| Show JI SERIAL STORY 0 THE SMUGGLER ELLA MIDDLETON 1 flout illustrations by ra walters SYNOPSIS three torce girls elizabeth gabrielle anil and calse storied for canada to spend the li nimer there on hoard board steamer ahry pl were ere by an apparently clement ad B tranger stranger who finding a bag belonging to ono ona d 59 them chent took enjoyment in scrutinizing tin zing izing a photo ot of th the a trio the young women met a mrs braham Gra liam anai anxiously bously her husband who had bad a 4 mania for or sailing they were introduced u e I 1 to lord lor dv wilfrid I 1 atrid and lady edith A c cottage 0 tt ge toy by the mccan can was rented two men cald they proved to be alin ahn C Q wake and gordon Ilen ennett nelt on ont a 0 friend rf pt elizabeths miza beths father A wisp ot of yel yellow 0 w hair air from mr grahams graham pocket fell into t 0 the hands of elise eliso mrs ra Gra rhanis hamn hair was waa black rearing tor for the of 0 ome nome gems lady edith left them in a gate afe at the cottage mr air gordon bennett win properly introduced explained his hid actions on board ship fillip ellse alone alon e explored x the cellar overhearing EL a co conver eave r there between mary alary anno anne and a man inan ile he proved to be her son charged with murder at a supper which was wan bield on tho thim rocks elizabeth euzabeth rU zabeth rather father mysteriously lost her ring causing a search byrbe by the en entire party Cla brIelle witnessed it tle stormy amna eno between lady edith and inard wilfrid jealousy being the pause cause mary anne brought back BlIz elizabeths abed ring ellsa went sailing gordon gordo ln agn et t lie ile tried to persuade per guada her to return the jewels left in the ti girls care by lady edith at midnight ell nilsa saw two mon one tot them gordon benn bennett tt nt tempting to force an entrance into into th their ir boathouse she admitted to herself th that shai had nearly loved liim hirn and believed eve hersel lier fused used as a tool too mrs graham sick to told d ellae elise of her hu husbands B ands love for another woman gordon bennett and blake returned with mr grahams body lie ile had been murdered murder d lord wilfrid grow grew sulky lady adl th confided tp ip ells that Blake and iten ben i nett were thieves lady edith led her to where they were trying to break in the girls were awakened late at night by a noise in the cottage cot taKe they found blake and dennett bennett awaiting lady edith who they told the girls was nell 1401 a lous crook and lord wilfrid a wanted for murder they reused refused to believe be lleva blake proved to ve 4 rover ment oman aj a iffe 6 CHAPTER XVI continued at lat last it camo came A stealthy step a subdued rustle of skirts a whispered hordof word of caution and we were aware that someone some one had entered the dining r room am and stood so near the sheltering portiere that it moved slightly we ve could hear bear a low voice command some ons one to go to the foot of the stairs and listen for or movements above then silence again and a whisper from alary anne anna that everything was quiet A faint light appeared through the opening of the portiere and parting it still further we saw two figures one sn a man on his knees at the door or of the safe while the other a woman held the lantern tier her back was toward us sis but we knew only one person with that wealth of 0 golden hair slim grace lul figure and dazzling white shoulders enhanced 1 ed by the low cut black back gown elizabeths fingers closed tightly on an my ara arm and I 1 knew she too had bad recognized lady edith campbell abe tb e man bungled ut at the lock and she spoke sharply to him her fier voice bard liard and stinging ile he muttered something ng cut but she did riot not answer I 1 forthe for the door odthe of the safe swung open disclosing the box she had placed there in its wrappings of soft white paper eagerly she bhe bent to gp gl it butas but as she took it t tn in her hands a whistle blew shrilly hasty steps sieps approached pro ached and the room suddenly seemed full of people and lights the man sprang to his feet with an oath but lits his arms were seized by two men in uniform who in terms more forceful than polite admonished him to keep quiet and make no trouble and the woman women lady edith she stood erect with head flung back and blazing eyes A scarlet spot flamed in ili her cheeks glowing brilliantly at urge first then fading to marble whiten whiteness esq as ag she ahe looked at the array against her bei 1 ifor pra moment she said nothing then turning to mr blake she spoke irk in an even mechanical voice 1 11 I congratulate you Y upon tho the success ice 3 jbf your 0 ur c coup 0 up in p came nie nearer an and d held out his I 1 ft 1 I ali will relieve relley 6 you of that box he said 1 1 I wl 1711 not give it to you 1 I should regret to uso use force forca w with iti A woman woman dauwd could bear no more and s wi bithon thon accord pushed aside the curtain and entered the roop room it ls vt ruell cried elizabeth rushing ing to her side ba say 3 lt it salt true and ana wo we will