Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-01

prepared. lie cOulunt | keep your mouse
hold from his under the circumstances
of your loneliness and propinquily
without arousing suspicion at the start
Therefore. il any of you stumbled on
The evidence that would ruin him and
send the lot of them to Jail, your 81.
lence had to be assured. He had used
one of the islands curses, its super.
stitiOn, to help the climate drive you
out. For death, if it was necessary, nc
chose the other its poisonous snakes.
II anyone was found dead Of snake bite
IN such a place, why should he or any
man be suspected? He didn't miss the
value of single card, but I'll do him
the credit Of saying he hoped he would
Mt have to play that one. But you
wouldn't be driven out. Then the 9TH
or day Jake saw too much. and his
friends, the cook and the man, clink-
ed glasses with him."
"Horrible," Molly said; "and il she
hadn't told US, guided us, you, too,
Jim
"Yes," he answered softly. 81 know
He turned back to the girl
But when YOU came to the beach
the next morning you evaded my ques-
ions. You told me things that were
not quite true"
She sat up. The colour came back
to her face.
you cant understand that now
The struggle, the dreadful uncertainty
of the road | ought to follow, hoped
to persuade you to leave the island,
for knew you would try to find out,
and sooner or later they would kill
you. I tried to make myself tell you
everything, but | couldn't, l couldn't
He was my uncle--the only father
have ever known. was given to him
baby. when my mother died. And
loved him. We were happy until this
trouble in New York"
She stopped and looked down.
"Iie limited al some money trouble"
Miller urged gently
"les. He had good jewellery bus.
mess. Then the government fined him
heavily for evading customs duties,
He paid The fine, but it drove him in.
to bankruptcy. He swore he would get
even with the government 1t became
& passion
"Then you knew his plans when you
came here's
mo, oh, no. Don't think I'm bad"
Molly seated herself beside her on
the sofa and took her hand. The girl
glanced at her gratefully, wondering
ly.
81 knew nothing at first. He made
excuses for introducing those two mer
as his brothers to the Andersons. One
had been his partner. The other was
in the same business. He told me
things that weren't true about the Ar.
iersons. That was why wouldn't be
friendly even at first, why held them
away. Sooner or later had to discoy-
er everything That day came | suf-
fered alone. tried to find the right
thing 10 do. You don't know the UNI
Happiness of that time. What was to
! do? There was no ne TO whom could
20 And | had no money, | couldn't
! eaye the island. and couldn't betray
him. One doesn't find it easy to be.
tray a father. II was the same thing.
/ SO | went to him and begged him to
give it up couldn't move him. In the
end he made me promise"
Il see" Miller said. THAT was why
you told me he had stayed because of
/ you
Eyes, because had promised not to
hetray him. Do you blame me for
! that"
Il blame you for nothing" he said
softly. unless it is that you tried to
mold me away from you too"
Il Tad to, yet failed. wanted no
friends here, and you see | was right.
You see how it has worked out.'
"Why were you treated so brutally
tonight" Molly asked.
Because knew the boat was com
ing tonight. 1t was to be the biggest
stroke. tried to make him promise
there would be no murder He wouldn't
promise He said he would send the
man to the coQuina house at midnight
He said he would try to keep you In
terested there. so you wouldn't lea,
anything outside and be tempted tc
NEEDLE. But he swore if you did med
die you would have to pay his price
Then told him couldn't let it 30 on
l couldn't risk it. took back my prom
Use. said would warn YOU. started
10 run out of the house,
She raised her torn wrists to hel
face.
He lost his temper. 1t was terrible
He"
After a moment she continued.
But | got free. without their know
ing it | Went to the edge Of the clear
inc at The coQuina house. made uy
my mind to stay there all night, and
II you heard anything. II YOU ran out
to keep you from coming this wa,
where the danger was. Then some on,
called from the boat and you came
When The blue light burned knew 4
was too late. | knew you would tax,