Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-03-06


"There's colony OF oystermen
working the marsh banks to The north
OF the island They live In thickets
They have the appearance Of savages
Bait said there's queer secret or.
ganization among them
Miller smoked in silence for some
moments, while Anderson watched
him with an sair Of suspense. Miller
lowered his cigar and leaned forward
This girl Andy?"
OTIS hard to say anything more def.
mite about her. and, II YOU stay. I'd
rather YOU followed my wishes there
Judge her for yourself, Jim. And
and are YOU going TO stay and help us
back TO mental health?'
"What do you Think" Miller asked
little impatienlly. "Y0u mustn't
sruw too lanciful,"
IT'S asking a great deal" Amber
son said because. sane and strong
willcd as YOU are, jim, it isn't impos.
sible YOU should feel the faint your
SELF
I'm not afraid Of that" Miller laugh
ed. "rll stay. but not in your house at
first. I'll live on the boat here in the
,nlet where can keep my eve on that
fisherman of yours and get broad
view of the whole island and its mys-
terry. III hold myself aloof. You see
II would be perfectly natural for you
to row out and call on a stranger an.
Chorins here invading your loneliness;
natural for YOU to bring Molly. say TO-
morrow. natural for me to return your
call. and eventually to visit YOU at Inc
coquina house over night and exper-
ionce its dreadful thrills. That's tho
way ven let it stand, if YOU please.
for the present. I'm total stranger. .
"Do as YOU think best Anderson
agreed gratefully
"Then that's settled" Miller said.
Now how about dinner, You'll stay"
NO, Molly and Jake are waiting. ]
know they're worried. jim. They wont
lave any peace until I'm safely back.
these woods--we don't like them cv
en- by day"
Miller smiled.
"rlI do my best to purify them OF
everything but snakes. cant promise
about the snakes
As he led the way up The ladder he
heard Tony open The sitting door.
CHANGING back he saw the native, fear
IN his face. waiting to follow.
There is something here that cets
the natives" he whispered TO Ander,
son. "Go home now and sleep, and
tell Molly to sleep. Wen straishtcn
things out in no lime"
You'll do it if it can be done An
dcrson said IF il can he dome
,'e eraspcd the painter and drew
his boat forward against the rcsiaiins
tide. Miller held he line while An.
dciS0n stepped IN.
Anderson clearly shrank from the
short journey back TO The coquina
house. A sense Of discomfort swept
Miller He felt the necessity OF
strengthening his friend with some.
thing reassuring. with something ey-
en- more definite than reinsurance.
And. Andy, he said leaning over the
rail. 'if anythin" comes M il ,o,l
need me at any moment send Jake.
~, If there isn't a chance for that. C0ll
from the shore OF fire q gun three
times ! should hear YOU
THANKS. jim. ri remember" An.
derson answered.
He pushed his boat from he side
Of tho Dart. The tide caught it and
drew il into the black shadows even
before he had seated himself and ar.
ranged the oars
Miller remained leaning over the
rail, atraining his eyes TO find the van
iahed boat After a moment he tired
TO penetrate the darkness for a light,
for some sign Of That other boat, The
boa of the fisherman. II"
could make out nothing Yet It must
lie somewhere over there. harbourin Z
hat GRIM provocative figure 10 which
Anderson attached such unnatural i'm.
portance.
As he leaned there hs felt troubled,
uncertain. II had been shock to see
a man so exceptionally sane as Amber.
son suddenly deprived of his healthy
outlook on life and death, and sIrug-
cling in this desperate fashion TO re-
gain it.
He told himself he had no slightest
fear of the island OF its lonely mys.
taries. That might after all be a sat.
isfactory explanatio The loneliness
The climate. the clngnG mass Of ma.
tive superstition, he brooding over
The servants fancies. the consequent
growth of sleeplessness, and, finally,
When nerves were raw his first ,r.