believe you feyen ven now in the face of everything would you believe me yea 83 11 I 1 saed lq ere would indeed it 0 Is your vora against theirs rhy should hould wo we not belleve you ou only say y it if Is not true the tha box to la yours youra but why did you get it this way you had belr to toll tell us ua you wanted anted it ou heir hear she said pt standing anding tall tali and ereather erect her eyes on a level with air aA as she looked at him 1 s ignoring hla outs outstretched banit I 1 mv AI I 1 word agali it yours youra and ana they believe me me v j f 1 should regret to use force he be repeated the box it if you please stop said gabrielle Oa aa brielle quickly lady edith may I 1 take the box thank you surely it Is a simple matter tor for you to satisfy this man let us open it t and prove him wrong once for or all and then neither you nor I 1 need c ever seo see him again she unwrapped the first layer laier of paper then paused uncertainly tell me they are yours she said in a queer choked voice ayour your mothers pearls and I 1 will believe you only look at me and tell me ma so the great brown eyes looked into Gabr Gabri telles elles clear hazel ones steadily for a minute perhaps then faltered the long lashes drooped upon her cheek check and she turned aside speechless self confessed a thief gabrielle with a sigh which was almost a sob ob handed banded the box to mr aft blake ile ho bowed gravely removed the cover and mrs bundas famous camou s emeralds glittered in their bed of jew dors cotton As long as i live I 1 shall hate bate emeralds for they can but recall that most painful scene bringing vividly before mo me the averted face and bent golden head ot of our once loved friend surely said gordon bennett there is no use in prolonging this scene none whatever agreed sir blake making a sign to the officers who held the man I 1 even now think ot as lord wilfrid 1 I arrest you said the officer for the murder of harry graham something flashed in the light and we heard board a sharp click accompanied by a suppressed essed scream from mary anne not chati she cried oh ob good lord not that dont put the and cuffs on lm iain be quiet her son said dont you see the game Is up she did not heed him but stood before the officers with raised hand and a certain dignity of carriage which commanded attention in spite ot of her gingham apron and red face aye she said the murder ot oc mr graham ae E done it e struck the blow but why ask the woman beside lm ira er with the soft ands and the yellow air ask er why ho he done it aint she Is wife aint lo 10 e lived and breathed and worked fur er ever sence the evil day be fust seen ler er the day e come to me and told me e was to take up a trade and live hie honest and respectable wot vot did she do fur lm im she smiled on an lm im and she coaxed tin lm with er sweet voice and pretty ways she said she live blout lm im and more too arid and she told lm im ow rich sho she was 4 my word against yours and they believe M me e 11 and ow easy she made ler er money taking whatever she laid er ands on and smuggling jools and sich sach accost the border to er friends in tho the states elates wot did she marry lm im fur she loye love him the man made a sudden motion but the officer laid a restraining hand upon hla his arm and mary alary anno anne continued pouring out the words in ili a steady stream which admitted of 0 no interruption she wanted somebody to do er dirty work why she married lm im and tired enough of lm im she got fur all the gold key she bho gava lm izzi an the cuff button which I 1 thought id id die when I 1 seen it in yer ands miss ZINO was there a stormy night she send lm im out on the ocean wl a boatload boat load lead fur the other side elde carin not hot a bit whether e ever come back or not did she care fur anything but er eiselt self dont I 1 know ow fur years kara ever eve ence she fust seen fm ashes made I 1 that hat pore dead man work fur er cr an honest man e was too at fust with a wife and child but wot did she cara care K E was crazy about ler er and once cince I 1 heard im tay say ed toiler roller er to purga tory and and 0 o left Is wife arll ant an t child whenever she called tin lm she did wl a lock 0 air and some fool verse versa she liked lio im too liked is a fine figger and and face and when ha be come around she ad smiles anil nit to spare with nothing left jur fur willy but black looks and sharp words oh I 1 know will some one stop the woman all 01 mr blake helplessly but mary lieve bad muro more to say eay and wont went close 0 her daughter in law addressing her wb when you sent fur lm im this fua 41 effo ii mon ner sho she said and a come as usual anu m didat like it he brought 11 I 1 wife wl fapore pore pale homely little uong so you WAS estra dwyet to lm lim tights lights when hen you met la the boat ouse buse and be balled you cut on the 06 sea you two alone and aad my boy hero here left behind batin Is eart cart out with love and jealousy jen lousy and you made a plan you two sos you could be together albiz tur fur you thought yoa you live apart you said eald so 0 e