Courier Democrat., 1918-02-14

"You Dog Of a Liar!"
from the first the real object of this
fellow In seeking your friendship. 1
even compelled him to acknowledge
that your fathers money was the main
attraction"
l stepped forward, unable longer to
restrain the action.
You dog of liar!" I said fiercely.
Il know you are armed, but
"Wait, Captain Hollis" and her fin
gers caught my arm. '"This matter in
wolves me, and wish to hear the facts.
Go on, please"
McCann grinned into my face, but
kept one hand behind him, gripping his
revolver.
"There is not much to tell" he went
on, almost jauntily. II saw exactly
how things were going before we left
the boat. I knew Hollis reputation
ashore, and determined to warn you of
his purpose, but had no opportunity.
Besides, felt you had so poor an opin-
ion of me that probably you would not
listen."
"You were greatly mistaken, Mr. Nc
Cann," she said pleasantly. 81 would
have gladly received your advice. You
were my fathers friend"
l could read the mans surprise in
his face. The graciousness of her
words was shock, yet his egotism
made him instantly her victim
"You mean you trusted me? That
you would have listened?'
"Most assuredly. How could you
think otherwise? knew you were not
yourself in the boat, and the treat.
ment to which you were subjected was
brutal. owed my life to you equally
with Captain Hollis, and am very
grateful. have never forgotten that
you have been guest in our home,
q business associate Of my fathers.
Why should I not have confidence in
you?"
looked at her in amazement, but
her eyes never met mine. What did
this mean? Was the girl acting part?
Was she endeavoring to deceive him,
or was she speaking now in deadly ear
nest? Nothing in her manner, or in
the tone of her voice, gave me clue.
AS for Mccain, the very expression of
his face pictured his delight, his con-
viction Of her sincerity. 1t was almost
too good to be true, yet his was not a
nature to doubt his own attractiveness.
'rI-you surprise me-" he STAN
mered, absolutely forgetting my pres
ence. "I-I assure you was actuated
by the highest motives in all my ef-
forts. My-my duty was to you, and
your father"
He turned and faced me, the bully
in him surging to the surface.
II will converse with Miss Caring
ton alone"
TO resist would have been utter fool
ishness. l could see the CLEAN Of the
gun in his hand, and realized that
he only required an excuse to use it.
More, there was nothing in the express
sion Of the girls face to inspire me to
resistance. She did not even glance
toward me, or exhibit the slightest in
terest.
With hands clenched in impotent
rage, not even venturing reply, I
stepped backward. AS I crossed the
I heard the key turn in the lock.
Trembling still with anger, and dazed
by the strange action of the girl, I
sank back upon the stool, realizing my
utter helplessness. All she had done
and said appeared so natural it never
really occurred to me once that she
might be acting part, seeking in this
way to gain McCann's confidence, in
order to win from him the information
we required. 1t was only Us I sat there
In silence, brooding over every detail,
that this possible conception began to
slowly dawn upon my mind. That she
could trust the man In any way was
practically impossible. for he had re-
vealed to her his true character In 80
many ways the memory could not be
blotted out.
AS the full knowledge of this truth
grew apparent, was able to view all
that had occurred later In different
light. She had simply accepted her
one chance: had grasped with womanly
intuition the single weapon left at
her command. Girl as she was In
years, her experience In the world had
been that Of a woman, and she instinc-:
lively realized her power-the power
Of wealth, Of beauty. and Of youth. 1t
had been beautifully done, so deftly
accomplished as to deceive even me.
Aye! and the method had succeeded
with McCann. recalled the express
sion Of surprise, Of qualification, of