Adventure, February 1917 — page 83: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= Nobody’s Island Only Slade seemed quite natural. He asked Campbell the usual questions put to every traveler—how long he had been in the country; was he making an extended stay; what he thought of the scenery. No one alluded to the mistake about cousinship; no one seemed specially interested. The meal was quickly eaten. After it was over, every one sat round the table while the boys cleared away. It seemed as if some one—did not want to move. The moon climbed over the forest tops and looked down at them. Murua got up. She was quite sure now that something was wrong, but she put her own curiosity—of which she had as much as any normal woman—aside, and let her instinct of helpfulness have free play. - “Captain Campbell has been so splendid seeing to things,’ she said. “He didn’t waste a day getting off to see after you when he heard what had happened.” “Captain Campbell is a friend of yours?” asked Edith. | She knew she was talking nonsense; her voice did not sound right to herself. Would other people notice it? How absurd this feeling in her throat was—purely subjective and yet somehow she felt as if she were strangling! She longed to put her hand up to her neck. | “A friend of mine?” replied Murua. “Why, Mrs. Slade, he is a friend, certainly, — but I never saw him till——” “Miss Murua and I are excellent friends,” broke in Campbell, trying to get a closer look at Edith’s face. Edith knew the short thick hair hung forward half over her face. She was thankful for it. Would he never stop staring? Had she really a sore throat, or did she fancy, .. . He was speaking to her now. She must answer. ; “T can’t help thinking that I have seen you before —somewhere or other — Mrs. Slade. Have you ever had your portrait in any paper?” Edith braced herself. “Yes,” she answered. “I have appeared in several groups of bridesmaids.” “Ah! I don’t remember that. was it your own wedding photograph I saw —or perhaps a court photograph? Per- haps you have been presented?” “Behit” bleated a giant frog in the slight pause that followed. Edith tossed back I wonder self, with a surprising pang. SI her hair and looked Campbell straight in ' the face. “T have—left society,” she said. “Ts there anything more that you would like to ask?” : “I beg your pardon most sincerely,” bowed Campbell. “Clever,” he thought. dal tomake youshut up.” “‘But of course,” he went on, “when one sees a face so memorable, so—however, you are probably as sick of compliments as a sailor is of being asked ‘doesn’t he get tired of being at sea.’ If one could only answer fools according to their folly, life would be easier.” . 3 “Yes,” said Murua, picking up the ball deftly, ‘‘and the merchant service suffers even worse, Captain Campbell. The cap- “Suggests a scan- tain of the Moronia has been home lots of - times, and he told Pups that the passengers. ask him fifty-four times on an average every | trip, ‘were you ever in a wreck?’ And thirteen times a day, ‘when shall we get to the next port?’ And right through any | breeze they ever had, every time any one - saw him, ‘Captain—do you think there’s any danger?? ‘And the Captain had the same answer ready every time, to save his brains for.the running of the ship. He said, ‘Did your husband ever fail in business, my dear lady, and does he liked to be asked about it?’ And, ‘The chief cook is the person to ask about that, it all depends on the stores.’ And, ‘I never think, dear lady. The rules of the company don’t allow it.’ ” “Ah—very funny, very funny,” said Campbell tolerantly. “Master of the Azuria did you say?” “Why, no, Captain Campbell—the Mo- ronia. ILvnever heard of the Azuria. Where _ does she run?” Campbell did not hear her. He had got the answer he wanted at last. He had seen beautiful Edith’s hand spring suddenly to her neck, and drop again, while her face grew slowly white—yes, the moon was strong enough to show that. __ Almost he had begun to doubt, but Nowe : “She is very lovely,” he thought to him- “So was that devilish little Giannetta—but she hung at last. Lord, to think that the end of the rope is probably in my hand, and it rests with me to pull! If that sulky Australian 6 (E@) Eomichoo