The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-01-03
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

Fastening back TO the farmstead,
he secured a spade from the barn
and made his way quickly down to the
beach by way Of the road through the
cluster Of deserted fishermens huts.
Fifteen minutes walk brought him
10 the pool. Ten minutes hard work
with the spade sufficed to excavate a
shallow trench in the sands above
hlgh-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
bad lifted the last heavy stone into
place above the grave, he waded out
into the sea and cleansed himself as
best he might. then lay down for
time 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 indisputabie
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 (fOr
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
well, sir" she called heartily over
have you been all this long time?"
IL went for a SWIM he said
evasIvely-"thought it might do me
good
you're not feeling well?" She
turned to look him over. He avoided
her eye. 81 had a bad night"
'SGll got the hump, eh?"
Still got the hump" he assented,
glad thus to mask his unhappiness.
breakfast and 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
nally 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 Il
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 a while with the
dishes and things won't you" he
asked with an air meant to seem guile
less.
"Oh, yes; for some time" she re-
piled quickly.
Ct think I'll take a stroll round
the island. There might be something
like a boat hidden away somewhere
along the beach"
"You won't go cut of sight?" she
pleaded through the window.
at 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
slight pause, as of INDIGESTION, moved
down the path to meet him.
He was conscious that, at sight of
her, his pulses Guickened. 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
He could not keep his eyes
from her. cor could he make his desire
he still; and yet and yet
They paused beside one of the low
stone walls and the girl sat down
upon the lichened stones, then looked
up to him with smile and a slight
movement of the head that plainly in
yited him to a place beside her.
II watched you, off and on, from
the windows. You might have been
looking for a pin, from your pains
taking air, off there along the cliffs"
He nodded again, gloomly. Her
comment seemed to admit of no more
compromising method of reply.
"Then you've nothing to tell me?"
He purSed his lips. depreciatory,
lifted his shoulders not quite happily,
and swung one lanky leg across the
other as he slouched. moroSely ewing
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. then?" she de-
manded at length.
IF we must, | suppOSe-youll have
70 show the way My minds hardly
equal to withdrawing to-day"
$50 shall. then Hugh :"
She leaned toward him, dropping her
hand over his own with an effect of
infinite comprehension. Hugh" she