Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-05-07

/ He stopped in the middle or MS SEN
tence, and stared up at the rocks that
rose abruptly from the beach few
yards back from the waters edge.
Standing on a projecting ledge within
earshot, as if she had just stepped
out of the mouth of a sea cave that
yawned back Of her, was Alice Cutler.
Dick was satisfied that she had been
there for some time, and had listened
to the sailors story.
There's Miss Cutler now," he added,
pointing you can repeat your story
to her, or''-slowly, smiling perhaps
she heard you"
"Yes, l heard" the girl replied
graveIy. "It won't be necessary to
repeat it,"
She began making her slippery de-
scent from the rocks. Dick offered
hand to help her, but she ignored 1t.
! "You were one Of the sailors on the
Pelican she said, addressing the
man. Eyes, | remember your face
now. l didn't up there. You're new
man, aren't you? Not one of the old
crew that uncle had under Captain
i JOhnston?"
"Yes, ma'am. this is my first cruise
in the yacht" The man touched his
| forehead automatically as he spoke,
but Dick thought he detected a bold
leer in the eyes, "An' I'm afraid,
mann, it's the last"
"You have no idea where the yacht
is?"
"If l had, ma'am, I'd tell you in
stantly. The cap'n didn't know
| either. Mebbe he does now. Pity l
hadn't waited until daylight, an then
tried to reach land"
"Yes, it is pity" replied Miss Cut
ler with peculiar drawl in her voice.
"All right" she added briskly. "Go
up to the house, and report TOTO
Mr.. Blake. Uncle's not up yet"
"Yes, ma'am!'
He touched his head again with
hand. and then slowly ambled away.
Dick watched him in silence, expect
ing the girl to follow, but she re-
NAMED standing until the sailor was
out of sight. Then she slowly turned
to him.
81 saw him swimming in," she said
significantly, "but he didn't seem to
need any help until you called Then
l noticed he lost his nerve. Rather
strange, wasn't it?'
Eyes, it struck me So" replied Dick
seriously Even when l hauled him
in, l thought he had more strength
than l. But the poor fellow may have
been frightened. A night in the water
would unnerve any one"
"Do you think he was in the water
all night?" she asked a little bit too
pointedly to suit Dick.
"Why-he said so. l couldn't say"
She gazed at him with a challeng-
ing look in her eyes. Dick returned
it with a smile of admiration, for with
her windhloWn hair loose, and her
eyes flashing with strange emotion,
she made a picture Of striking beau
IT, Suddenly she smiled.
"pe~haps Pm misjudging ycc-.,," she
aid and was harsh with you this
I-oinirg. bat the days happenings are
getting on my nerves Mr. Blake as
Sumes all responsibility for the dis
appearance of the yacht last night
Eyes, he sent it away" Dick re-
plied.
How did you know that?" she
asked sharply. "Are you in his CON
idence? | didn't suppose"-speaKing
Slowly-'you were particularly good
| fVio .hn+
the dock the other day.
Dick chuckled remniscently. you're
quite right. We're not good friends
Then how'd you know he ordered
the yacht away last night?"
II happened to be strolling around
when he sent the signals to Captain
Brent"
"What signals? l don't understand"
He paused a moment In indecisiOn.
Then he shrugged his shoulders. ut
may have been a coincidence" he ad-
mitted. "He, or some one else, flashed
three bright lights from the yacht
After that the Pelican got under way
| took the lights as signals"
The girl frowned and watched him
with grave, serious eyes. After long
pause, she asked:
what were you doing in front of
the house at that time of the nightT"
"Oh, just hanging around" he an
swered lightly. You see I'd been
pretty cramped in my narrow berth
on the yacht, and needed little ex-
ercise."
There was still doubt and suspicion
in her eyes when. drawing deep
ZETzTy2SZzzSzSN