The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-12-14

him, executing a mocking curtsey.
Hardly fair, Mr.. McCann." she said,
ito steal upon us like that"
Perhaps not" he answered grimly.
but just now I am privileged to do
as please or, board this ship. Answer
my question-what is II you think you
can do?"
perhaps an answer will be embar.
rasSiug."
stop the play-acting." he burst
forth. advancing about the stair rail.
What were you talking about? want
a direct answer?"
The girls long lashes shaded her
eyes. but there was not the slightest
falter To her voice.
captain Hollis" she said softly. al.
most rcgretfully. had asked me Tiff
L thought / could learn to-to like him
and | said II thought could. That
that was ALL"
McCann stared at the innocent
downcaSt face as though he half he
lleved the words her lips uttered were
jeliberate.lies then he laughed mirth.
.essly.
Il see" he said with sarcasm. "Nu
misfortune along other lines is sufIi.
cient To interrupt Mr.. Hollis love-mak-
Ing. My congratulations. captain. OH
even this measure OF success"
The hot blood flushed my face, nu;
so much at the words as the tone with
which they were uttered They con.
veyed 10 me deliberate insult. tin
CLING with memory OF the purpose
he charged me with during our last
interview. He had not quite under
stood me before, but now he felt con.
vinced that under oil the veneer was
his kind; and he instantly felt that
kept one hand behind him, gripping hfs
revolver.
There is not much to tell," he went
on, almost jauntily. II saw exactly
how things were going before we left
the boat. l knew Hollis reputation
ashore, and determined to warn you OF
his purpose, but had no opportunity.
Besides, felt you had so poor an opin-
ion of me that probably you would not
listen"
You were greatly mistaken, Mr.. Nc
Cam" she said pleasantly. 81 would
have gladly received your advice. You
were my father'S friend
l could read the mans surprise in
his face. The gracousness of her
words was a shock, yet his egotism
made him instantly her victim.
"You mean you trusted me2 That
you would have listenedf"
Most assuredly. How could you
think otherwise2 knew you were not
yourself in the boat, and the treat
ment to which you were subjected was
brutal. owed my life to you equally
with Captain Hollis, and am very
grateful. l have never forgotten that
you have been a guest In our home,
a business associate Of my fathers.
Why should i not have confidence In
your"
| looked at her In amazement, but
her eyes never met mine. What did
this meanf Was the girl acting IA part7
Was she endeavoring to deceive him,
or was she speaking now In deadly ear
nest? Nothing in her manner or In
the tone of her voice, gave me a clue.
AS for McCann, the very expression OF
his face pictured his delight, his con-
viction Of her sincerity. 1t was almost
too good to be true, yet his was not
nature to doubt his own attractiveness.
'T-I-you surprise me-" he STAN
mered, absolutely forgetting my pres
ence. II assure you / was actuated
by the highest motives in all my ef-
forts. My-my duty was to you, and
your father"
He turned and faced me. the bully
In him surging to the surface.
II will converse with Miss CARING
ton alone"
To resist would have been utter fool
ishness. i could see the CLEAN OF the
gun In his hand, and realized that
he only required an excuse to use 1t.
More, there was nothing In the express
sion OF the girls face to inspire me to
resistance. She did not even glance
toward me, or exhibit the slightest in
terest
With hands clenched In impotent
rage, not even venturing reply, /
stepped backward. AS / crossed the
threshold McCann closed the door, and
/ heard the key turn In the lock.
Trembling still with anger, and dazed
by the strange action of the girl /
sank back upon the stool, realizing my
and said appeared so natural IL never
really occurred to me once that she
might be acting a part, seeking I'm this
way to gain McCanns confidence, In
order to win from him the information
we required. Ii was only as / sat there
In silence, brooding over every detail,