The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-01-15
CHAPTER VII

to play the eavesdropper on the slight
est provocation. The mystery of the
whole affair puzzled him, and he
wished to get the thing straight.
He was an unlimited guest on the
island, and he did not intend to make
himself nuisance. There was some
thing wrong up at the house. Mr..
Cutler was at no time visible. Whether
he was sick and confined to his bed,
Dick could not learn.
Mr.. Blake frequently came out and
scurried around, sometimes alone, and
at other times with Miss Cutler. Once
Dick saw him with the rescued sailor,
talking earnestly. But there was moth
ing suspicious in this. If the yacht
had been wrecked, it would be natural
for him to quizz the sailor to get all
possible information from him.
Once the three of them walked to
the edge Of the highest bluff and
scanned the ocean for some time. Dick
watched them from screened hiding
place. Finally, at an order from
Blake, the sailor left and returned to
the house.
Blake and Alice remained standing
few moments, the wind tossing and
whipping her skirts and golden hair.
The man turned occasionally, and
while he seemed to be talking to her
Dick thought he eyed her greedily.
They sat down on sheltered rock,
still talking and looking seward. A
great desire to creep up behind and
listen urged Dick onward. but the
venture was too risky.
Suddenly another pair of eyes
caught sight Of them. Marie, from an
upper window OF the house, was watch
ing them intently. Dick smiled and
shook his head.
Jealous !" he murmured IA woman
scorned is the worst enemy a man
can have. believe I'll court Marie,
for information" Ell.
With this decision made. he watched
every opportunity to meet her; but
she never seemed to leave the house
alone. Once he saw her in CONVERSE
manner he judged she knew him pretty
well. But even that could be explained
without much difficulty. All the way
down Marie had been free and easy
with the crew. She was a natural
flirt.
Dick spent the night in small cave
he had chosen for his headquarters.
It would be difficult for anyone to find
him there, and more difficult to sur
prise him. He reasoned that the sailor
would tell Blake about meeting him,
and natural curiosity, If not suspicion,
would urge the latter to seek him out.
A complete stranger on the lonely
island would be quite a curiosity.
Several times through the day, Dick
had feeling that someone was spying
on him. watching for him.. and follow
ing him. Whether it was Blake or the
sailor he could not decide. but it made
him more cautious.
'Tll have to be constantly on my
guard" he said to himself. IF Blake
is up to some crime, he'd put me out
Of the way If he caught me. That
sailors standing in with him."
He was wide awake long before
dawn. and, anxious to take his dip In
the ocean before anyone else on the
the rocks to the beach. Choosing
favorable spot for swim, he threw
off his outer garments and stood ready
for the plunge.
Suddenly a distant, muffled hum like
the buzzing of a swarm of bees
aroused his interest. He stood listen
ing, turning his head this way and
that. He looked up and down the face
of the cliff, at loss to explain the
intermittent buzzing. After a while
his attention was directed to thick
grove of tall trees standing off by
themselves on the highest point of the
island, some distance away from the
house. 2ts sG
That's pretty big swarm of bees"
he commented, Ito make all that noise.
I'll take a look in that grove"
Instead of plunging into the surf, lie
threw on MS clothes ana walked up
the hill. There was peculiar me-
tallic quality in the Intermittent buzz
zing that had more than awakened
Dicks curiosity; it had excited his
suspicion.
Therefore, Instead of making direct
for the grove, he made circuitous
detour which enabled him to keep out
Of sight of anyone on the summit of
the plateau. By scaling the rocks and
climbing along lodges he managed to
reach the grove from the opposite
side.
Once within their shadows he crept
from tree to tree. always following the
humming as guide. II seemed much
nearer and clearer, but it. was still
muffied as If coming from a consider.
able distance.
ITO BE CONTINUED
Mefeoric Visitors