The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-09-12

them because I thought they might
sometime be useful"
well. they certainly are" replied
Sylvia. "They will exactly fit Mr..
Heath. Where do you suppose he
came from? And how long has he
been knocking about In that boat,
wonder"
"How do know. dear7" Marcia
sighed, as If determined TO control her
patience you know as much about
him as | do. | mean," she corrected,
honesty forcing her to amend the as
sertion. almost as much. / did, to be
sure, talk with him a little while wait
Ing for the doctor. but he did not tell
me anything about himself"
The moving OF chairs overhead and
the sound of feet creaking down the
stairway heralded the return OF Jared
Stetson and Elisha
Marcia went In meet them.
.'Taln't a broken wrist. Marcia"
was the doctors greeting on entering
the kitchen. "Leastways, | don't think
1t Is I've handaged 1t an Llsh an me
have your friend snug an warm In
bed. Tomorrow I'll look In again. For
tonight, the bandage will do. A hot
water.bottle mlghtn't be amiss. Nor q
square meal, neither. Beyond them
two things, there amt much you can
do mt present, but let him sleep. Seems
nice sort of felier. Known him
long?"
Not SO very long"
"Why, Marcia" broke In Sylvia
zone sometimes comes to know a per-
son rather we'll. though, even In a
short time,' went on the Older woman,
ignoring the interruption.
"S'pose twas a-comin' to see you
that brought him down this way" Eli
sha volunteered. Somehow don't re-
call meetin' him before"
.He hasn't been here BEFORE" was
the measured response.
"Oh, so he's new to Wilton waters,
Ell? That prob'ly accounts for his
runnln' aground. Fine lookln' chap.
Has quite IN air to him. Notliin'
cheap bout his clothes neither They
was al quality clear through to his
skin. Silk, with monograms on 'em.
Must be man of means"
Silence greeted the observation.
Likely he is-havin' a power-boat
an leisure to cruise round In her, per-
sisted the undaunted Elisha.
i really couldn't say
'Well, apparently he amt one thar
boasts Of his possessions. an that's to
his credit" lnterposed Jared Stetson
good-humoredly.
Elisha's interest In the stranger was
not. however, to be so easily diverted
"Seen the boat?' he inquired.
No"
"Oh. yon anti | forgot to ask
Heath the name Of her. I'm sort OF c
crank on the names Of boats. 1t al
ways rifles ME to have foolish maine
given a boat No matter how small
she IL. her plankin' Is all that divide.
her owner from fathoms OF water, an
In view Of the fact he'd oughter regart
her sobery an give her decen
name"
We'll, ! hope the name OF Mr.
Heath's boat will meet with your ap
| prevail" ventured Sylvia archly.
II hope TWILL" was the glum re
tort, as the sheriff followed Docto
| Stetson through the doorway.
The moment the door banged behInt
them, Sylvia turned toward Marcia.
Forgive my butting In, DEAR" apollo
| gized She but | was so surprised
You did say you didn't know Mr.
Heath, didn't your"
"Yes."
"But--but-"
Sometimes It's just as we'll not t
| tell all you know-especially In plac
| like this" was the evaslve response.
Was the reply rebuke or merely
/ caution?
Sylvia did not know.
/ And what was the meaning OF tn
| rose color that flooded the elder won
| ans cheek2
Had Marcia really meant to give tn
impression that she knew Stanle
Heath? And II so, why?
Sylvia wracked her brain for al
swers to these questions.
She would have been interested Il
i deed had she known that while sh
Wrestled with the enigma, Marcia, I
all appearances busy preparing tn
tray for the invalid upstairs, wa
searching her heart for answers I
the same questions.
Why had she sought to shield TIL
stranger?
The man was nothing to her. or h
past she had not the slightest know
edge, indeed he might be the create.
villain In the world. In fact, clrcur
stances proclaimed him a thief. Neve
theless. she did not, could not. belle,
it. There was something too fine
his face; his eyes.
True, he had made no attempt elth'
TO defend himself or to explain ava
the suspicious he must have know
would arise In her mind. On the co
trary, with a deyil-may-care a
| Il ~,