll be busy for a while with the
dishes and things, won't your" he
asked with an air meant to seem guile
less.
ooh, yes; for some time" she re.
piled quickly.
I'll think I'll take a stroll round
the island, There might be something
like boat hidden away somewhere
along the beach,"
"You won't go out Of sight7" she
pleaded through the window.
1T can't be DONE" he called back,
strolling out Of the dooryard with
much show Of idle indecision.
His real purpose was, In fact, de-
finite. There was another body to be
accounted for.
To his intense relief, he made no
further discovery other than a scatter
ing drift Of wreckage from the motor
boats. He turned at length and
trudged YEARLY back toward the farm
house.
Since breakfast he had seen moth
ing of the girl; none Of the elaborate
ly casual glances which he had from
time to time cast inland had discov-
cred any sign Of her. But now she
appeared In the doorway, and after a
slight pause. as of indecision. moved
down the path to meet him.
He was conscious that, at sight Of
her, his pulses quickened. Something
swelled in his breast, something tight
ened the muscles of his throat. The
way Of her body in action, the way
of the sun with her hair
Dismay shook him like an ague; he
felt his heart divided against itself !;
he was so glad Of her, and so afraid
3. He could not keep his eyes
from her, nor could he make his desire
be still; and yet and yet
They paused beside one Of the low
stone walls and the girl sat down
upon the ichened stones, then looked
up to him with smile and slight
movement of the head that plainly in
vited him to q place beside her.
II watched you, of and on. from
the windows. You might have been
looking for . pin, from your pains
taxing air, OF there aionS the cliffs"
4 He nodded again, gloomily. Her
comment seemed to admit Of no more
compromising method Of reply.
"Then you've nothing to tell mel"
He pursed his lips. depreciatory,
lifted his shoulders NOT quite happily,
and swung ono lanky leg across the
other as he slouched, morosely eying
the sheets of sapphire that made their
prison walls. There was little silence.
She watched him askance with her
fugitive, shadowy, sympathetic and
shrewd smile.
"Must make talk, them" she de-
manded at length.
IF we must, suppose-you'll have
to show the way. My minds hardly
equal to withdrawing to-day"
$50 i shall, then. Hugh :"
She leaned toward him, dropping her
hand over his own with an effect of
infinite comprehension. Hugh" she
repeated, meeting his gaze squarely
as he looked up. startled-"what's the
good of keeping up the make-believe!
You knowW
The breath clicked In his throat,
and his glance wavered uneasily, then
steadied again to hers. And through
Q long moment neither stirred. but
sat so, eye to eye, searching each the
others mind and heart.
At length he confessed it with an
uncertain, shamefaced nod.
That's right" he said: Il do
know-now."
She removed her hand and sat back
without lessening the fxity Of her re-
gard.
"When did You ind it out2'
"This morning. That is 1t came to
me all of sudden" His gaze fell;
he stammered and felt his face burn
ing.
Hugh, that's not quite honest. I
know you hadn't guessed, last night
I know 1t. Hugh, look at mel"
Unwillingly he met her eyes.
"How did you find out?"
He was an inexpert liar. Under the
witchery Of her eyes, his resource
failed him absolutely. He started to
repeat, stammered, fell still, and then
In q breath capitulated.
Before you were up-I meant to
keep this from you-d9wn there on
the beach, found Drummond."
"Drummond!
It was cry Of terror. She started
back from him, eyes wide, cheeks
whitening.
"Tm sorry 80. But ] presume
you ought to know. Els body
I buried it. )"
She gave little smothered cry,
and seemed to shrink in upon herself,
burying her face in her hands-an IN
congruous, huddled shape Of grief,
there upon the gray stone wall, set
against all the radiant beauty Of the
exquisite, sun-gladdened world,
He was patient with her, though the
slow. tlra gQing minutes during which