The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-24

something directly aft. Bess rose and
stared curiously across the taffrail.
"Geei That looks exciting" she re-
marked casually.
Lord George looked up at her. Its
jolly good practice, you know" he
said. ITS the shooting season at
home now, and everybody there is pop
ping away. It's lots of fun. it is real
ly. Excuse me-" He turned and sent
a bullet at a sharks triangular fin
that cut the water off the starboard
quarter. The fin disappeared and he
turned back to Bess. I'm not much
of shot" he explained. THE best
bag / ever made was sixty brace"
Sixty bracel One hundred and
twentyl"
Lord George did not answer. He
swung his rifle up. Bess had just
time to see that he was aiming at
something that looked like bottle
with small flag stuck into its neck,
when the piece exploded and the bottle
disappeared. Good gracious!" she
exclaimed. Where did that bottle
come fromF
"Bottle?" Lord George looked sur
prised. where IS it?"
Its at the bottom of the sea, nOw,"
exclaimed Bess. You blew 1t to
pieces. Didn't you know what you
were aiming at?'
Lord Georges expression of surprise
was obvious. Really, now, really,
Miss Bess," he mumbled, "are you
sure 1t was bottle?"
"Of course, I'm sure. I've got eyes,
haven't 1? 1t looked like message
too. 1t had flag in it. Maybe 1t was
message from some poor ship
wrecked mariner. And you've de-
stroyed it. Good Lord !"
Lord George had fired again, and at
another bottle which flew in frag-
ments like the first
Bess stared at the water. Then she
stared at Lord George. But that gen.
tleman kept his eye fixed on the water,
either failing or refusing to meet her
eyes. "Oh !" she breathed significantly.
The rudder chains leading along the
rail began to rattle, and the wake Of
the Ell Rio began to change its direc-
tfon. The sun, which had been on the
girls left, shifted behind her. For a
moment Bess did not understand; then
she realized that the Ell Rio had
changed its course from south to west.
Bess glanced up at the bridge where
Captain Bunker's form was outlined
against the sunset. Then she turned
back to Lord George, as If to speak.
But the Englshman anticipated her.
THAT really was bottle now!" he
cried. ut was. 'pon my word. Did
you see iti"
"Yes; saw it." Bess spoke short
ly. Her vague suspicious suddenly
fiattened.
Jolly good shot. What7"
YES; it was good shot. Where
do you suppose those bottles came
from?''
Where? oh, fancy somebody
tossed them overheard up forward
somewhere. Er-Captain Bunker must
have opened his instructions. What?'
Bess started. Undoubtedly that was
the explanation of the change, OF
course. an go see!'' she cried. and
raced forward.
Captain Bunker was on the bridge
|
to his perch, he showed no signs OF
his perception. His broad back and
indeed his whole attitude was re
pellent. Almost Bess hesitated.
Almost, but not quite. Curiosity
; drove her on. Captain - she said
timidly
Captain Bunker turned. His face
was forbidding. Miss Archman." ht
said cOldly, "can I do anything fol-
you?" Suppressed anger thrilled In
his tones.
Bess faltered. "NO-nothing," she
stammered. 81 only wanted to ask
ask whether you had opened the in
structons yet?" She tried to make
her tones light, but failed lamentably
What could he the matter? she won
dered.
yes: | have opened them.' Cap
tain Bunker's face grew grimmer Alb
ruptly he turned upon the girl. Miss
Archman." he said. "when you threat
ened to see those instructions befor.
I did, ! thought you were joking.
did not dream that you would attempt
to carry out so dishonorable threat
or that you could succeed even III yot
did attempt it."
"Why! I-I-I-GOod gracious
was joking. of course" Bess face
: heightened with dismay. How dar,
you speak this way to me2" she burs
; out.
81 fancy you know why" Bitter
ness rang in Captain Bunker's tones
~ do not know how you got into m.
safe, Miss Archman." he said. "True
1t was old-fashioned. But l compli
ment you on your extraordinary skill
in opening it. But / cannot compli
, ment you on your respect for you
fathers wishes or on your carefulnes.
in hiding your tracks," The captain
.. plunged his hand Into his pocket ant
drew out bit of cambric. "Permi
me to return YOUR handkerchief Mis-