The Washington times., 1919-06-14

/ Agg "AGu yOu COuSAOCI ln6G ! dAA
the murderer Of your uncle"
Thus reminded, the laughter
ceased and the color reeeded from
her face. She made no reply, but,
bending, with fingers that trembled
with anger, she strove 70 unknot
the handkerchief as il it were some
loathesome thing.
Better let me help" he suggest
ed, pleasantly.
you BEAST" she famed at him.
Step aside; your shadow falls upon
me-"
Now you are delicious, charm
ing" he goaded, belying the desire
that stirred compelling within him
to clasp her in his arms. You
quite revive my last recollection of
you here on the beach, one second
approaching me for not Kissing you,
the next second kissing me-yes,
you did, too-and the third second
threatening to destroy my digestion
forever with that little tin toy piS-
toll Of yours. No, you haven't
changed an iota from last time.
You'd better let me unite that for
you. Don't you see the knot is
damned? Your little fingers can
never manage it"
She stamped her foot in sheer in
articulatenesS Of rage.
Lucky for me you don't make q
practice of taking your tin toy pis-
toll in swimming with you" he
teased on, cor else there'd be a fu-
neral right here on the beach pretty
prOnto Of a perfectly nice young
man, whose intentions are never
less than the best"
The Indian Inv aE g.
moment, running with bathing
wrap. which she snatched from him
and put on hastily. Next, with the
boys help, she attacked the knot
again. When the handkerchief
came of she flung It from her as
II in truth it were a viperine.
1t Doesn't Save.
at was contaminated" she
flashed. for his benefit.
But Francis. still engaged in
hardening his heart against her,
shook his head slowly, and said:
1T doesn't save you, Leoncia
I've left my mark on you that never
will come off"
He pointed to the excavations he
had made on her knee, and laugh
ed.
The mark Of the beast" she
came back. turning to go. 81 warn
you to take yourself off, Henry
Morgan"
But he stepped in her way.
And now We'll talk business.
Miss Solano," he said in changed
tones. And you will listen. Let
your eyes flash all they please, but
don't interrupt me-" He stopped
and picked up the note he had been
engaged in writing. 81 was Just
sending that to you by the boy
when you screamed. Take it. Read
it. 1t won't bite you. It isn't
viperine"
Though she refused to receive It,
her eyes involuntarily scanned the
opening line:
am the man whom you mis-
took for Henry Morgan 4"
She looked at him with startled
eyes that could not comprehend
much, but which were guessing
many vague things.
ION my honor" he said gravely.
You are not Henry"
she gasped.
mo. am not. Won't you please
take it and read?"
This time she complied, while he
gazed with all his eyes upon the
golden pallor Of the sun on her
tropic-touched blond face which
cOlored the blood beneath. or which
was touched by the blood beneath,
TO the amazingly beautiful golden
pallor.
Almost in a dream he discovered
himself looking into her startled.
nr1ngf-nnFnur
And who should have signed
this?" she repeated
But the name?-your name?"
Morgan, Francis Morgan. As I
explained there, Henry and I are
some sort OF distant relatives
forty-ffth cousins. or something
like that"
To his bewilderment, a great
doubt suddenly dawned in her eyes.
and the old familiar anger flashed.
Henry" sic accused him. This
is a ruse, a 0cviTs trick you're try
ing TO play on me. or course. you
are Henry"
Francis pointed to his mustache.
you've grown that since" she
challenged.
He pulled up his sleeve and
showed her his left arm from wrist
to elbow. But she only looked her
incOmprehension of the meaning Of
his action
The OId-Time Scar.
do you remember the SCARF he
asked.
She hooded.
Then find IT."
She bent her head in swift vain
search. then shook it slowly as she
faltered. Il ask your
forgiveness. was terribly mis-
taken, and when think of the way
I've treated you"
That kiss was delightful" he
naughtily disclaimed
She recollected more Immediate
passages, glanced down at her knee
and stihed what he adjudged was
a most adorable giggIe.
You say you have a message
from Henry" she changed the sub
jcct abruptly. And that he is in
nocent? This is true? Oh, I
do want to believe YOU"
Il am morally certain that Henrv
no more killed your uncle than did
p
Then say no more. at least NOT
now" she interrupted joyfuIIy
First OF all, I must make amends
to you, though you must confess
that some Of the things you have
done and said were abominable
You had no right to kiss me-
IF you will remember" he con-
-