Show n 99 the best sea JL V rca J story of the war Wair that has as parrish by been beem Writ written teni copyright A C A co ROBERT HOLLIS MEETS THE mysterious GIRL AND HAS LONG TALK KITH WITH HER WORD COMES THAT WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED robert hollis Ito llla onetime one time sen sea who tells the story 14 1 4 it ii guest on gerald ons yacht which with etli a party of gny gay new york business men Is making her maiden voynne to the he coast of Sli siman alti it li Is sullo sed to bo be strictly stai stag and wander ilig alone on oil deck tit nt night Is surprised surprise to discover on hoard board a woman who evidently wishes wish esti to retrain the next night lie succeeds in meeting her and having tin nil CHAPTER II 11 continued 2 before the party finally broke up I 1 iliad outlined my plau I 1 was in no ginste to retire having slept more or less during dining the afternoon I 1 would re rc inala alone on dork deck and see what happened we were steaming right gal now and stars were finding rifts drifts an in the clouds through which tu to silver the waves of the sound bonn tito tho first oell was still on oil the bridge but seeley would relieve him ot at twelve there was nothing for me inc to do but wait until alien I 1 could better my position however mill nd immediately lid did so it if tile alio second really proved to ile 10 the accod lelce of the girl lie he would very allily take like a rather careful survey of tile deck aft before peri permitting nitting lier her to intuit Mn forth f DI hi from concealment if ills search disclosed my presence the young woman would doubtless be ordered to below my aty choice of IosI position tion was easily determine the ling locker was unusually commodious aia one of ons hobbles was to drehs the still ship handsomely on oil every eory gala enta occasion und and display the colors of all nation it was built directly the lifter after rail mil and buck bach into its protect protective lVe blindow I 1 silently drew it ste steamer niner chair concealed myself io bo neath the he folds of a rug and lay there quietly time drugged but finally the bell forward announced tile hour for tile chonge of watch I 1 was vas suitor sailor enough to compre comprehend liend the inclining of every sound I 1 heard someone sonio ono walk hastily fl cross across the main dock mid anti descend through the companion a seaman its patched to call the second mate the two carno back together five minutes later with no warning sound of lip I 1 became aware that someone had biad quietly rounded the end of 0 the lie cabin the binate passed tile me by within 1 n I few feet beet so close indeed I 1 could distinguish the buttons on lila ills uniform and the lie white cup cap lie wore nothing however could havo occurred to strouse dils its sits suspicions lie ions for the man did not wen even pause in tits his slow walk but disappeared along the port rail fearing lie he might return I 1 remained motion loss yet was doubly assured now that my suspicions were about to be verl crl 14 ad d 1 I dared not venture tiny any exploration far my plan had worked nicely and I 1 could not now afford to risk site she came so silently like a gray shadow gliding out of the night that elie die was actually beside tile the rail gazing steadfastly out nt at the silvery water before I 1 was waa even clearly aware of her presence I 1 was scarcely willing Milling billingto to accept the evidence of my lay own eyes yet arose slowly to a sitting posture to observe bettor better dropping the rug silently onto tile deck slie she hoard board no ito sound bound of tile tho movement find and with jno aio suspicion of any other presence near mear remained motionless brinl drinking in 1 in the soft beauty of the night and breathing deeply the crisp salt mr I 1 could see her plainly silhouetted il galust tile the sly Illum illumined inca by tile the star gleam which reflected upward from tile the water her hands bonds clasped on tho the rail her form bout slightly forward for vard her skirts blowing lightly in the wind site sho waa slender and young no doubt as to that alth a certain supple grace to her figure noticeable oven even in that quiet yo posture helped by the support of tile the ling locker jocker I 1 my feet noiselessly only half determined n tin the course I 1 had bettor better pursue Ilo however wever I 1 was left no choice something served to startle lier to malie mako her vaguely aware of some other presence on oil tho the deck aho turned still grasping the rall rail with one hand and confronted rac I 1 caught ti it gali glimpse apse of her face white and youthful lier ter big eyes staring blaring tit nt me its as though in sudden terror sho she stepped back then straightened slightly her questioning eyes never leaving my jace face 1 I 1 I supposed myself to be alone tizlie lie said eald tho the words uncertain but the voice clear you tou are one of tho the ras pas yes I 1 chanced to be still etall on deck when you came where you were expecting me I 1 indicated the chair in tile tho shadow but did not venture to move 1 I was lying here covered by a rug but did not see you until you appeared yonder ponder at the rail why do you ask iff df I 1 was expecting you she hesitated just nn an instant but on an towered frankly where was ivas a