The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-02-05
CHAPTER IX-Continued

He was not greatly alarmed by what
ne saw. On the contrary smile parted
his lips. Alice Cutler and Mr.. Blake
had halted directly beneath him. so
near that he could have dropped a
pebble upon their heads or touched
them with long pole.
They were silent for few moments,
but it was the silence of an awkward
pause between bits of unpleasant con-
versation, as Dick soon discovered.
Miss Cutler finally broke it.
"I'll go back now, Mr.. Blake" she
said. There's nothing more to be
Said.'
Peering over the ledge, Dick could
see the man hesitate. and then sud
denly extend a OBTAINING hand. II
"One moment, Miss Alice" he pro-
tested 81 don't want this to be
final"
The girl shrugged her shoulders,
and turned away. "But it is final,
Mr. Blake" she added. "It's absurd
to think I'll change my mind. Why.
never dreamed hat--that-you'd
seriously think of such thing. 1t
seems almost ridiculous to me-"
Dick could see the face of the other
flush and darken.
"Why should 1t seem ridiculous 20
you'll" he demanded sharply. rs it
because you're rich, and II" He
stopped, and then added eagerly, II
told you was vich or would be soon,
Miss Alice. didn't emphasize that
enough. perhaps. Well, then. if you
must know the truth, l shall have
enough to support you in the style
you've always lived in. l may be as
wealthy as your uncle. Who knows?"
She turned. with an amused smile
on her face. do you think it's be-
cause of that I've refused you?" she
asked.
He hesitated second. and then an
swered abruptly:
'Yesw
''I'm sorry" she replied, struggling
her shoulders, "that your estimate of
me is so low. No. Mr.. Blake, If you
were the Richest man in the world the
answer would be the same. do not
love you, and that tells ALL"
This seemed like blow between
the eyes, for he recoiled step, and
looked dazed. Then an ugly express
sion came into his face.
do you love any one else?' he de-
manded roughly.
Alice Cutler drew herself up and
Ao;o
needless to say, Mr.. Blake, that you're
forgetting yourself. Such a question
is an insult. Let me pass, please"
"Do you love that cub you struggled
aboard the yacht and turned loose on
this island to spy on mey" he asked,
stepping in front of her to block the
way.
For second his blazing eyes and
flushed face startled her, and the an
swer that sprang to her lips died I'M
expressed.
ooh, I know he's here" he contin-
ued sneering. 'Tve met him on the
island. If he's your lover, Miss Alice,
you'll have trouble in finding him."
"Whom are you talking about?" she
managed to ask.
For reply, the man smiled craftily,
with CLEAN of triumph in his eyes.
''Very odd that you shouldn't know"
he said finally Every innocent, aren't
you, Miss Alice! You haven't seen
him since that day he fished your bag
out of the river? You didn't send him
down, to the yacht with fake pack
age so he could get aboard and hide?
OF course not. You're innocent Of"
"please stop, Mr. Blake!" she in
terrupted. you're getting quite silly.
If you mean that I'm pretending not
to know that the man who picked my
bag from the river isn't here on the
island, I'll save you further specula-
tion. | know he's here. | saw him
yesterdey-had talk with him. But
didn't smuggle him aboard, nor help
him to get down here. Will that sat
isfy your
mo, it won't" came the blunt re-
ply. 81 don't believe you'll"
THANK you!" was the rejoinder.
'Now let me pass. I've taken enough
of your insults. When uncle's bet
ter"
you'll have me discharged?"
Perhaps"
He laughed in an ugly way. "You
won't have the pleasure, Miss Alice"
he sneered. I've already discharged
myself. I'm master down here. Your
uncles dying. Doctor Alster says it's
doubtful if he ever regains conscious
ness again. We may have to bury
him here on the island"
"Oh!" she shuddered.
He seemed to relent little, and
went ON more gently:
II don't want to alarm you, Miss
Alice, but you had to know the truth.
He's sinking rapidly. But he's an old
man, and hadn't many more years TO
We're young-both of us-and
He paused and eyed her greed