Part 52 (1/2)

”Say! George,--the way Joe said that, makes me afraid that some day he will kill you”

”Don't you worry your little head about that, Rita,” I said

”Oh!--that's all very well,--but Joe Clark's a big est man on the coast He's always in some mix-up and he always comes out on top And I'm more afraid for you, because you are not afraid of hi in order to reassure her, and, on our journey, neither sound nor sign did we experience of Joe Clark

When the tiotten her former fears

I had fixed up a blind over theand had drawn it down, so that nofaces would disturb the har we sat there by the stove, I could not say; but Rita was soft, and gentle, and tender that night,--sweet, suppliant and loving She was all woman

When our lesson was over, she sat at ers over h of contenth the long strands of its black, glossy darkness, and I watched the pretty curves of her red, sensitive lips

”Rita! Rita!” I questioned ineyes searchedworld has in store for you? God grant that it be nothing but good”

I bent down and kissed her once,--twice,--on those soft and yielding upturned lips

With terrifying suddenness, solass clattered on the floor

A great hand and ar and tore myblind in strips from its roller And then the hand and arm ithdrawn

In the visual illusion caused by the strong light inside and the deep darkness without,nothing but that great hand and ar up and rushed to the door, followed by Rita

There was no sign of any one about I ran round the house, and scanned the bushes; I went down on to the beach, then across the bridge over the creek, but I failed to detect the presence of any man

I came back to Rita to ease her e!--you need not tell me,--it was Joe I know his hand and ar

”Oh! You ave herher to wait for aher out on her journey, I wished to ain crossed the creek, past Mary's house, which was in co in the shelter of the rocks, was a launch, s which Jake had set in at convenient places just for the purpose it was now being used

I ran out and exaht,--he is still on this side

I returned to Rita, wished her good-night and pushed her out on the water

I ca h, chiding myself for my childish precautions

I went into the kitchen, took an e the back path for a fresh supply of water forrequirements, to the stream, fifty yards in the wood, where I had hollowed out a well and boarded it over

It was dark, gloo fitfully under the clouds and through the tall firs, throwing strange shadows about