The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-01-04
CHAPTER xII-continued.

'"The most amiable person [ know p"
ne cried. elated. "Greetingsr"
She paused by the steps, looking up,
a fascinating vision.
'You're able to stand without assist
ance7"
"As q matter of fact, I can move
only at the cost of excruciating agony"
She considered him with a sober face
and smiling eyes. al don't believe you.
You're a fraud. Besides, L didn't
come to see you at all came to find
out why Mr.. Ember dares so to neg
Iect me. Did you deliver my invita-
tion?"
II did, unwillingly. He was desc
lated, but he couldn't accept-had to
run back to town Immediately after
dinner"
Hes as great a fraud as you are.
But since he isn't here, shall CO."
'Please-Pm famished for human So
ciety. Have pity. Sit down. Tell me
where you've been with the boat"
Merely to the head of the bay to
have the gasoline tanks filled. A most
boresome errand. If L promise to come
over this evening and play you n rub
Der or twO-will you permit me to go
home now?"
"On such terms I'll do anything you
can possibly suggest" he declared, en-
chanted. "But how will you
get here2 Not alone, through the
woods! 1 can't permit that"
''Elsie shall row me down the shore
and then go back to keep cook com
pany. Sum Fat can see me home-if
You find it still necessary to keep up
the invalid pose"
I'm afraid" he laughed, 81 shall call
my own bluff. Must you really
go so soonT
"Good afternoon" she returned de-
murely; and ran down the steps and
off to her boat.
Smiling quietly to himself, Whitaker
watched her cast the boat off, get un-
der way, and swing it out of sight be-
hind the trees. Then his smile wavered
and faded and gave place to a look of
acute discomfort. Three mortal hours
to fritter away in proftless anticipa-
tion
Gus.
BY eight he was unable to sit still.
Half an hour later the house was too
small to contain him. He found him
self at the end Of the dock, tingling
with impatience, but finding some little
consolation in the restless sweep of
the wind against his face and body. He
could see little-a mere suggestion of
the shore line picked out with the dim,
semiphosphorescent glow of breaking
wavelets. Some minutes elapsed. The
pallor of the east grew more marked.
Whitaker fancied he could detect a
figure moving on the Flske dock.
Then, startled, he grew conscious of
the thick drOne of n heavily-powered
motor boat near inshore. Turning
quickly, he discovered black vague
shape not twenty yards from where he
stood, showing neither bow nor side
lights: stealthy and mysterious ap-
partition creeping toward the dock with
something of the effect of an animal
about to spring.
And Immediately he heard a mans
voice from the boat, abrupt with anger I:
mot this place. you ass-the next"
shut up" another voice replied.
There's somebody on that dock"
At the same time the bows Of the
boat swung Off and the shadow slipped
away to westward--toward the Fiske
place.
A wondering apprehension of some
hameiess and desperate enterprise,
somehow involving the woman who
obsessed his thoughts, crawled in Whit
aker's mind. Automatically he turned
back, let himself down to the beach,
ana began to pick his way toward the
hlske dock, half running despite his
sum ankle. But he had not gone half
the way before he pulled up with n
humping heart startled beyond ex-
preston by a cry in the night--a cry
or Wild appeal and protest ringing
clear down the wind, a voice whose
umbre was Enthusiastically that Of n
woman: AUX secours Aux secours Z"
Twice Il cried out, and then was
hushed as grimly as the first incO-
herent screams. No need now to guess
nt what was towards: whitaker was
running, needless Of his injured foot
pitching, slipping stumbling. leaplng-
SOMEHOW making progress.
by now the moon had lifted above
the beach high enough to aid him some
what with its waxing light; and. look
ing ahead, he could distinguish dlmly
shapes about the dock and upon it that
seemed 20 bear out his most cruel
Tears. The power boat was passably
distinct her white side showing plainly
through the tempered darkness. Mid
way down the dock he made out strug-
Cling hgures--two Of them, he judged
mon at close grips with n frantic
woinnn. And where the structure
Joined the land, n second pair, again a
'nnn and a woman, strove and swayed.
For all his hnste, he was too slow