Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-12-09
CHAPTER III.-cnntInued.

-
Mr.. Shaw looked at me steadily. His
eyes were the kind that seem to see
all and reveal nothing. felt hot
spark of defiance rising in my own.
"And indeed it is too Bad" he said
coolly, "that the trip shous3 not be
more to Miss Harding's liking" The
rough edges of his Scotch BARR had
been smoothed down by much evander-
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"
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,
as steadily as he was facing me now.
'Tt is not at all question of my
liking 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-. 1 seem to remember one Chris
TOPPER Columbus, for instance"
BY a vivid lightning flash of wrath
/ felt that this adventurer was laugh
ing at me under his sober exterior
even stirring me up as one does an
angry kitten.
eyes," 1 flared out, "but Columbus
did not inveigle a coniding old lady
to go along with him !" OF 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, '1end a hand,
below, will you? 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,
''that was a bitter word you said"
My head went up.
Bitter, perhaps" I flung back, ''but
is it not true? 1t is for you to an
swer."
mo, it is not for me to answer, be-
cause II Is not for you to ask. But
since you talk of inveigling, let me
give you the history of my connection
with the expedition. You will under
stand then that / had nothing to do
with organizing it, but was merely en-
gagged to do my best to carry it
through to success"
II have already heard a version of
the matter from Mr.. vane."
"And you think he is in the con-
spiracy, too?"
Certainly not" replied hastily. 81
nean-of course, know he told me
exactly what he believes himself"
'Then 1 suppose you consider that
he was invelgled, tooY
81 am not required to consider Mr..
Vane's status at all" replied with
dignity. at is my aunt whom wish
to protect" And suddenly to my dis.
ma my voice grew husky. had to
turn my head aside and blink hard at
the sea.
He stood looking down at me-he
was big man, though of lesser height
than the superb Cuthbert-in way
couldn't quite understand. And what
don't understand always makes me
uncomfortable.
every WELL" he said after a pause.
Maybe your opportunity will come
1t would be a pity indeed if Miss
Harding were to require no protect
ing and young lady here with such
q good will to it. But If you will take
the suggestion of man of rather
broader experience than your own,
you will wait until the occasion arises.
1t is bad generalship, really, to waste
your ammunition like this"
ST dare say 1 am not a master of
strategy" l cried, furious at myself
for my moment of weakness and at
him for the softening tone which had
crept into his voice. Il am merely
honest. And when l see Aunt Jane
hypnotized-by this Violet person.
"And indeed have seen no reason
to think that Miss Higglesby-Br
Is not a most excellent lady," inter
rupted Mr.. Shaw stifly. "And let me
say this, Miss Harding: here we are
all together, whether we wish to be
or no, and for six weeks or more on
the island we shall see no faces but
our own. Are we to be divided from
the beginning by Quarrels? Are may
be even the men of us to be set by
the ears through the pickering of
women?"
Like the flick of a whip came the
certainty that he was thinking of the
Honorable Cuthbert, and that l was
the rock on which thesr DaYid-and-