Evening star., 1918-01-13

that Kennedy and I had taken the day
before to reach the home of Gulteras l
was Just about to say something about
it. when suddenly a figure dartei from
around corner and confronted us. 1t
was no other than Dolores herself-not
the quiet. subdued Dolores we had seen
the day before, but an almost wild, pas
Sfonate creature
Il warn your cried Dolores. unable
to restrain herself. You thought the
other was yours and he was not. Do
not seek revenge. He is mine-mine,
tell you. Win your own back again. I
was only making sport of him. But
mine-beware"
For moment Norma gazed at her.
then without word turned aside and
walked out. Another instant and Do
1ores was gone as suddenly as she had
appeared. At the landing we parted
for time from the Eyersons. to re-
turn to our hotel and get what little
we needed. including Kennedy's travel
ing laboratory.
What do you make of that Dolores
incident?' / hastened to ask.
II don't know" Craig replied, Tex
cept- that 1 feel it has an important
bearing on the case. There is some
thing that Norma hasn't told u.s.
While we waited for wagon to
transfer our goods to the dock, Ken
nedy took moment to call up Ken
more on the News. AS he turned to
me from the telephone 1 saw that what
much in his idea of the case.
TT was the Inter-Ocean Company
which had insured the Antilles" was all
he said.
his former connection Was he secret
ly working with them? Was there
plot to Illustrate Everson's plans?
The Belle Aventure was a trim yacht
Of perhaps seventy feet, driven by a
powerful gas engine and capable of
a nof 1.,f
we were aboard and settled in a hand
somely appointed room, where Craig lost
no time in establishing his temporary
travelling crime clinic. 1t was quite
late before we were able to start, but
finally We slipped out quietly.
Now and then I could see that Ken
nedy was furtively watching Norma,
in the hope that she might betray
whatever secret it was she was guard
ing so jealously. Finally the ladies
retired, leaving us with Everson.
Il can't seem to get out of my mind,
Eyerson. that meeting with the Span
ish girl on the street." suddenly re-
marked Kennedy. You see. l had al
ready heard of little unpleasantness
in hotel cafe before the expedition
started Is there some connection"
II don't understand it myself, re-
marked Everson in a low voice. When
we came down here Doininick knew
that girl, Dolores. and. of course. Kin
sale met her right away. too. I be-
lieved Gage was head over heels in
love with Norma. Only that night in
the cafe I just didn't like the way he
proposed a toast to Dolores. He must
have met her that day. Maybe he was
a bit excited. What she said today
might mean that it was her fault I
don't know. But since we've been out
to the key l fancy Norma has been
much Interested in Dominick. And Kin
sale doesn't hesitate to show that he
likes her 1t all sets Donald a..., crazy; zy.
And Norma-well, even Asia can't get
anything out of her.
1t was early in the morning that,
was awakened by a change in the mo-
tion of the boat. / looked out of a
portfolio and found that we had cast
anchor. The Key of Gold was beau
tiful green island, set like a sparkling
gem in sea of deepest torauoise.
Across the dancing. waves we could see
the trawler. Already small mower
boat had put out from her and was
ploWlng toward us.
1t was as the boat came alongside us
that we met Gage for the first time.
/ tried to discover how he acted when
he met Norma. 1t was easy to see that
he was very eager to greet: her, but I
fancied that there was some restraint
on her part. Dominick greeted Ever
son warmly. He was man of about
thirty-hve and impressed one as having
seen great deal of the world. His
position as purser had brought. him in
contact with many people, and he ap-
peared to have absorbed much from
them. Kinsale, on the other hand was
rather slim fellow and therefore
battling. In his own profession of deep
sea diving he was an expert, but be-
yond that ! do not think he had much
except an ambition to get ahead.
I fancied that next to Everson him
self Norma placed more confidence in
Domfnick than III any OF the others,
which noticeably piqued Gage. It was