The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-12-14

thdt tiey were IaT enough away fOl
safety, he clambored cautiously, upor
the platform, the girl as carefully
making room for him on the few DIR,
planks.
There was nothing to say, nothing
to do; for the moment at least the,
were safe. and perhaps morning would
bring rescue. Suddenly West straight
ened UP, aroused by q new interest,"
surely that last wave went entirel,
over the yachts rail he could see tn.
white Cleam Of spray as it broke; and
yes. there was another! Then, almost
without warning, the end came. She
went down bow first, the stern lifting
until West could discern the dark
outlines of the screw, and then
dropped like stone, vanishing almost
instantly.
THAT is the last Of the Seminole"
West said, feeling the necessity Of
strengthening her. "But it is nothing
to frighten you. We are safe enough
here. But you must keep your nerve;
we may be afloat for hours yet before
we are picked up"
You are sure we will be2'
'rhe probability is altogether I'm our
favor he insisted, as much TO en-
courage himself as her. 'This is Lake
Michigan in, summer time, and boats
are plying everywhere. We shall sure
ly be sighted by something when day
light returns"
She was silent a moment, with head
again bent forward.
what do you suppose became of
the men who deserted the yacht?" she
asked, her voice natural and quiet.
ashore, perhapS,'by this time They
were certain they had done good
job, and eager to get away safely.
Hogan never deemed 1t possible for us
to get away alive. AS it was, the es-
cape was almost miracle"
"A miracle! softly. perhaps so,
yet / know who accomplished it. /
owe my life to you, Captain West"
she paused doubtfully, and then went
on impulsively. won't you explain to
me now what 1t all means? How you
came to be here? and-and why those
men sought in this way to kill me?"
you do not know?"
"Only in the vaguest way; is it my
fortune? 1 have been held prisoner;
lied to, and yet nothn!, has been made
clear"
ut Is devilsh conspiracy that has
been plotted for long while. There
must be dozen involved in 1t, one
way or another, but, as near as l can
learn, the chief devil, the brains of the
gang is the fellow named Hobart
Have you known him-long?"
"No." she said doubtfulIy, mot un-
less h's other name was Jim. There
was fellow they called Jim. He was
my jailor after that woman locked
me into a room"
"Where was this?'
why surely you must know. In that
cottage where we stopped with Per
cival Coolidge"
He drew Il deep breath, more thor
oughly puzzled than ever. What could
be her purpose to make 50 bold un
effort to deceive? His heart sank. but
he determined to go on, and learn how
far she would carry this strange tale.
Perhaps out of the wAlter he could
discern some truth
THE fellows name is jim all right,
jim Hobart. The woman passes as his
wife. You knew nothing of all this?"
"No; I only saw the man twice; he
was very rough then, and swore when
l questioned him."
"AHd the woman?"
"She would not talk, either; only
lidge had committed suicide That
made me wonder, for I believed he
had something to do with my being
held there. What did he say when
he returned to the auto without me ?
What explanation did he make for my
absenceY'
"Explanation! He needed none
you came out Of the cottage with
him."
81? What do you mean"
"But I saw you with my own eyes,
talked with you, and all three of us
drove back to 'Fairlawn' together. NV
Cd, Miss Natalie, have you lost your
mind? Do you even deny dismissing
me from your service?'
She gaZed at him through the
gloom, utterly unable to comprehend.
II must have, If what you say Is
true" she admitted, "For l certainly
have no such recollection"
He stared off into the black night,
his lips pressed closely together.
Gould this be false? Could she sit
there calmly, in the midst of such peril
as surrounded them, and still de,
liberately endeavor to deceive?
"And you knew nothing of the death
Of Percival Coolidge, except what was
told you by that woman?"
"She brought me newspaper which
I read; that was all knew"
"And in that house on Wray street
where / met you again last night And
you talked with me; tried to get me to
quit following you. You surely haven't
forgotten that already?"
She dropped her face wearily into
her hands, and her voice sounded list.
less.
Il almost believe you are the