The Lamar register., 1920-08-11

He wrote out long message to Iris
Ford. explaining in detail what had
happened to him and how he had done
his best TO communicate by wireless,
and how he stood over the operator
while he sent II. Then he asked how
long II would take TO get an answer.
From two TO six hours" was the
reply.
"rll wait" announced Shute.
'But don't you want to see the
fortificationsT" asked the operator.
You will have ample time"
Il want TO see nothing except the
reply to that message" replied Shute.
sitting down and making himself com
Portable for a long wait.
After six hours OF waiting. the oper-
stor handed him a cable dispatch. 1t
read:
Ford out OF town. Report to Amer
lean consul. Naples. Do you need
money!"
1t was signed by the clubs secre-
tary.
He cabled In answer to address him
care of the consul at Naples He did
not ask for money. And he went back
TO the ship in no hilarious frame OF
mind. His team had lost the worlds
championship-the plot against him
had been thoroughly successful And
he was no nearer spotting his en-
emies than he was before going ashore.
And Miss Riley didn't care for base
ball This seemed 10 cap the climax
Strange how values change In voy-
h.
Aboard ship be ran upon the ships
doctor and the wireless operator in
close confab. Win Shute WIS not Gu.
rious until be caught the doctors
words:
''rhe Ginnt-killers lost. i see by the
Dispatch. and you won. IN pay you
when We get paid on"
My tip was pretty good" admitted
Jed Mansel. Il made quite Il killing.
Cleaned up two thousand dollars"
Two thousandf" repeated the doc
tor "You were lucky"
mot lucky-wise." corrected Man
sci. winking siyly. Il knew that one
of the Giant-kiIlers' best men couldn't
play"
Win Shute was certain. The wire
ess operator was crook He was a
party to the devilish conspiracy that
had drugged and put him away Oh
the shipl
Rage such as he had never felt In
all his life consumed him. He could
not curb his desire 10 hurt himself up
on Manzel ana beat him TO insensiblli-
y. But as he was on his toes to
.prfug d. rasfrstuiug hand s.ya- I.t1
upon his arm.
Ii was Miss Riley. May speak
to you, pleasef
Reluctantly Win Shute turned from
his enemy. He and Miss Riley walked
along the deck until they were out
of hearing OF everybody.
Il looked for you before the pass
engers went ashore" she said. you
see" she went on, then faltered-
you see-I wanted 10 ask favor OF
you" She stopped.
The ships mystery unaccountably
flashed across Wins mind But he
didn't pause a second in replying:
Sure Ask something hard. Wish
could do real big favor for you"
"You can. l have queer feeling
that something Is going to happen.
It's perfectly silly. of course but
If something should, will you look af.
ter mother? She is so devoted to me
and so dependent on me that | don't
know what she -" Again she fal-
tered.
Il sure willard look after you,
too" answered Win.
That's so good Of you But don't
trouble about me. It's mother I'm
worried about" Then with a look or
unconcealed admiration she concluded:
But feel better now. II seemed
to me that you were the only one
on the ship that | could go to-the
only one wanted to trust mother
to-"
Notwithstanding the bitter disap-
pointment Of the day, Win Shute
went into dinner that night with a
heart as buoyant as toy balloon.
He was planning walk and talk
by southern moonlight with Miss
Riley.
But all evening she paced the deck
IN earnest conversation with Jerrolo
Mansel
Win Shute figured out to his oEH'>
satisfaction why things were thus He
knew that Miss Riley was receiving
wireless messages-he had seen Man
49, M