o was to leave Is wife fur good and all and go abroad and you was to join tin im there fust lettin the police la in Mont montreal reaf know how they could git Willy git lm im fur some thin e done because you told tin to dut but you wanted to close up the biz ness ero ere fust you said and git the emeralds safely landed sos soa you would bo be sure of the he money bring and willy to git a cent fur you needed it yer but 0 o thought e had em fur you give im a bos bog jest like it one night and started ita and mr graham of ort fur the other shore you never thought though when you two was waa in the boathouse jest before they sailed that raa jale and willy was in the passageway lis listening to you we card jest ow air graham was to land lm im with the empty box and sall eau away immediate leavin tin caught hard rind and fast well you kneed e would never poach peach on you she paused and swallowed convulsively so willy went out in tho the boat alone with mr air graham Gra tiam and with Is cart black wl rage and passion and e struck the roan mail deanin to stun im deraps pe rapa raps but e killed ime killed am and I 1 say now and god in eaven knows im right that this woman murdered arry graham not my boy baynot not my boy officer said mr air blakes quiet voice remo remove the prisoners the officers now approached the woman and held the handcuffs toward her but she shrank away against the wall not thail she cried with the first note nota of appeal her voice had contained not that I 1 will go quietly quiet Y not that then go ur mr blake said sternly and remember resistance Is useless there are other men outside and the government boat Is at the slip go she turned once and looked at us as she walked between the two officers to the front froat door and paused uncertainly goodby good by she said very gently you would have believed me and I 1 thank you I 1 I 1 am glad to have known you please forget me and goodby good by the train of her black gown swept the floor as she crossed the hall ball but she did not look back again we heard beard the door close and steps cross the veranda and then mr blake replaced the cover on the glittering emeralds and again wrapped them in soft white paper and this he be said to gabrielle Gabr lelle explains our presence in abu r cellai ella tonight to night I 1 hope you are convinced 3 spoke the truth but gabrielle Gabr lelle was on the couch het hei face hidden bidden in the cushions her dig anity a thing of tho the past go away she sha said in a smothered voice go away and never never le 10 me ma see your face again what have we done he inquired turning to his friend with a puzzled air elizabeth now had the floor and UK mantle of dignity descended upon her 4 1 I think she remarked frigidly we wc need not trouble you to stay an longer we are quite accustomed tc being alone we wa prefer to be alone algne gordon dennett bennett turned helplessly tc me but it was waa now my turn to bc b haughty and unappeased even dundei the circumstances I 1 could riot not let th others distance me I 1 1 I do not think there Is anything any more to say mr bennett I 1 returned loftily 1 I quite agree with ma TO friends it seems he remarked turning tr tc mr blake as though we might af u well go home when they reached the door how ever he returned and stood before me hat bat in hand and a very dk determined erminee aspect about the chin 1 I want to tell you he said thal thai I 1 found the scarf pin on the slip islip it II was a sleeve button dropped by tbt th nian man you call lord wilfrid and th tb clue mr air blake was looking for I 1 had bad promised him not to admit to an one where I 1 got it therefore I 1 lied as you know he bad it set as a pip and wished to try the effect on tbt th you know kno r how she gave her self away when she edw edw it for yot yet also were watching her the rok gol key Is the badge of this particular band of smugglers and they all it la in various ways your servant I mary anoe anne was more tinned sinned a against 1 than sinning binning and will be allowed to g gi trop I 1 know you would wish this tie he paused suggestively I 1 made nt n reply 1 I think that Is all he eluded except to eay that it 1 I 1 cat cai at any time be of service to you or if for any reason you want to see roe me I 1 hope you will let me know unit then I 1 shall be careful not t tn intrude the hall with soini bonn emphasis and aimin wo we listened t V steps crass crossing fu tho veranda tapi and without 0 o bessan nn to cry while mary ann in the kitchen sobbed heavily this did us ua all good and when at last we opened windows ani ane looked out the ocean sparkled ane am glittered lit in the morning sun and th whelo world smiled at us ua just as V 1 hai ha 1 so EO often done dona before at tho the point of the atland a small dark object moved swiftly eng vat w recognized the government boat beat sue and batched it with swimming eyes ans an trembling lips until it t roide the tur tun and disappeared gabrielle pointed to tho ion foam in jiju if walco wake with a band that tha strook ill there goes goca eted and ana we look 10 in all 0 P a |
