The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-01-12
The DESTROYING ANGEL

and have q look at the beach. And
then found that chap,watching you
That startled her. 'HoW do you
mean-watching me?"
"Why-ah-that's what he seemed
to be doing"
She shook her head. you must be
mistaken"
'Daresay. ! generally am when
jump at conclusions. Anyway, he didn't
like it much when l called him out OF
his name. l gathered, in fact. that he
was considerably put out. Silly, wasn't
it?"
Rather" she agreed gravely.
For 1t moment or two they eyed one
another in silence, Whitaker wonder
ing just how much of fool she was
thinking him and obviously consider
ing various expedients to ingratiate
himself.
Il don't seem to think of anything
useful to say" he ventured. "Can you
help me out? Unless you'd be inter-
ested to know my names Whitaker
Hugh Whitaker-?"
She acknowledged the information
merely by a brief nod. "1t seems to
me-" she said seriously, that the
pressing question is, what are you 60
ing to do about that ankle? Shall
you be able to walk?'
Hard to say" he grumbled, trifle
dashed. With infinite pains and the
aid of both hands and his sound foot,
he lifted himself and cOntrived to
stand erect for an instant, then bore a
little weight on the hurt ankle-and
blanched, paling visibly beneath his in-
eradicable tan.
Il don't suppose" he said with eff
fort-"they grow--crutches-on this
neck of land?"
And he was about to collapse again
upon the sands when, without warning,
he found the woman had moved to his
side and caught his hand, almost
brusquely passing his arm across her
shoulders. so that she received no little
of his weight.
"Oh, 1 say he protested feebly.
Don't say anything" she replied
shortly. I'm very strong-quite able
to help you to the boat. Please don't
consider me at all; just see if we can't
manage this way"
He endeavored to withdraw his arm.
an effort rendered futile by her cool,
firm grasp on his fingers.
"Please!" she said-not altogether
patiently.
He eyed her askance. There was in
this; incredible situation a certain pi-
quanCy, definitely provocative, tram
scending the claims his injury made
upon his interest. Last night for the
first time he had seen this woman,
and from a distance had thought her
desirable; now, within twelve hours,
he found himself with an arm round
her neck
And then suddenly she turned her
head and intercepted his whole-hearted
stare. For thought wonder glim-
mered in the violet eyes; then they
flashed disconcertingly; finally they
became utterly cole and disdainfui.
'Well:" she demanded in a frigid
voice.
He looked away in complete confu-
sion, and felt his face burning to the
temples.
II beg your pardon he mumbled un-
happily.
He essayed to walk. Twenty feet
and more of treacherous, dry. yielding
sand separated them from the flight of
steps that ascended the bluff. 1t
proved no easy journey.
The stairway accomplished, he
limped to a wooden seat and sat down
with much grim decision in his man
ner But he mustered a smile to meet
her look of concern, and shook his
head
Thus far and no farther"
'Oh, but you must not be stubborn -
Il mean to be-hOrrld stubborn. In
fact, l don't mind warming you that
there's famous strain of mule in the
Whitaker makeup"
She was, however, not to be divert
ed; and her fugitive frown bespoke I'M
patience, if he were any Judge.
~ =.