Charlevoix county herald., 1918-03-22

kind, and she loved me; she told me
SO; and I told her how ! had waited
forty years for this greatest love that
ever had been knownl For many
minutes we forgot that was a murder
suspect with handcufr prospect. and
everything else save that We loved
one another.
She brought our dreams tumbling.
"You won't let them put you In
irons?" she whispered with her
cheeks against mine, and I said mo-"
quite firmly. just as though might
prevent 1t.
you'll get away at Mazatlan." she
continued, land We will hide you
mother and L Mexico will be safe"
Mexico might be: it was outside the
Jurisdiction of the chief and Thurs
ton; but I never SWAN three miles in
my life. told Isabelle my maximum
swimming capabilities were two miles
and half. which was not more than
two miles exageration.
"A boat?" she suggested. hopefully,
but shook my head. The whole crew
OF the Wilton might get boat down.
but not Isabelle and /; besides, as !
explained to her carefully. / had to
go back and clear myself Of this false
charge.
1T will break down of its own alb
surdfty," said. "Then ! can return
and visit Durango-if am invited"
you, are" she whispered; then,
but you must tell me why you are 80
unkind to me at San Diego"
There were two policemen on the
dock and land ! was panic-strick-
en-"
And walked into their arms?" she
asked. II understand You sent me
away from you so might not see"
Il wanted you kept out of It," She
pressed little closer to me. Il want
you out Of it completely. Isabelle
when 1t does happen. Please prom
Use that. From now on we are stran.
gers"
Are wei" she asked. and she pull
ed my face down to hers and kissed
me. Are We strangers?" she whis-
pered, and l negatived 1t fittingly.
Then We planned. should 60 to
Captain Blake early in the morning
and tell him that there need be no
compulsion; l should go back to San
Francisco on the Nanaimo willingly
and not In irons; and the arrest could
be quietly effected and no one need
know Of 1t. Isabelle would go with
her mother to Durango and wait for
me to come to her. 1t was all simple,
and as told it. pleasant enough; only
a fortnight separation, then happiness
forever.
But saw two obstacles in the way
of its pleasant realization; first, the
positive order to Blake to transship
me In irons; second, his blond-headed
obstinacy and-yes, vanity! He would
hate to pass up this opportunity for
dramatic prominence; he had shown
that by letting Isabelle know of the
order. Probably half the ship knew
Of 1t already!
left Isabelle. feeling quite happily
content with conditions, and went to
my cabin to null out another problem.
Why had Marcus changed his mind?
More incomprehensible, how had he
convinced the chief and Thurston of
this necessity? Certainly, not on the
evidence at hand when / sailed from
San Francisco. They had nothing to
excuse a warrant for murder. Had
Holme talked of the empty shell? No.
/ was sure he had not. The hat-pin
was in the tray Of my trunk where
/ had concealed 1t. opened the trunk
to make certain, felt for II, and 1t was
gone!
l remembered the light, switched
on In my bedroom, and the fear had
held then Of determination; it was ex-
planned now. The hat-pin had been
taken from my trunk and placed else
where. to be found. Marcus had gone
through my vacated rooms. perhaps
even my stored cases, and he had dis
covered what was meant for him.
That, with the coincidence Of my find
Ing each murdered body, would be
enough to warrant the order of ar.
rest.
Well. 1t would mean another thing
to clear away, that was all. Until
they identified the bodies, they could
not prove motive; and I knew what
they did not, that the Identification of
those bodies would lead a trail far
from my rooms in the st. Dunstan, to
a Greek church wedding which did
not take place because of the muir
ders.
I went to sleep finally, to be awak-
ened by hammering on my door and
a voice which shouted "Fire!" and
heavy footsteps running, and I leap
ed from my berth In the dark and
found the lighting switch. Before !
could more than get into trousers the
ship was confusion. ran to the AFT.
companion and crowded my way to
its top. pushing by others regardless.
remembering only that Isabelle was
in danger. Her stateroom was OF the
upper deck. and found II lighted.
"Isabelle!" / cried, and she answer.
Cd at once.
Il was coming to you." she said.
a