Indiana daily times., 1922-01-09
ChQpter V-COu.

Then at sight OF his darkeulug idce
she drew back, abashed at wnat she had
said. oh, l beg your pardon. / didn't
mean
ITS nothing" he muttered, putting at
his pipe only you rubbed salt into
a raw place. ! don't know why ! am
idiot enough to do it, but I'm going to
tell you something After all, 1t does
not matter
She was busy with another leaf, and
after waiting moment said softly .
Sometimes It's better to get thugs off
your mlnd-dou't you think? But then
have no right to pry into your a.
fairs, So
NO matter. / can put the whole thing
in a dozen words. l was one Of those
fools who put his whole faith and every
thing else Ia a woman. / went overseas
with the understanding that we would
wait TN after the war ] had a long.
afTecuonate letter from her dated on the
very day she skipped out with one OF
my very best friends. That's the
story. ! didn't know this till I got bach
eager to fnd her. She'd been married
several months when I got home
bad enough" Faith commented quiet
ly. But what lucky man you were "
Lucky" he exclaimed. How DO you
make that outf"
Suppose you had married her and then
1t had happened 2" Then she continued
softly, with her eyes resting on her hands
folded in her lap. And so for the act
OF these two, you condemn the Whole OF
manktnd-especiauy womankind. Is that
falrl"
Hunter made no answer. He puHed
away at his pipe, half-reheyed, half
ha sriy
such things have to te,' Faith went
on dreamily. This is q great big world,
with lots OF people IN IT,, and some or
them must be-tAat way. Remember,
what Marcus Aurelius sajd1 When thou
art offended with any mans shameless
conduct. Immediately ask thyseu, Is II
possible. then, that shameless men should
not be in the world. DO not
then, require what IS impossible
He knocked the ashes from his pipe,
gave a little sarug as though pulling
himself together, and growled Darn
Marcus Aureliu5.'
preston IN her eyes of half compassion, !,
half amusement, as he got up and
stnmped off toward the Inlet.
That night Faith slept soundly,
awakening at de- yllght indignant that
Hunter had watched the night through
without calling her to relieve him.
Il am going to get some sleep today
he met her seedlings, Just as soon as
we have something to eat. Then you
may stand guard; but be careful not to
expose yourself and keep close 10 camp.
I've got a hunch that those fellows are
not far of"
Nothing stirring last night2"
Nothing unusual. Now, II you VIII
get things ready for cooking, III get
some fresh water"
Although Hunters eyes were heavy
with the desire for sleep, when be
stretched himself on the ground he found
It difficult to compose himself. The
events Of the preceding day or so kept
running through his mind
Tho problem before him of protecting
the girl was a FERROUS one. Had he been
alone, he would have put to sea In the
yawl trusting to the chance Of meeting
some vessel but with the girl on his
hands he shrank from taking that risk
for, in addition to the usual dangers OF
the sea in an open boat, there was the
probability to be considered Of perish
ing from hunger and thirst. Then, too,
he felt that If they could only outwit
their enemies for a little while, there
was always the hope Of rescue by a
passing ship, for they surely could not
he very far from the lanes Of marine
traffic Here they at east had plenty Of
water, and no doubt they could manage
to get food Of some sort when they
should run short, orcs they were free
to look for 1t.
He took no comfort from }he fact that
they had not been disturbed during the
night. attributing that to the likelihood
Of Jansen not yet having gotten his
bearings.
And so he grew more restless, and then
the face Of the blue-eyed girl who had
deserted him began to intrude itself
upon him. to be driven out with a mem
tally muttered oath always replaced by
the slim, boyiah figure in the baggy