Evening star., 1927-11-24

America how old had she been
when this had happened =" how old
had she been - confound it, what
did he mean Sy that " = what did
he mean %s = she couldn't have been
more than a child . *"* a mere child
80
He halted abruptly at the sound of
his own name. Unconseiously he
had almost reached the door leading
into the lounging room of the boat
house. Polly Wickes was talking to
some one-to whoever 1t was, OF
course, whose arrival at the boathouse
had frightened old Mr.. Martin away
a few minutes ago. Ah yes New
combe, That was Newcombe laugh
ing now.
"But just the same" said Polly
Wicks. 'it does seem a little strange
to me that Mr.. Locke would make
such a trip with you on so short an
acquaintance"
"Nonesence" replied Capt. Fran.
els Newcombe. There's nothing
strange about it. You don't know
that type of young America, that's
all. The short acquaintance end OF
it is purely the insular English view
point. He had holiday on his hands.
it on his boat somewhere. We hit it
off splendidly together coming over,
and-well. we've hit it off splendidly
ever since. That's ALL"
Let's change the subject then"
said Polly Wickes.
Capt. Francis Newcombe laughed
| complacently.
'I was going to-" he said. II want
to speak to you about last night"
II don't care for your choice" said
Polly Wickes in what seemed to Locke
like sudden agitation. II haven't
been able to get that horrible cry
out of my mind all day. and I hardly
slept at all when I went to bed"
But, my dear. that Is utterly alb
surd" Capt. Frances Newcombe
returned, with another laugh. II
can only repeat what I said to you
this morning--that it must have been
some boatmen out on the water cat
calling to each other. I was startled
myself at first. and a bit angry. I'll
admit at the thought that some one
was taking liberties with us; but I
am quite sure now it was nothing
of the kind. You mustn't give it
another thought-really. 1t isn't
worth it. But I wasn't going to
refer to that again. What l wanted
to know was whether or not you
told Miss Marlin about seeing her
father out there at that hour of the
night?"
"Yes," said Polly Wickes. IT told
her; and she said she knew he some
times went out night after night for
a number Of nights, and that, strange
night until finally 1t would be just
before daybreak when he left the
house-and then, after that. for a
long while he wouldn't go out at all.
She said she had never given her
father an mixing that she knew.
and had never put any restraint upon
him. AS I have told you, what the
doctors have warned her about. and
what she is more afraid of than any,
thing else, is arousing any suspicion
in her fathers mind that he requires
watching or Is being watched. There
is the danger that he might become
violent. In fact. it Is almost Ger.
tain that he would under such con-
ditions. DR.. Daemer said"
Him" commented Capt. Francis
Newcombe.
A chair creaked within: footstep
sounded on the floor approaching the
door.
And Howard Locke retreated quietly
around the corner of the boathouse.
1t was dark in the room, save
where the moonlight stole In through
the window and stretched a filmy
path across the floor until, In a
strange, nebulous way, 1t threw into
relief a cheval glass that stood against
the opposite wall. And In the glass
q shadowy picture showed: The re-
fiection Of mans figure seated In
= chair, but curioualx crouched as