Charlevoix county herald., 1918-03-15
regrets; she was gone.


day morning. My suggestion-Mar.
Gus politely said invitation-had been
acted upon. and the detective ser
geant was at the dock to watch me
place enough water between steamer
| and shore-line to Illustrate swimming.
The chief had agreed with Edwards
and me that seafaring life was bet
1ster for fractions suspect than forci.
T BILE adetainer. and Marcus, somewhat
ii'grudgingly. had concu-red.
! Captain Blake. after he had pried
his ship away from its dock. gave me
cordial greeting and the stateroom of
a superfluous third oncer with the
I freedom OF the bridge. The Wilton
was" a small boat; I was surprised
that my memory of II had been 30 de-
u fective. II had seemed ample In pro
G'portions when I was not personally
now had grave doubts of
Asits seagoing ability, AID I felt I was
taking extreme hazards In trusting
myself aboard.
There were about forty passengers,
the chief steward tcld me. half Of
whom would leave US at California
ports. 1t was not the time OF year
! for heavy South American travel.
These yoyagers were getting arrang-
ed In their staterooms, unpacking
their steamer chairs and fighting for
! places at the captains table.
watched Fort FONT disappear In
the haze. then went to my cabin. We
were crossing that disagreeable bit of
water outside the Golden Gate called.
for obvious reasons. the Potato
Patch" wasn't Ill, bit there was no
scertainty Of seamanly qualities In me,
and preferred to begin the test I'M
lder less rigorous conditions. ! would
forego luncheon and keep to my berth
for a while.
- Late in the afternoon I went on
| deck again. to find SIN Doth seas and
I warm sun had brought out the major
part OF our passengers. and / made q
tour Of Investigation to see what fate
had cast me up against. had Just be-
gun getting interested when saw Isa-
belle Reade. She was sitting In q
steamer-chair in the lee Of the after
distant shore-line. just as though she
I was at Brenta's watching the door.
"a went to her directly. ISIS Reade."
cried, and her eyes came to meet
mine with look of startled surprise.
Isn't this the most wonderful hap
pening!"
rs 1t happening?" she asked, rising
quickly. her eyes interrogating mine.
not seeing my outstretched hand.
took her hand regardless. 1T Is
Enthusiastically" affirmed. II
never guessed-then I saw you'll I
have fought--fought everybody, even
yOu---to make this trip on this boat
thinking It was taking me away from
ever seeing you again-and It brought
me to you. Coincidence! It Is more
than that. II were Mohammedan
I should now say. 'Kismet!'"
There was still doubt in her face,
and the hand held was trembling.
t-s-r-Nave p ever lied to your asked
quickly. "HaveI ever in all my long
life told you a single fib?"' had met
her twice before. but she shook her
head In grave negative. Then believe
me now that never even guessed you
possibly might 60 the same way ! was
going. ] could hardly believe 1t when
I saw you. but Il Is you and this II I:
and we are on the same boat. and ]
am happy; That 10 every word truth
II swear It'll" E
"You won't shake met" she asked.
her lips curving at their corners ador.
ably. ..-.
/. mol" I almost shouted.
"Nor question met"
"Not q single question: won't
even remember that you have q -
cret. That 10 all past-back there on
shore In the gray fogs Of the city. Out
. here on the sunlit sea there 10 no mys-
: terry, no-no nothing! Just you, go
Ing home; just me with you. Just
!, ps!"
Then you may sit down beside
me-" she said. sinking into her chair.
"and you may tell me how you come
to be on q steamer bound south"
There was some ones vacant chair
near by. and ! did not wait for per
mission, setting 1t as close beside her
own rs might; and I told her how I
had begun hunting adventures at for.
~. made no mention Of the events
Of the night after had last seen her,
or Of the grpesome find which I was
sure had once been her murdered
friends sweetheart. ! had promised
to forget 1t all. and was not anxious
TO bring added trouble to her mind,
for she was evidently still grieving
for the tragedy which she knew.
tried my best to take her mind far
away from its sadness. telling her OF
my plans and prospects, and in a way
succeeded. She had smiled several
times before the Chinaman with his
gong announced dinner.
We had been placed at different Ia
bles discovered. but II was an easily
rectified mistake. introduced Cap
taip Blake, who promptly elected the
occupant of the chair at his left for