Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-03-17
CHAPTER xV-Continued.

81
sod made his way quickly down TO the
beach by way of the road through the
cInster of deserted fshermen's huts.
Fifteen minutes walk brought him
N the pool. Ten minutes hard work
with the spade sufficed to excavate a
a shallow trench in the sands above
blob.water mark. He required as
much time again to nerve himself to
the point Of driving off the gulls and
moving the body. There were likewise
crabs to be dealt with.
When It was accomplished, and he
had lifted the last heavy stone into
place above the grave, he waded out
into the sea and cleansed himself as
hest he might, then lay down for a
tine in the Strengthening light, feel
ing giddy and faint.
What the gulls and the crabs and
the SCATTERING surf had left had been
little. but enough for indlsputable
Identification.
Whitaker had buried Drummond.
By the time he got back to the
farmhouse, the woman was up,
dressed In the rent and stained but
dry remnants of her own clothing flor
all their defects, infinitely more be-
coming than the garments to which
she had been obliged to resort the
previous day. and busy preparing
breakfast.
"Weu, sirF" she called heartily over
her shoulder. "And where, pray,
have you been all this long timer"
II went for a SWIM" he said
evaslvely-"thought it might do me
good"
You're not feeling well?" She
turned to look him oven He avoided
her eye. II had q bad night"
Still got the hump. eh?"
Still go. the hump" he assented,
glad thus TO mask his unhappIness.
Breakfast and a strong cup Of tea
or two will fix that" she announced
with confidence.
His stout attempts to match her
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 a
covert understanding that surmised
more In second than he could have
compressed into a ten-minute confess
sion.
The meal over, he rose and sided
aWkwardly toward the door.
You'll be busy for while with the
dishes and things, won't your" he
asked with an air meant to seem guile
less.
"0h, yes; for some time," she re-
piled quickly.
II think I'll take stroll round
the island. There might be something
Ike a boat hidden away somewhere
along the beach"
You won't 60 out of sight?" she
pleaded through the window.
It can't be done." he called back.
stroliing out of the dooryard with
much show Of idle indecision.
Ills real purpose was, in fact. de-
mite There was another body TO be
accounted for.
To his intense relief, he made no
further discovery other than a scatter
lns drift Of wreckage from the motor
ooalS' lie turned OF length and
,Fadsed YEARLY back toward the farm
house -
Since breakfast he had seen moth.
,1s Oh the girl; none of the elaborate
" casual glances which he had from
0'1s 10 time cast inland had discov-
'.e1 any sign of her. But now she
12peared in the doorway, and after a
e"~ht pause, as of irldecision, moved
GOWN the path to meet him.
lie was conscious that. ar slpb4 NJ
".r' MS pulses quickened. Something
-1e'e1 In his breast, something tight.
s'ed the muscles Of rs throat Tho
way OF her body IN action. the wav
W. me sun with her hair
Dlsmay shook him like an ap7,a 10 /
,7.' MS heart divided against ,tsaIf /
as so glad Of her, and so afraid
-. lie could not keep his eyes
-''1' uer' nor could he make his desire
's sun; and vet and vet
sy paused beside one of the Low /
s.'oa walls and the girl sat down I
--''a ne lichened stones, then looked /
-' 10 him with a smile and . eIigh+ .
enent of the head that plainly in
5l him 10 place beside her
watched you, off and on from
s windows. You might have hao7
.''Ains for pin. from your mains.
ing air. of there along the cliffs"
Tie nodded again, gloomIIv He,
-'-''eht seemed to admit of no mora
'. Up .Fo'nising method Of reply.
Then you've nothing to tell meg. /
ne. ne pursed his lips, depreciatorv
.-.'e1 bis shoulders not quite banni1y =
ana swung one lanky leg across tha
". -er as he slouched. moroselv eving F
-. .-e sheets Of sapphire that roade tbelr
y = son walls. There was a little silence
:. watched him askance with hor
.l-,aye' shadowy. sympathetic ana
sl7ewd smile. - anu
Must make talk. then7n sba 10
handed at length. sag
>. Il we must, suppose-you1l bava