Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-17

SAAS So"oAu - w - AN oASO
gained ascendancy on board, with such
rufians as Liverpool and White in
control, the position of the helpless
girl, alone and unprotected, would be
desperate indeed. No! I would hold
on to the man and then rough it out
with the others.
The cabin lamp was turned so low
that scarcely the faintest reflection
streamed through the glass of the COM
panion, and I vas SO deeply e%ngrossed
In these reflections as to not even no.
tice the opening of the door. Her voice
at my side aroused me with a sudden
thrill.
"Is this Mr.. Hollis?"
1T certainly u.s." I answered, aware
now Of the dark outline beside me,
and even dimly distinguishing the con-
tour Of her uplifted face. 1T is some
time since I have enjoyed the pleasure
of your presence on deck in the night"
"Why refer to that now?" %reproach-
fully. cit is not so delightful q men,
ory."
"The shipwreck-no; but the first
evening we met I cannot forget. But
you promised to make the mystery Of
your presence on board the Esmeralda
clear?"
"Has it not revealed itself?"
"Not to me-"
"But has not Philip Bascom told you
who I am"
I shook my head, not altogether
happy at this introduction of his ncme,
but unable to resent it.
But you knew he recognized me
that we had been friends"
"All the more. reason why I should
remain silent. AS long as you evident
ly preferred that I should not know
"Oh, but I didn't, Mr.. Hollis" she
interrupted. "It never once occurred
to me that you were still in doubt as
to my identity. Of course at first ]
thought it safer to guard my secret
II did not know you at all then, only
by name; you were merely a guest on
board my fathers yacht"
"Your fathers yacht! Why, OF
course-how stupid of me. Vera, Vera,
why the lame had a strangely familiar
sound from the very first, but I could
not recall the association; you are
Gerald Carrington's daughter?"
II am Vera Darlington"
"But I supposed you to be in Eu'
rope?"
"Did papa say so? You must have
misunderstood. Mother would have
taken me with her, but I had so much
l wanted to do in New York. It is
strange you should not have suspect.
ed; that no one should have told you
Why, both Mr.. Bascom and Mr.. Nc.
Cam knew me-"
"Not Mccain, surely?"
"Why not? We have met socially
in New York. 1t seems hardly pos
sible, now that I realize the true char.
acter of the man. But probably you
asked; never discussed M be.
tween you?"
"That is the truth. OF curse it was
quite impossible for me to question
Mccain, and I have seen very little OF
BascoEa. Besides, you rather threw
yourself on my honor"
"On the Esmeralda-yes. 1t was nee
essary then, for I simply had to keeI
my presence a secret until we were
a safe distance at sea-. There were
several on board who would have rec
ognized me at once, and would have
told papa. Mr.. Hollis, I realize fa1
more than you can, all that has oc.
Cured through the mad whim of q girl
But for me you would not be here on
this unlucky ship. You would be with
those others rescued from the Esme
ralda safely in New York. Mr.. Hollis
tell me, is there real trouble on board
Is there doubt Of your being able to
take the Indian Chief into port?"
"Why do you asky
"Because-well, I have heard things
not much, but enough to arouse suspi'
cion. Then you had some trouble just
now, and locked q man up in one OF
the staterooms. It was to ask you
about this that I came On deck. Who
was the man, and what had he done3'
sour old friend, Fergus McCann," ]
answered, deciding, to be frank with
her. 1T was not so much what he had
done, as what he proposed doing. he
a attempting to corrupt the crew
forward by the use Of money, and I'M
fortunately, there are some scamps
aboard only too willing to make
trouble. I felt 1t safer to nip the
scheme early"
"But what-what does Mr.. Mccain
seek? Why should he endeavor to buy
up the men? What Is his purposeT
ITO have the Indian Chief returned
to an American port. I'll do him the
credit of saying that, until + told
him while ago. he possessed. nc