The Monmouth inquirer., 1922-06-08


witchery of the twilight was not yet
invaded by the triumphant magic Of
electricity, which should transform the
vessel into floating miracle of light
Thoroughly dispirited with his feeling
of helplessness, Craig entered one of
the dim corridors which led toward his
stateroom.
Then, as If in answer to his great
desire for action, came a sudden in.
terruption. A woman's low, startled
cry rang above the mellow monotone
of the ships sounds. Again it arose.
frightened, pleading, followed by the
husky, imperative tones of a mans
voice.
"Coming!" cried Rutherford, run
ming at top speed toward the voices,
certain that it was woman crying
for help.
He was not mistaken. Turning the
corner of the passage which led to
his own door, he came full upon two
struggling figures. A woman was en-
deayoring to ward off a man. She
was Young and slight. the man short
and stocky, yet the woman seemed to
hold her own in manner which
showed surprising strength, for every
move of her asasilant was met and
foiled.
All this Craig took in at single
glance. The next look showed him
that one of the two was Mrs. Talcott
the woman of all the world that he
had been wanting to aid-and in
trice he had sprung upon the man and
grappled with him. This action. as 1t
transpired, required no special hero
ism. The mans defense was surpris-
ingly weak; indeed, he seemed desir-
Gus only of getting away. Meanwhile.
he sought to shield his face, either
from discovery or from attack, with
his left arm Craig struck at the
shielding hand. With quick twist of
his body the man tore himself loose
and fled down the corridor.
Rutherford started to give chase,
when an imploring call from the girl
brought him to standstill.
Don't go! Oh, don't, pleased"
She was leaning against the wall,
painting for breath, and seemed almost
ready to drop from the unusual eZer-
tion. Craig sprang to her side, his
arms extended Involuntarily, she
shrank back and drew herself uprs 1T. !
1.-THE and firm Howbeit, the trembliny
hands pressed against her breast, and
the startled eyes cleaning large aad |
bright from the white oval of her face
told eloQuently of her need of protec-
tion.
"Who was that mani" Craig de-
manded
IL don't know" she whispered,
uncertainty, peering over her shoul- !
der and unconsciously moving nearer |
to rutherford. 81 don't think-I ever
saw him before"
Craig wondered momentarily why
she hesitated, and why she had seemed |
afraid for him to follow the fugitive.
"Gh. what shall we do, what shall !
we da!" she sobbed, 81 had no idea
that any one on board knew about |
thia! | thought we were safei"
She lifted her hands, and there. |
dangling from the torn edge of her
cloak, Craig glimpsed the blue buckle. |
Ier nervous fingers sought to loosen
or secure it, he could not tell which,
and in his usual masterful way, which I
had been< successful with womankind |
until he met Mrs. Henry Talcott, he |
reached out to help her with it.
Instantly she pressed both hands
tightly over it and shrank away from
him
mo, no! can trust no one-pot
even youl" she cried.
Her words and gesture, though of
resrsa!, set Craigs heart to pounding !
IN his breast. mot even you!" 1t /
seemed to be a sort of acknowledg. |
ment that she was willing to trust |
him above all others. Perhaps she |
realized thc confession underlying her
words. for she loasened the buckle by |
a final tug and turned asise Craig |
knew that she was hiding it in the
sacred security Of her breast.
just as she faced him again the
ships lights glowed above their heads.
The girl glanced timidly up at him
and found him regarding her with a
steady eye The blood rushed into her
cheeks until they lest the pale drawn
look of fright and glowed, whether
from confusion or guilt, Craig could
not discover. She seemed to realize
his right to the explanation he had
not as yet asked in words.
Il thought that we had eyaded +haro
1t was such a surprise and shock 10
find that any one knew about it-and
was trying to get It," she began. hesi.
tatingly and i'll at ease.
you mean prompted Craig
"Whq-the blue buckle, of course
I know 1t looks odd, Of course, but ]
don't see why any one else should
want it, unless they know what it
means"
What does 1t mean?" asked Craig
deliberately He must sacrifice polite
ness to get to the hnttorn of fl,;e ,,,xc