Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-10-22
CHAPTER IIl.--contlnued.

Mr.. Shaw looked at me steadily. His
eyes were the kind that seem to see
all and reveal nothing. | felt a hot
spark of defiance rising in my own.
"And indeed II Is too bad" he said
coolly, "that the trip should not be
more to Miss Harding's liking" The
rough edges Of his Scotch burr had
been smoothed down by much wander
Ing, but you knew at once on which
side Of the Solway he had seen the
light.
ut is not a question OF my liking"
I retorted, trying to preserve an I'M
moved and lofty demeanor. though my
heart was beating rather quickly at
finding myself actually crossing
swords with the redoubtable adventur-
er, this man who had often faced
death, could not refuse to believe,
rs steadily as he was facing me now.
ut Is not at all q question of my
Hiking or not liking the trip. but of the
trip itself being-quite the widest
thing ever heard out of story-book."
"Ah--yet the world would be poorer
if certain Wild trips had not been tax
en-. I seem to remember one Chris
topher Columbus, for instance"
BY vivid lightning flash of wrath
4 felt that this adventurer was laugh
ing at me under his sober exterior
even stirring me up as one does an
angry kitten.
EYES," | fiared out, "but Columbus
did not inveigle confding old lady
TO 20 along with him!" or course
Aunt Jane Is not, properly speaking,
an old lady, but 1t was much more
effective to pose her as one for the
moment
1t was certainly effective, to Judge
by the sudden firm setting of his
mouth.
''Lad.' he said quietly, lend hand
below, will your They are overhaul
ing some of our stuff tween decks"
He waited until the Honorable Cuth-
bert. looking rather dazed, had retired.
We stood facing each other. my breath
coming rather hurriedly.
miss Harding" he said slowly,
shat was bitter word you said"
My head went up.
Bitter. perhaps" / flung back, "but
is 1t not truei It is for you to an
swer."
mo, Il is not for me to answer, be-
cause It is not for you to ask. But
since you talk Of invelgling, let RE
give you the history Of my connection
with the expedition. You will under
stand then that | had nothing to do
with organizing 1t, but was merely en-.
gagged to do my best to carry II
through to success"
II have already heard version of
the matter from Mr.. Vane.'
"And you think he is In the con-
Hpiracy. too7"
Certainly not" / replied hastily. II
mean--of course. | know he told me
exactly what he believes himself
'aThen suppose you consider that
he was inveigled, toof"
II am not required to consider Mr.
vane's status at ALL" replied with
dignity. sit Is my aunt whom | wish
10 protect" And suddenly to my dis.
may my voice grew husky. | had to
turn my head aside and blink hard al
the sea.
He stood looking down at me-he
was big man. though of lesser height
than the superb Cuthbert--in way
I couldn't quite understand. And what
j don't understand always makes INC
uncomfortable.
"very WELL" he said after a pause
Maybe your opportunity will come
1t would be pity indeed If Mis-,
Harding were to require no protect
ing and young lady here with sucl
"a good will to it. But IL you will TAX,
the suggestion of man of rather
broader experience than your own
you will walt until the occasion arises
IT Is bad generalship really, TO vast,
your ammunition like this"
II dare say am not a master o.
strategy" cried, furious at myself
for my moment Of weakness and q
him for the s0fteniDg tone which hat
crcpt into his voice. II am merely
honest. And when ] see Aunt Jan,
hypnotized-by this Violet person."
"And indeed have seen no reasol
to think that Miss Higglesby Browns