Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-09-25
CHAPTER w.
The Hand Sinister


luminance az she leaned over the
ships rail; and Il seemed to Wallen
that he had never seen 30 beautiful
0 face. No, "beautiful' wasn't the
word at all. IT was more than that
q something that counted for more
than mere prettiness OF features.
I. II know you're just dying to find
ont how ! came aboard here" she
laughed. II could see It In your face
every time you looked ut me at sup
per-"
YES" wallen admitted. That's
true. Miss MacKay. In fact, I've been
waiting here on deck for ages to ask
you"
She did not answer at once-she
was leaning farther over the rail. her
eyes fxed on the bubbllng phosphores-
cence as IL glided past the ships hull.
You are a western man, as we
speak Of the West here. Mr.. Wallen,"
she said at last seriously; s'and per-
haps you do not know the East very
weil-that Ii, the outpost East, as
call u. Conventions here are-are
quite different. You. I am sure, are
mentally disappearing Of my presence
on board: you are thinking that ]
should be accompanied by my mother
or my father or n brother. or at least
by a female companion Of some sort,
instead Of which ] have oniy-this."
She drew her hand from her pocket,
and In the open palm. as she rested
Il on the rail. lay q small but very
serviceable automatic pistol.
II was unexpected, abrupt. and II
startled him. He stared blankly at
the exquisite silver chasing Of the
thing as it giinted In the moon
beams.
"But-but to be where that isis
necessary" he ventured, a little awk-
wartily.
She shook her head as she returned
the weapon TO her pocket.
Il do not mean II I'm that sense
that IL Is necessary" she answered.
Those OF us who live In the islands
OF the Peninsula are brought up with
firearms from the time almost that we
can walk. and conventions with us fol-
low the code framed by the conditions
which surround US.
"Its-it's quite different FROM
she laughed outright. merrily now
"vassar, for example. was there
two years. And 30 you see. Mr.. Wal
len, IL one wants to go anywhere
down here IL IL simply a question of
availing oneself Of the first opportu-
nifty, whatever IL may be.
'It's a very horny and commonplace
explanation" she said. 81 am going
to pay a Compromised visit to my
uncle and aunt In Sumatra. We live
that Is. father and lon Menado. just
north of the Makassar strait. All we
see of the outside world is an occa-
si0nal trading schooner; and so when
Captain Laynton put In to ride out a
few days bad weather. with him came
the opportunity was speaking Of.
"He said he was to touch ut a num-
Der Of ports beginning with Pobi and
work down TO Singapore. Well, at
Singapore can get passage across to
Sumatra. and that's the whole story.
You see'.-she was demurely serious
now-'T have been very precise be-
cause understand that you are really
I'm command now, and IL you disap-
proved too terribly you might order
me ashore at the first port"
"Put You ashore" exclaimed Wal
len with a laugh. "Not muchi Be
sides. we're not touching Mt any port
before Singapore. And"-with sud-
den insplration-"I'll tell you what.
Miss MacKay, wen run you over to
Sumatra from there. II you like"
"Oh. win your she cried excitedly.
THAT will be splendid! But':-hesi-
tantiy-"that's asking altogether too
much"
1T isn't asking anything at AM" he
assured her warmly. "The debt win
be on my side"
''It's perfectly splendid Of your she
said again enthusiastically. ct don't
know how to thank you" Her hand,
cool and soft, touched his lightly upon
the rail.
@&~ ~A&SP%A AA44Akys
Then that settles the bargain, Miss
MacRay!" he declared.
She withdrew her hand, nodding her
head prettily; and then the dark eyes
that were smiling into his grew sud.
denly troubled.
Il have never heard 80 strange O
thing before a this" she said; "of
you. and-and your connection with
this ship. And-Fve been trying to
say II. and didn't quite know how
about your fathers loss-rm SO sorry,
Mr. Wallen."
thank you." he said quietly-and
turned away for a moment.
His fathers deathi He had not even
Jet come TO realize IL. except In that
cold. merciless desire for vengeance
upon the man or men who had been
aT1flfw NJ hg1 RaSha~s, wn.-.a~~ A