, 1922-10-24
CHAPTER II.

When stormont gently halted his
horse It was dawn. and Eve. sagsing
against him with one arm aroun his
neck. sat hudled UP on her saddle
fast asleep.
slope OF the divide. stIod tho log camp.
dimly visible in the s.lvery light Of
early morning.
Daragh. c%autioning stormont with
n slight gesture. went forward.
mounted the rustic veranda. and
knockedd at q iightedd window.
A man already dressed. came and
peered out at him. then hurried to
open the door.
~ don't know you. Captain Oar
ragh-" he began, but fell silent I'M
der the warning gesture that checked
him.
i've a guest outside. She's Clinch's
stepdaughter, Eve Strayer. She knows
ne by the name of Hal Smith. Do you
understand"
Yes, sir"
"Cut that ou:. too. I'm Hal Smith
to you also. State Troopcd' Stormont
it out there with Eve Strayer. He
was a comrade OF mine IN Russia. I'm
Hal Smith to him. by mutual agree.
ment. Now do you get me. Ralph?"
Sure, Hal. Go on; spit 1t outr'
They both grined.
You're a hootch runner" said Oar
rAggh. This is your shack. Tho
hatchery is only a blind. That's all
you have to know, Ralph. So put that
girl in my room and let her sleep til
h wakes OF her own accord.
"Stormont and I viii take two of
tho guest-bunks in the l.. And for
heavens sake make us some coffee
when you make your own But first
come out and take the horse"
They went out together. Stormont
lifted Eve out OF the saddle. She
did not awake. Darragh led the way
into the log house N along a cor
ridor to his room.
Turn own the Sheets" whispered
stormont. And when the bed was
ready: "can you get = bath towel,
Jimf"
Darragh fetched one from the con-
Meeting room.
Wrap 1t ground her wet hair"
whispered Stormont. GOOD heavens,
1 wish there were a woman here"
II wish SO too" said Darragh; she's
GAAAAAGh ~ liz bOAA1s A00 a. Aaho "
wake her. She can't sleep in what
she's wearing; it's almost as damp as
her hair"
He went to the closet and returned
with a mans morning robe. as soft
as fleece.
Somehow or other she's got to get
into that" he said.
There was a silence.
Very we'll" said Storthont, red
dening. "If you'll step out III
manage---i' He cooked Darrsgh
straight in the eyes. 81 have asked
her to marry me-" he said
When Stormont came a great
fire of blrchlogs was blazing in the
living-room, and Darragh stood
there, his elbow on the rough stone
mantelshelf.
Stormont came straight to the fire
and set one spurred boot on the fen
der.
shes warm and dry and sound
asleep he said. "Ill wake her again
II you hin she ought t o swallow
something hot"
This is my friend Ralph wier,"
said Darragh. 81 think you'd better
give Eve a cup OF coffee" And. TO
wier. Fiji a couple OF hot water
bags. old chap. We don't want any
pneumonia in this house"
Then he went to his own quarters
TO read two letters which. conforming
to arrangements made with Mrs. Ray
the day he had robbed Emanuel Sard.
were to be sent TO Trout Lodge 70
await his arrival.
Both, written from the Ritz, bore
the date Of the day before: the first
he opened was from the Countess Or
loff-Strelwitz:
Dear Captain Darragh,
You are sc wonderful Your
messenger. with the ten thousand
dollars which you already nave re-
covered from those miscreants
who robbed RIcca, came aboard
our ship before we landed. 1t was
a godsend; we were nearly pennL
less-and oh. so shabby!
Instantly, my friend, we
shopped, Ricca END I. Fifth Ave
enchanted US. All misery was for
gotten In the magic of that para
disc FOR women.
"FurtheFmore, dear Captain Oar