Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1918-08-01
BEAUTIFUL ENIGMA
By JACK LAWroN.

lssH4sesSS&0,1Ae a1@<$%%@@S%@@1as
eepyr'ehh isis. Western Newspaper Union
For the fourth time since he had
seated himself nts the hotel table, Bob
Waiting turned deliberately TO look
tr%ard the entrance. Then with con
temptu0us impatience he continued 10
study hts menu card. What possessed
him that he could not go on with his
meal IN contentment. untli that girl ar.
rived II was as well to be honest
with oneself. WAL
FROM the moment her dark eyes had
met his across the widespread In.
hles, he had been as bewltched. though
the RiFi's glance had been as indIffer-
ent ns Il was unconscious. "The Beau
tiful Enigma" they laughlngly dubbed
the girl, who appeared as a guest,
alone and aloff. at the fashionable sea
side resort.
Bob Writings purpose IN spending
his vacation here was 10 be near young
friends. whose wnr trimming camp was
not fnr distant. This was really his
encpuraging farewell 10 the boys be-
fore they sailed overseas
"At midnight. or near then" the sol.
der laos Insisted. "she might often be
seen Fastening down the lighted way.
when ehs returned q man Of dlsiln.
gulslied appearance and military bear.
ing sometimes accompanied her. The
man was no undesirable freduenter Of
the seaside community. a gambler. IL
had been whispered"
Bob Whiting, recalling these conf.
deneea, groaned IN spirit, How bad
this unknown Rifi Ohsessed him with
40 ardent longing for her presence.
this more than eager determination TO
know her better. Bob glanced curl
ousiy az the flowers upon her breast.
each day the corpmge was her only
coicr, and 70 his fancy. the flowers Ind
seemed 10 express her varying mnods
1.-THE Benptlful Departs" laughing
volae remarked at his elbow.
sOld military. With his spruce gei on.
u waiting outside. Queer comi,iun.
ton. these two. They cay the man
raked 10 fortune last night
frnfrly client. Rob rose r. his foot
Good nlght" called Tinrney IunocDt
~ obllvious.
Bob whiting had WALKED tho leu=lh
~ the pier 5sfSrs - realized rs. ~
tiiIty On hls Indignation "What hsy
he 70 do With the slnT' Agelp q
aerceiy asked himself tha question
why shorld fbp knowledge X b.
sociaips ting him tartuFrT Ti,ta
iust beioN upon fhe beach BE- ,sA
her openly SriuciaHt. nc Faufilpt
wac releasing her hand.
sIlefa AZ e'Fvan fenishf.s ~ sa'e
cleAFlYs and the eiri nodded, Glahcnz
upunFd she seemed TO recognize, Boh'a
daFtening fire. for her own flashed
ss@a8y.
iis vateSss lsss eAafr asem nntil
u disappeared before hla within tie
hotel deoras then gi8omily he chaFe q
seclnded corner ~ ihe gpFunAa. WAS
llie glri utterly aEhefrlta6edf surrey
her eyes were ihe wide. cirnf eyes ~
chiid. And no woman was accus.
TONED % pnsa unattended ~ night
through these gay streets. thrunged
with Strangers from many lAnds Tie
himself would walt. would 70 with
her. n b. could not dare thls much.
then the question u his heart was
not worth sgtsiing.
SO when the girl came wariiy forth
later, slipping IKE some small white
ghost ont inte the darkness. Bob Whit.
ing followed. ~ the descent from
the pier she turned quickly and fnecd
him.
why she asked quietly. do you
come this wayTs
''To--watch over you." he answered
promptly.
The Rirl shrugged her shoulders,
You take q good deal upon yourself"
she said.
flob's tone Was resoiute. Perhaps
I DO" he agreed. Nevertheless.
intend 10 assure myself that You are
aware 81 the fact that this man whom
you meet here at night n notorious as
n gambler"
Wv XIII FAAhNA bN NRNttHs
know" she said. Then wonderingly
she regarded him. ''why should you
care about Iner' she asked.
II only know shat I do care" Bob
tensely.
There was long silence before N
girl again spoke II am moved TO
confide ia you" she said TREMENDOUSLY.
This notorious gambler Is my Ia
thcr. For this fault he and my moth.
or have been separated. She y now an
invalid confined to her room here at
the hotel. ! nIn seeking a reconcilla.
tlon between them both. based upon
the promise to forsake -his ways.
which my father Is TO give me tonight
My meetings with him had ID be Sc.
cret, mother would have resented Ia.
Down the bench came n mans erect
figure. "Good nlght.@ whispered the
girl, but Bob fingered.
"Tf may, ] VIII walt to walk back |
with you." he said. And III the girls
smile he read 'conent
--------a-G--ss.------------