, 1925-02-04

turn"
The eyes Of the two men met. Ned
Kilmeny guessed Instantly that the
other had arranged this so as to get
n few minutes alone with Moya. He
took a place beside his sister immedi-
ntely.
The cable did no stop again until
the second pair of passengers had
reached the mine.
Moya, followed by Jack, stepped into
the bucket. which began to rise stead
lily as 1t moved across the valley.
Kilmeny did not lose q minute.
"Why don't you let me see you
alone? Why do you I'll away from
me?" he demanded.
Little patches Of color burned be-
neath the shadows of her eyes. A
sound rs of a distant surf began to
beat In her ears.
what nonsense! Why should I run
from your" she asked. meeting with
difficulty the attack of his masterful
gaze.
Because you're afraid to let me tell
you that I love you." he charged.
Thought 1t was Joyce you (.
fancied." she retorted quietly. her
pulse hammering.
S 1t was. I fancied her. love
you. I'm asking you to marry me-"
"You don't have to ask me to marry
you because you exaggerate the serv-
Ice I did you"
81 ask you because I love you"
THANK you very much for the COM
pllment. Sorry I must decline" She
did not dare look at him. Her eyes
were fixed on the mill far below.
why must you-slnce % owe
me?"
The telltale pink stained her cheeks.
you take that for granted. do your"
ITS true. l believe. How can I
make love to you as other men do?
Lady %Farquhar won let me see you
alone-even II you were willing to
give me a chance. In two days you
are going out of my life. must
speak the truth bluntly. love
you. It has been that way with me
ever since you came into my life again,
little Moya. But I was blind and
didn't see 1t TIL till 1 was alone
in the mine with DEATH"
81 . am sorry"
THAT Is not enough. I'm going to
have the ruth. You saved my life.
What for? II Is yours . IL you
will take It."
She looked straight at him 81 can't
marry you"
"why can't you? Can you say that
you don't love mel"
In the ~full-charged silence that fol.
lowed a sitting emotion raced through
her blood. The excitement in her set
n pulse beating in her throat. Woman
like, she evaded the issue.
"The cable has stopped. What has
%happenedT"
Nothing has happened. It has
stopped because ! arranged with the
engineer at the hoist to have II STOP.
When l give the signal 1t will start
again"
"But :"
He brushed aside her futile protest.
I'm going to rave this out with you.
me. MoyaT'
He forced her to meet his eyes and
In that moment she felt weak and
faint. The throb of passion beat tu-
%multuously against her Will.
"Please be generous. What
will they thlnk7 Let US start" she
begged.
'They will think something Is wrong
with the machinery. But II doesn't
matter In the least what they think.
It's my last chance. and I'll not give
10 ,n Vnu'xa yat 70 ngua
The point where the bucket had
stopped was a hundred feet above the
ground below. She looked down. and
%shuddered.
Its so far dow . . . please"
Then don't look down. Look at me.
Moya. II won't take you a m to
answer me-"
II have. I said I couldn't marry
you"
"Tell me that you don't love me and
ri give the signal"
81 don't"
Look straight at me and say It,"
She tried to look at him and repeat
II. but her eyes betrayed the secret
she wns fighting to keep from him.
The long lnshes fell to the hot cheeks
m instant too late.
His hand found hers. my little
Irish wild rose. all sweetness and
thorns." he murmured.
Above the tumult OF her heart she
heard her voice say. ms n II were that
of n stranger. "It's NJ use . ]
can't . marry you"
'Becnuse I'm a highgraderr"
She nodded.
DO you think I'm worse than other
men1 Down In the bottom of your
heart do you believe thatf"
She smiled wnnly. "Other men are
not making love to me"
Am I nothing but n thief to your
u have told you that you are the