lunn inan here last night sifter after the engines stopped I 1 bel believed levid then lie he failed to see 1110 was it you find and tire lire you here tonight to make sure you have ahme guessed tile the exact truth I 1 confessed utmost almost regretfully lart night it was mas a inere accident hut but tonight my presence hero lind had nn object indeed I 1 what interest la Is it of yours wone none directly except BS as I 1 nin ma a friend to sir carrington the owner of tills yacht 11 ilso 1140 40 ills guest lie ih assured tile me only tills hla morning that alint there was waa no woman on oil hour board and laughed at mo me for even imagining such a thing naturally I 1 desired to adl cato myself then besides tile tho mystery also had its attractions no doubt I 1 and ana r t ow that you sou have progress progresses ea so far V fiut stat further do you purpose doing turn mo me over to tins tile ties 1 I ito do not know I 1 said honestly nut lint I 1 nm am in ili hopes you will trust me enough to explain your object in thus coming coining unlimited uninvited aboard I 1 should being your friend it if that provo prove possible site sho did not answer apparently aiesi tating in n surprise sui prise nt at my iny unexpected plea and doubtful as to my sincerity what Is your our ti nine I tobert Il ilovits olits I 1 live in chicago she nodded and I 1 imagined the ex pre poc ilon slon of her eyes changed slightly tito tho merest semblance of it stalle smile curved cuned her lips 1 I nin am rather glad you are my discoverer slie she said quietly for I 1 know who you tire arc you are not altogether it stronger stranger 1 I nm itin nott I 1 exclaimed in surprise oil alil I 1 I 1 understand seeley has told you of me ila hag lie indeed t why vily seeley Sc olcy because I 1 have hao some rome renson reason to believe that tile the second omarr Is your special friend on board that through his uld aid you have hao found concealment am I 1 nl together altogether wrong she laughed the sound barely audible yet evidence of her swift amusement if I 1 lid did not chance to know better ur mr I 1 should almost suspect you of being a n lawyer she said cheerfully however in spite of my present position I 1 min am inclined to ile be a truthful person I 1 fear mr air See seeless Se cleys leys interest in tile mo Is altogether or at least largely laig cly mercenary I 1 will confide in you lind and confess that lie he lias has already cost me one hundred dollars and leaven heaven mona alone knows how much more wilt will be required before wo we attain deep water when I 1 hope to be free from bo bondage good I 1 I 1 am encouraged now you will tell me moret more site she shook her hend head not another word sir so far ns as they flioy say tit in new york you ou have the goods on me inc and dental denial would be useless le of course I 1 might have told a falsehood I 1 nm ant perfectly c capable it p a ble of so doing and had I 1 been convers conversing I 1 ng with some omo others on board I 1 would have ha 0 chosen chose to do so which would seem to imply that you possess a measure of confidence in me 1 I do mr quietly 11 ce sceley elcy roust must have given me a most excellent reputation and deserves reward 11 mr seeley gave mo me your name naine as one of the passengers nothing more I 1 cannot tit nt present explain when or how I 1 acquired my information regarding you to you I 1 am a perfect or and inuit remain so but by some good fortune I 1 chance to know enough or of you sou to trust you ou thoroughly as it a gentleman you understand what I 1 ni mean cant ller her eyes met mine frankly they were clear honest eyes cesi anti and I 1 felt that I 1 rend read their direct challenge Iller perhaps haps so I 1 answered with a feeling of disappointment you mean I 1 am to ask no further questions to forget it if pos possible elble your presence on board yc yet can you do tills this well to be perfectly trunk frank I 1 on not altogether certain that I 1 can or that I 1 ought I 1 nm ain mr ons guest and owe him it 11 certain loyalty you jou admit that 1 yes have I 1 n right to conceal front from my host tile the knowledge which I 1 have discovered that a ti young woman tins has been hidden on board ills hla yacht by ono one of his officers that must depend altogether on your sense of duty to both mr carrington and myself she returned calmly do I 1 appear like a thief a i conspire tor or in ili tiny way a desperate character you appear a most charming young woman whom I 1 should be very glad to know 11 thank you and her lips anil smiled led then my caso case la Is not quite hopeless As a most char charming taing young woman I 1 unreservedly yield myself to your pro i I 1 cannot tell you yon who I 1 niu nil nor why I 1 inn ain on board the secretly but I 1 give you my iny word of lionor honor that tin no harin shall result from my presence presen eq to nay any of your friends and I 1 only request you to remain silent for it few hours longer you intend later to reveal yourself to others As moon as the yacht Is safety safely tit at sen beyond till nil possibility of putting mo inc ashore I 1 confess I 1 was puzzled uncertain my duty to carrington seemed clear enough ellough and yet there was that about the girl which gave me faith in her pledge slie site rend my hesitation you still doubt inc mr Ifo