The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-09-27

have told you they were there. / kept
them because 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 I know, dear?" 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 he
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 10 meet them.
""Tain't a broken wrist, Marcia"
was the doctors greeting on entering
the kitchen. "Leastways, don't think
1t Is. I've bandaged it an Lish an me
| have your friend snug an warm in
bed. Tomorrow I'll look in again. For
tonight, the bandage will do. A hot
waterbottle mightn't be amiss. Nor q
square meal, neither. Beyond them
two things, there amt much you can
do at present, but let him sleep. Seems
a nice sort of felier. Known him
long" ".
"Not so very long"
"Why, Marcia" broke in Sylvia.
"One sometimes comes to know per-
son rather well, 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" Ell
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
runnin' aground. Fine lookin' chap.
Has quite an air to him. Nothin'
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.
Il really couldn't say"
swell, apparently he amt one that
boasts of his possessions, an that's to
his credit" interposed 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, You ANTI l forgot to ask
Heath the name of her. I'm sort of q
crank on the names of boats. 1t al.
ways rifles me to have a foolish name
given a boat. No matter how small
she is, her plankin' is all that divides
her owner from fathoms of water, am
in view of the fact he'd oughter regard
her soberly an give her a decent
name"
swell, 1 hope the name Of Mr..
Heath's boat will meet with your ap-
prevail" ventured Sylvia archly.
Il hope twill" was the glum re-
tort, as the sheriff followed Doctor
Stetson through the doorway.
The moment the door banged behind
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 you?"
"Yes."
"But-but-"
Sometimes it's just as well not to
tell all you know-especially in a place
like this" was the evasive response.
Was the reply rebuke or merely q
caution?
Sylvia did not know.
And what was the meaning of the
rose color that flooded the elder WON.
ans cheek?
Had Marcia really meant to give the
impression that she knew Stanley
Heath? And if so, why?
| Sylvia wracked her brain for an
swers to these questions.
She would have been interested IN
deed had she known that while she
wrestled with the enigma, Marcia, to
all appearances busy preparing the
tray for the invalid upstairs, was
searching her heart for answers to
the same questions.
Why had she sought to shield this
stranger?
The man was nothing to her. OF his
past she had not the slightest knowl.
edge, indeed he might be the greatest
villain in the world. In fact, circum.
stances proclaimed him thief. Never.
theless, she did not, could not, believe
1t. There was something too fine in
his face; his eyes.
True, he had made no attempt either
to defend himself or to explain away
the suspicious he must have known
would arise In her mind. On the CON.