Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1935-03-29

bathed her burning face at little
spring and she tried to saunter into
the bungalow quite as though nothing
had happened, although she knew that
she would have to tell her mother all
about it Immediately, and it would
make her mother feel distressed. She
felt that she could wiring Jim's neck
right then.
She wrote a note finally and gave
it to Dobson.
"Take that over to Mr.. Harper" she
said.
"Mr. 'Arper, Miss" he asked SO
far forgetting himself as to show
trace of surprise.
"Mr. Robinson's real name is Har-
per-.
every good, miss"
Dobson sighed. He disliked these
trips through the brush and woods.
After he had gone Jessica threw
herself on her bed and wept, but her
tears were still tears of anger rather
than of grief.
Jim had just returned from the
mainland, glum and disappointed.
Nose was getting some luncheon to-
gether.
Dobson appeared before Jim and he
was an image of disappearing dignity
and hauteur.
"Mr. 'Arper, sir" he said, handing
Jim the note.
"Harper isn't here, Dobson," Jim
said.
Dobson turned to go.
"Hold on-there may be an answer"
Jim called.
Dobson stood rigidly at attention
while Jim unfolded the note and read
the following:
"Mr. James Robinson Harper-Sir:
Such despicable meanness and deceit
as yours is never to be forgiven.
Leave my island before dawn tomor-
row or you will be forcibly elected.
J. Parkman."
Jim read it twice. Finally he got
control of himself.
"No, there's. no anwser, Dobson.
You may tell Miss Parkman that I
will see her this afternoon"
Dobson bowed and departed.
Jim promptly lost his appetite for
luncheon. He paced up and down the
sand trying to think.
Now how the devil did she find out
the truth about him? It was amazing
Nose would never have told. She
might have been poking through his
belongings when he was gone, and dis
covered letters and things, but again
she might have thought they were
left behind by Harper.
Suddenly he had an idea. He went
over to the slope and studied the place.
Yes. there were small footprints with
sharp heel intentions. Jessica had
been down there this day. She might
have been there just in time to have
heard him announce to that rumrunner
that he was J. R. Harper and owned
the island.
! There was nothing else for him to
do but to face the music. Now if he
only had his deed he could march over
and patch everything up! If matters
got worse, he would fly north and get
the deed himself.
Dobson saw him crossing the clear
ing and stood at the door.
81 want to see Miss Parkman Dob
son."
'Miss Parkman cannot be seen, Mr..
'Arper."
"Nonsense," Jim said and strode
past Dobson into the bungalow in time
to see Jessica try to dodge into her
room. He was too quick for her and
had his toe in the door.
Jessica eyed him coldly.
"It is just as we'll. 1 forgot this" !"
she said and handed him the ring. He
put it on chair.
Listen Jessica. I had to do that.
1 was madly in love with you and you
would have driven me away, so had
to claim to be Robinson-it's my mid
die name, anyway-and I won't take
back the ring"
go away"
Listen, dear. 1t is true that this
is really my island, but I give it to
you now-that makes you right-it
is now your island.!"
This was a silly thing for Jim to
do. It enraged Jessica again.
''This is the very last straw. If
you hadn't said it was your island"
"But it is, I tell you-or it was