lils no it Is not doubt yet I 1 know so BO little you will at least trust ino inc with your mune in line tier her eyes fell shadowed by their long lashes por for a moment sho she looked out across the rail at tho the dark w ater beyond so far ns as I 1 can yes she answered soberly you may call me vern vcra CHAPTER III war and a copper pool vera I 1 celi oed in ili some way vaguely conscious of a strange familiarity with the word yet utterly ull mi able to immediately recall the association ocla that must ile be your given not your family name and you are arc not even satisfied at this evidence of my trust she questioned lightly usually it Is considered quite a compliment to ile be permitted lt to call a lady by her given name yet I 1 grant iou you a stranger tills this privilege to which I 1 ant am not insensible you yours rs Is not a common appellative yet I 1 bave leavo known someone so named before indeed I 1 A friend well really I 1 cannot say I 1 III t quite figured it out yet only t ory haunts lin ants tile 1110 oddly its as Bom iiii li I 1 ought to remember or else forget she interrupted quickly what to you say it if we blot out till nil ahls mystery and just bo be natu I 1 i breathless with interest she questioned I 1 me rail ml for it while clave ilave you the slightest knowledge of where wo we nrc are sir Il llull ls what Is that light hashing flashing out yonder montauk point I 1 answered instantly recognizing tho the peculiar hash flash tho the eastern extremity of long island we bluell be breasting the atlantic by daylight if nil all As Is well I 1 have good reason to remember montauk yes yea you were there once why it was sixteen years ago nt at the close of 0 our war with spain I 1 served nerved on tile the st paul and wo we cadue up tip from cuba loaded with sick and wounded sold soldiers lers troops mostly tind and put them ashore at montauk I 1 was little moro niora than a boy then and the lie suffering witnessed made it deep impression you were a sailor 1 I was twelve years tit at sea roy my in n ther was a largo large ship owner 1 left tuo the sea eca when I 1 wua I 1 had arisen to my father led and I 1 decided I 1 had had enough I 1 sup sul poso pose I 1 seem quite ancient to you indeed you ito do gnot 1 I think it la Is wonderful for you to fight your way like that when your father was rich it was waa a mans work tell me about it your sea life I 1 mean the eagerness of lier her voice must have touched a responsive chord for almost bc apt ore I 1 realized my purpose I 1 began speaking I 1 began at the first relating my life as cabin boy and ni as man before tile the mast my first voyage as mate end and the experiences of my earliest command I 1 told of shipwreck in the south seas of a battle for life in tile indian ocean of strange peoples met in every cery quarter ut of the earth of lighting fighting windy wind gales oft off the atlantic coast and tile the silent desolation of trople sells bens breathless with interest she questioned me anti I 1 answered feeling the magic of her eyes on oil my face tile soft intoxication of her presence beside me she was natural wholesome tho the very ery sort of woman I 1 had about as being somewhere in ili the world yet set lind had never met before iler very presence was inspiration but beyond tills vague impression my in dream did not po go then I 1 looked aside at her and laughed realizing suddenly how loquacious I 1 had been It I leally eally I 1 must have nearly talked you to sleep I 1 said bald regretfully 1 I 1 do 10 not know when I 1 have before been guilty of such egotism do not say that it was most interesting te it Is nice to be spoken to its as though one ivas was tin nn intelligent tillman human being it ft Is quite on an experience Iller perhaps haps I 1 do not understand doubtless not for you jou are not a girl and you sou tell tile me you sou never sought society the iho very ery natura of your sour life tins lias left you sou frank and straightforward you talk to MO me just us LIS YOU sou would to a ninn aan if my frankness lias has interested you I 1 ventured can you not realize how much I 1 desire to learn more who you iou are why you ou are here of course but I 1 cannot tell you ou I 1 sir mr not yet sho she looked nt at her wrist watch holding it out into a star gleam which revealed the white shapeliness ness of her arm 1 I dare not even remain here with you longer I 1 but you sou will come again tills Is no not t to be our lust last meeting meet liiK she hesitated her ter eyes 11 inano inc almost kindly then site hel held la out ifer her bat liand id tito tho last yes cs in tills this way you will meet me ine again but not an we me are tonight I 1 lime have truly enjoyed being N with v biffi you of hearing your sour story but this meeting here heie alone alona was not my choice you understand land I 1 coull could not avoid iland after I 1 was discovered I 1 dmd to find win your jour pledge to dewcy recy you will not forget that assuredly not you will not return to the deck tomorrow night slie she laughed duffly anti and withdrew her hand which I 1 still held Tomor tomorrow rove night I 1 oil oh I 1 cannot tell wo we may bo be far enough at sea by then so I 1 need no longet longe seek fasl fr sh 1 air by night I 1 told you 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