Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-27
SINISTER |SLAND|
BY
CHARLES WADSWORTH CAMP 4

Copyright
Dodd, Mead 3 Company


"That CHASTITY light" he said. 1T
isn't fire"
Miller pointed al the girls torn
wrists. She quivered before his ges.
ture and tried TO hide her hands.
"The wrists again" Molly whisper.
cd.
Tony shrank against the mantel.
"Tell me- Miller demanded, "how
were your wrists injured"
She thrust her wrists behind her
back.
Answer me- he said almost rough.
~. WAS it coming through that piece
Of woods?"
She pressed her lips tightly together.
Thee was no colour in her face.
"The one physical clue" Miller
cried. Answer me, Answer me! Do
you know how your wrists We're torn"
After moment she nodded SLOWLY.
"Then tell us, SO much depends on
that, Tell us,'
She hung her head. She would not
answer.
"Tell u.s." he begged, "or after all
are YOU leagued with the Internal
place against us-against me-"
When at last she answered the
words came with a dreadful slowness
rs though their passage tortured her
{ throat.
mo. But | can't tell you that. 1t
. would be easier to die than to tell yol
that"
: Her i ad fell forward. She would
not expo e her hands, So a thougl she
tried to turn away. the @ hers could
see the tears fill he eye and over.
flow and drop to her cloak.
Miller stepped aside
molly" he said softly,
While Molly went to her he drew
Anderson to the window. Many shad-
ows thrown by the blue light danced
in the clearing
There's nothing for it, Andy he
said in an undertone, I'm going
there"
Jim After all that's happened in
those woods
"Yes One is not safe here for that
matter. She said so, But the truth is
there tonight for the taking
He glanced at the girl
Il have to have the truth | must
{ clear this UP no matter what he risk.
But don't worry If one take The int
iative-you see that's not been done
on Captains Island yet. shall do it,"
I "Then of course Anderson said,
Il shall come with YOU"
'@ Miller shook his head.
Molly he reminded "and the girl
| don't have 10 tell YOU Andy--from
he first day---You can see for Yourself
they can't be left. Tony's in Il funk
worthless. One of us must 20, ono mus
stay. | have more at stake. II | don t
come back take them to the boat Ger
10 Sandport But I'm not fool. III 50
carefully slowly. I've had enough
warning. don't expect TO be ambush.
ed by any one--anyihing'
He threw off Anderson's OBTAINING
hand.
Don't let's have scene. Don't
alarm them. Let me get off quietly.
I've a gun for snakes or whatever isn't
Abulletproof, and the other thing what
I've heard here--has only hurt my
nerves and my pride It's all right,
Andy That light shines on the key to
The whole mystery"
He tiptoed across the floor. but
when he reached the hall he heard the
girl trying to rise.
Where Is he going? Don't let him
.go' He must not go! Let mt up'
She screamed
Don't lei him co."
Miller threw the screen door open.
He sprang into the clearing. He ran
swiftly across it.
The wind had risen TO gale The
trees moaned and thpshed in the an.
cry gusts. But the wind, Miller motto
ed, detached no flames from the blue
light The whole mass, which was not
as large or as high as he had thought
at first, swayed bodily in narrow
are.
When he reached the path that led
10 the shore where he had left his boat
he was little sheltered from the wind,
and the light, he found did not pene.
trate TO him.
He went slowly, his hand on he re.
volver in his pocket. He went silently,
recalling that the girl had said the
path to the inlet was closed 10 him.
His care and stealth awaited, for he
reached the shore without experience.
He paused there for 4 moment, lean.
Ing against the wind which now swept