SERIAL STORY A ROMANCE By Louis Joseph Vance [Mustrations by Ray Walters (Copyright, 1910, by Louis joseph Vance.) SYNOPSIS. w G arre tt Coast po Chet am 4-35 PTER XVi.—(Continued. CHAPTER XVII ting the ring upon schooled himself well,” he said ir You've got a civil request, and to like It; but I'll be gre struct this Chinese giant t Your owr What! are you there, C Blackstock's simulation of was admirable—-if it were “You may release Mr 1ed ; he hang?” surprise simulation Handyside,” he contin has promised to be good.” Withou a dropped His gtolid as glinting like a heavy, half-closed a hint of derision Coast lifted his shoulders in a shrug not bravado but of endurance, turned to the tool bench by the motor and replaced the wrench thoughts were all confusion; incident mocked him with meaning. that Blackstock recognized his voice and knew him for himself, ©urrett Coast? That be suspected him of be ing another than Handyside-—a spy of the Treasury Department, in short and had determined to disarm him as A matter of common precaution, sus pending sentence until he had deter- mined precisely who he was? “You're wondering,” sald Black stock, “why 1 didn’t demand this gun before taking It by force. Aren't you?” “1 am,” Coast assented bluntly. word the Chinaman and stepped aside. it, was as only the yellow eyes, through their lid#, seemed to hold arms when WAYS, face Const saw cats of hidden Would 1?” “Certainly mot. What right “One moment: 1 'm coming to that,” smiled his weighing the weapon bestowing it pocket gi’ § am morale is the bi had to be made to understand that this island 1 dictator, my quivalent secret reflectively be hip ine You on in a ding ip word fore gecurely WAS itter ol ter am word law, ud refu means day wer weular spect relations clear as Pe ated conception of when maki light The main trouble with WAS ng our his exagger the portance him a ractica emonstration I gave the or did r didr and sckstock with an “Instruct | | i anxieties, all ry well the Ve make best of a Appleyard until nightfall It four of a sultry, afternoon. In the two a half or three hours of daylight to fol what might not happen? What if Blackstock purposed leaving No Man's Land in the little catboat within that tari *T Wh could possibly be contrived to stop him by one man, un Soutrive and unarmed? Pausing at the farmhouse to make sure Katherine there, without purpose, in weary pondency wandered through Cold Lailrs beach As he drew collie kept bad was not to now turn WAS half-past overcast and misty and low, at only brief was not des down the he the on, toward near the spot where the its vigil, the animal, ap recognizing his footsteps, and whined a woebegorne He sensible rose come passion, of a too, was outcast, potent, the sport of malign circum. stances. That thought rankled. Presently It occurred to him that the dog must be hungry. On sudden impulse he left it, went back to’ the farm-house kitchen, and without word of explanation to the Chinese there, foraged for scraps until he had heaped a pan with food; with which he re. turned to the collie, It ate ravenously, as If breaking a long fast. And while he stood watch. ing It, wondering at the dumb fidelity which had kept it steadfast beside the | though It slowly starved-—he heard a faint cry from seaward, turned in surprise, and saw hurriedly up Though had evidently ning dis nd d breathless Lhore WAS than haste in her manner; there wag its stimulu L mingling pendent un- ily in they the been rune was flush BOMEe- from she for some tance ed an if strong ontu and them 2d fee] you igh She eb while her tho Me Go. im He do with me: Mr. ed him £ hated, the brief explanation had he her blankly in her lashes as she breathed convulsls It's so terrible even n The juliet iped to gtood stare trembled trembled in a dull and bring to all sald dispirited Was [I born only and chet suffering and me? Don't say 811¢ pleaded wretched!s longer and “But nothing get, Garrett Kind don't principled or g thoughtful ireatment that they and now, Garrett, Silent, fort her, ond t one rless to terror and and death can ever make me fon Mr. Power was believe especially high- yod but was and his was of ily oddg-- that Oh, she sob he as to of wi me It constar resented be CAUs« at ne re because of Garrett! who knew he let bed no words to « grief apend When she was more composed, he ventured a question that had been troubling him ever since she had betrayed her fears learned of this? “It was the boat-