Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-17


+. minute sflreds, searched carefully to
\ make sure there were no other way
ward scraps, and then started slow
| Iy back along the veranda to reJoin
Polly Wickes.
| He halted abruptly at the sound
of his own name. Unconsctously he
had almost reached the door lead
| ing into the lounging room OF the
boathouse. Polly Wickes was .alk-
| ing to some one--to whoever 1t was,
| of course, whose arrival at the boat
house had frightened old ME--Mariin
away a few minutes ago. All, yes
| Newcombe. That was Newc1Inbe
laughing now.
but just the same" said Polly
wickes, 1T does seem little
I strange to me that Mr.. Locke woGld
make such trip with you on so
short an acquaintance"
Nonsense" replied Captain Fran
strange about It. You don't know
that type Of young American. that's
oil. The short acquaintance end
| of It is purely the insular English
viewpoint. He had a holiday on his
hands, as I told you. and he meant
to spend it on his boat somewhere.
We hit II Off splendidly together
| coming over, and-well. we've nit IL
of splsndidIy ever since. That's
ALL"
Lets change the subject" then,
| said Polly Wickes.
Captain Francis Newcombe laugh
ed complacently.
| Il was going to-" he said. II
want to speak to you abou. last
| night"
Il don't care for your choice"
| said Polly Wickes in what seemed
to Locke like sudden agitation. 4
| haven't been able to get that hor-
rible cry out OF my mind all day,
and ] hardly slept at all when
went to bed"
! But. my dear. that is utterly alb
! surd!" Captain Francis Newcombe
returned. with another laugh. II
i can only repeat what I said to you
| been some boatmen out on the
water catcalling to each other.
was startled myself at ,/frs., and a
bit angry. I'll admit. ut the
thought that some one was taking
liberties with us; nut I am quite
sure now 1t was nothing Of the
kind. You mustn't give it another
.hought-rcally. 1t isn't worth it..
But / wasn't going to refer to that
! again. What I wanted to know was
whether or not you told Miss Marlin
about seeing her father out u ere at
that hour OF night"
Yes" said Polly Wickes. IT told
her; and she said she knew he
sometimes went out night after
night for a number Of nights. and
that. strangely enough, he'd go out
| later each night until finally il
would be just before daybreak
when he left the house-and then,
after that. for long while he
wouldn't go out at all. She said
she had never given her father an
inkling that she knew, and had
never put any restraint upon him.
As have told you. what the
/ doctors have warned her about, and
what she Is more afraid of than
| anything else, is arousing any sus-
| requires watching or is being
watched. There is the danger that
he might become. violent. In fact, 1t
is almost certain that he would
under such conditions, Doctor
HIM" commented Captain Fran
els Newcombe.
A chair creaked within; foot
step sounded on the floor approach
ing the door.
And Howard Locke retreatec
quietly around the corner of the
poathouse.
1t was dark in the room, save
where the moonlight stole in
through the window and stretched a
filmy path across the floor until, IN
n strange. nebuloys way, it threw
into relief a cheva1 glass that stood
against the opposite wall. And in
the glass a shadowy picture showed:
The reflection of mans figure
seated In chair, but curiously
the shoulders bent a little forward,
the head outthrust, the elbows out
ward. strained with weight. the
hands clenched upon the arms of
the chair. And then suddenly, with
a low. snarling oath. the more
vicious for its repression, the figure
sprang from the chair, and stood
with face thrust close against the
mirror.
It was Captain Francis Newcombe.
He stared into the glass, his fists
knotted at his side. 1t was as
though the two faces flung
challenge one at the other. each
| hooking the other, in sort of
Mucous fmlt3tlOn OF every mus
cular movement. They were dis
torted-ths lips drawn back. dis
playing teeth as beasts might co;
and in the shadows the eyes were
lost. only the sockets showing like
small, black. ugly, cavernous things.
The minutes passed-long minutes.
A metamorphosis was taking place.
The faces became moro composed:
they became debonair. suave-and
finally they smiled at one another as
though a truce had been proclaimed.
Captain Francis Newcombe swung
back to the chair, and flung himself
down in it again. 1t was over for
the moment. For the moment! Yes,
that was it-for the moment, But
II would come again. Last night IN
his bunk on the Talofa he had lain
awake. and lived through hell. To-
day. behind his mask Of COM
plaisance. fear had gnawed. Fear!
And 1t had been his boast that fear
and he were strangers.
His lips grew tight.
Well. his boast still held good!
What man had ever stood before