The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-08
PAGE NINE

gotten ever having it, and If it had in
cluded a man who talked with his hands,
why should such a man actually be a
part Of the life at Blue River?
She got up with a little sigh, bewil-
dered, deeply distressed, so isolated that
such loneliness of soul seemed impos-
siole to bear.
"Good night, Uncle Roddy."
Good night, my child"
Blair sat there for some time after she
had gone in. Il certain amount Of soli-
Jude was necessary for him; in fact a
great deal Of it. He did not understand
the meaning Of the word loneliness"
In the morning there was the pleasant
hustle Of departure, enlivened and lit
tie obstructed by Victor Gabrielli who in
the enthusiasm Of Snapshotting the
Royal Palm and the bay and various
other items, had forgotten to assemble
his luggage until the last moment.
The launch had a cabin and a deck
with an awning. 1t was not luxurious,
but very spick and span and comfortable.
Madame DupleSsus settled herself in
the most commodious of the wicker
chair while Blair went to speed up Ga
brielli and Prof. Blount argued that quite
reasonably the youth might be left be-
hind
In these few moments when no one
was claiming her attention, Alison Nor
row took stock Of the launch's crew. The
tall, freckled youth with the pole was
waiting to push of.
The other was his father the engineer,
a thin, stoop shouldered man with a
strangely reddish mustache and an un-
tidy .ShOck OF hair taSt turning gray. He
smiled vaguely at Alison and then went
on concerning himself with some details
of the engine.
She felt little foolish over what she
had said to Uncle Roddy last night How
silly he must have thought herl If there
had been anything in those curious i'm
lpressions of hers, she ought instantly to
have recognized this man, but his face
awakened no memories. AS a matter Of
fact, she could not remember at all what
the man looked like who once-whether
in dream or not-had made her that
funny doll. Her impression was stronger
for the place itself than for faces.
/ Presently the laggard Gabrielli ap-
peared perspiring under the weight Of his
suitcase and apologizing as profusely.
Blair helped the boatman to push of and
) the little launch swung around, heading
: south.
Alison kept her eyes upon the coast
2 line. She was watchful, apprehensive for
2 any further demonstration of this gift OF
second sight which had suddenly mani
{ tested itself so peculiarly. She had no
idea what it was she expected, but each
turn of events brought something IA
miliar to her.
Distance slipped away and it was high
noon when Alison grasped RodericiS
: Blair's arm and pointed to the stark
I skeleton OF pine tree which stood out
( all by itself almost at the waters edge
Blue River" she said.
, The engineer saw her point, knew what
+ she meant, and nodded with a smile.
q At the same moment Gabrieli called
n back to them from his post of intelli-
+ gence beside the man at the wheel:
+ That's the mouth of Blue River
. that's where we turn in-by that dead
T lpine. You wouldn't guess there was g
4 river there at all, would you?"
6 Madam Duplessus threw a puzzled looI
% at Alison.
How is it that you knew?" she asked
e II thought it might be-" Alison sale
slowly. Somebody probably told ms
e there was a landmark"
d She avoided ROderick Blair's eyes. bu
% she knew that he was staring at her anC
'e that very likely he, too, was puzzled.
Il From now on she meant to keep thi
l. curious thing to herself and make nj
IS more condolences, even to dear Uncl
'r Roddy.
If (To be concluded next week)
n Copyright: 1926: By Elizabeth Y. Miller