New-York tribune., 1918-03-03

however Tiel had come by it, and the
engine was pulling well, and we swept
along the lonely roads at a great pace, one
bare telegraph post after another fitting
swiftly out of the gloom ahead into the
gloom behind, and the night air rushing
against our faces. At first l looked round
ne and recognized some features Of the
way we had come-the steep hill and the
sound that led to the western ocean and
the dark mass of hills beyond-but very
soon my thoughts and my eyes alike had
ceased to wander out of the car.
We said little, just enough to serve as
an excuse for my looking constantly at
her profile and admiring every line and
curve the more the longer l looked. All at
once she leaned toward me and said in a
low, beseechng voice:
"You will come back, won't you?'
Il swear it." | answered fervently, and
to give force to my oath l gently took her
hand and pressed it. If it did not return
the pressure it at least did not shrink
from my clasp. And for the rest of the
way sat holding it.
Presently |. in turn, leaned toward her
and whispercd
cone thing | have been wondering.
Should | take Tiel with me to see Wieder-
mann? 1t might perhaps be expected.'
"No,' she replied emphatcally.
''You feel sure?'
For reply she very gently pressed my
hand at last. SO confident lid feel of her
sure Judgment that considered that
question settled.
by the way she said in a moment, Il
think perhaps it might be advisable to say
nothing to Commander Wcdermann about
me. 1t is quite unnecessary, and he
we'll, some men are always suspicious if
they think there is a woman in the case
OF course | admit they sometimes have
enough excuse, but-what do you think ~
II agree with you entirely" I said en-
phatically
knew Wedermann very intimately
and bad been divided in mind whether |
should drop little hint that there were
consultations or whether | had better not
Now saw quite clearly | had better not
"What's that?" said Eileen in a mo-
ment.
1t was Il tall, gaunt monoith close to
the roadside. and then, looking round, |
saw Il loch on the other side, and remcm-
bered the spot with start 1t was close
by here that my cycle had broken down,
and We were almost at the end Of our
- 4I,
straight for the sea, until we stopped
where the road ended at the edge of the
links.
gave Eleen's hand one last swift
PRESSURE and jumped out.
I'VE shall wait for you here" said Tie
in a low voice. "but don't be longer than
you can help. Remember my nerves.
He spoke so cheerily and genialy that
for the moment ! liked him again In
fact, if it had not been for Eileen and his
love of mystery there was much that was
very attractive in Tel As + set out on
my solitary walk down to tho shore | sud
denly wondered what made him so cheer
full and bright at this particular moment
for it did not strike me as an exhilaratine
occasion. And then was reminded of
the man | had known most like Ticl. a
captain | once served under, who was
silence and calmness itself at most times
but grew strangely genial on critical occa-
sions-a heaven-sent gift. But from Tcl's
point Of view. what was critical about this
mcment' The risk he ran at this hour in
such an isolated spot was almost negligi-
bic, and as to the other circumstances, diC
it matter much to him whether | stayed
or changed my mind and went away?
could scarcely believe it,
kept along by the side of the sandy
track, just as had done before, only this
time | did not lose it. The rolling, hum
mocky links were a little darker. but the
stars shone in myriads. bright and clea,
as winters night and could see my
way well enough. As [ advanced.
smeled the same pungent seaweed odor
and heard the same guls crying dis
turbod, hoped. by the same monster IL
the waters. Fortunately the storm haC
blown from the southeast and the sea II
this westward-facing bay heavcd quietly
rejecting the radiance of the stars. L