Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-30
CHAPTER II.
Offer My Services.

In spite OF my SuFpIlSe anu INC Ia
pidity with which we exchanged our
words, the impression which she made
upon me was so vivid that | carry 1t
to this day indelbly fixed upon my
memory. This is due, perhaps, to a
great extent, to my astonlshment at
finding such a womanor girl, rather
for she was scarcely more than twenty
in such an isolated place and among
such surroundings.
II needed only that first glance from
above to show me that the huts That
huddled together on the rocky point
were tie poorest and most dilapidated
Imaginable.
In fact had mentally assigned
them to the lowest class of beach
combers as | circled down toward
them in my volplane. Fishermen's
houses they could scarcely be, for no
fishing boat could possibly be launch
ed from that point and live through
the surrounding swirls and tide rips to
get out to sea.
And the same treaCher0us C0ndl-
tions stretched landward for fully half
a mile before the solid earth rose out
OF the salt marshes.
II was only natural then to suppose
that, on a shore so notorious for its
dangers and so untitled for the sup
port OF human life in any other form,
the inhabitants Of the novels must be
OF that uncou'h ~ Usually desperate
class OF mos who feed like vultures
upon 'te Nones Of wrecked and de-
srr' sairs,
Lat ~aat could such Sir! be doing
with men Of this type'
The beauty Of which | have spoken
was not only the perfection Of form
/ and color 1t was more in the mar
velous depths OF the hazel eyes that
looked up 30 apprehensively and -ap-
pealingly tc me, In the moving reso-
nance OF the rich voice, In the OK.
pressiveness and refinement OF every
speaking gesture as she begged me TO
80,
Her clothing, too. though | could
see but little OF It, so hidden was 1t by
the enveloping motor coat that she
wore, was anything but what one
would expect to be worn by The WON
en- Of a beachCombers' settlement.
As she ran toward me the move.
ment OF her limbs flung aside the bot
tom of the coat and showed beneath It
the lace edge Of dainty dress Of
white and peep Of stocking whose
sheen was undoubtedly that Of an ex.
cellent quality OF silk.
Completely puzzled by the incon
gruity Of her situation | must have
appeared stupid TO her as sat there
silent and unmoying in ths face OF her
leverish attempts to make me realize
my danger,
Instead OF answering | merely
looked first At her and then up at the
novels silnoueted on the rock against
the sky and then down at her again
Finally her repetition of the words
xiii you" brought me TO my senses
and | vaulted out OF the fuselage TO
the sand.
"Why am | in danger?" | demand,
ed "Why should they kin me, and
who are they?"
Again she looked in terror toward
the huts, her wonderful eyes wide
with fright as she turned them back to
me.
"Oh, | cannot explain she cried.
There is not time and | do not know,
only know that they will kill any one
who comes here. You must go at
once They are asleep after last night,
but the noise of your motor will
waken them. Then it will be TOO late
II you have not started"
1T seems to me-" said that you
are living among rather melodrama'
tic set OF pirates for girl Of your evi
dent education and refinement. II
these men are so desperate, aren't YOU
in danger, too?'
"No, not yet" she answered hastily
"That isl do not Know cannot
explain. But you will only make my
position worse by staying. You must
hurry. will help you start"
Again her fathomable eyes turned
upon me appealngly. moist now,
thought, with tears that were very
near the surface. | ground my teeth
together in rage. The thought OF any
one harning or even distressing such
woman made me clirch my fists
with an impotent longing to protect
her at any cost
Look here said, Il don't
know anything about you. though YOU
seem to know who | am. But dc
know this--if you are in danger here
want TO get you out OF 1t, and ! cor
do It. My Blerot is passenger ma
chine.
(To be continued.)