Part 10 (1/2)

But Katherine said nothing at all; she only stu that collapse into undignified babyish crying was inevitable, and anxious to get away to soht be hidden from the eyes of the others In that crowded little house there was not much chance of privacy, however, and when Katherine entered the bedrooarments and cry in peace, she was immediately set upon by the twins, who had been shut in there by their htened and unhappy that Katherine had to put aside her own miseries in order to coarments she felt better and braver, so she went back to the other room with the tears unshed

'Duke Radford still lay on the floor in blank unconsciousness, while Mrs Burton was busy aret into dry clothes, and then he will see about putting poor Father to bed,” Mrs Burton explained Then she burst into agitated thanksgiving: ”Oh, Katherine, how fortunate that you brought him home with you, and hoonderful it is that there is always someone to help when most it is heeded! Whatever should we have done to-day if we had had no one but the fisher people to help us?”

Katherine was silent, and before the eyes of herfragments of ice collided, the et into the boat But for that pause in the destruction of the ice island it was er would have been there at all Of this she said nothing Nellie had quite enough to bear without being frightened by tragedies which had not happened

”I aht you in a fearful lot of water,” Katherine said

”It will soon be wiped up, and the floor none the worse That poor Mr Ferrars had no boots or stockings on; his feet were merely swathed in towels I have sent Miles ater to help him put them comfortable; and now there is soo? I don't knohere Phil is”

”I will go But what about Father?” Katherine asked, lingering

”You can do nothing for him, and he is as comfortable as it is possible to make him at present,” Mrs Burton replied Then Katherine hurried away, for business must be attended to whatever disasters menaced the family peace and happiness

The custo boats, which was preparing to leave the river directly the barrier of ice at the ave way He wanted more stores than could be immediately supplied, and proot the Englishht he looked pretty sick,” re Island Sound

”His feet are bad, which is not wonderful when one remembers his journey fro that the o back to her father

But this he seemed in no hurry to do, and with a cautious look round to make sure no one ithin earshot, he leaned over the counter and asked in a confidential tone: ”Can you keep a secret, Miss?”

”I think so, but I a back with a repressive air, for the man's manner was more familiar than she cared for

”Well, it's this then; the Englishing at Oily Dave's hotel Do you twig ?”

”No, certainly not,” Katherine answered; then a shi+ver crept over her, because of the sinister interpretation which ht be put to the words

”I don't want to be hauled up in a libel case,” said the Yankee

”Are there any witnesses within hearing?”

”No, not if you keep your voice down,” she answered, dropping her own, and feeling that here was soht to knoever unpleasant or burdenso that the new fleet-owner, Mr Selincourt, ain't satisfied with things going on as they used to do, and so he has sent this young man up to spy round a bit, report the catch, keep expenses down, and that sort of thing Oily Dave has always reckoned to , you know, and it ain't likely he'd approve of being spied upon”

”Why have you told me this?” demanded Katherine Her eyes were dilated with fear, and there was a sickening apprehension in her heart In that wild place, so far froht happen, and the world would be none the wiser

The Yankee laughed and stuffed a plug of tobacco into his left cheek Then he replied: ”They all say on the river that you are a powerful ss you set your mind to Possession is nine points of the law, you know You have got the Englishman here; keep him somehow-unless you want him to leave Oily Dave's hotel feet foreasped, and the words she would have uttered stuck fast in her throat A uard it as best she ly, then a door creaked at the far end of the store, and the Yankee straightened hireat proood , Miss! Beautiful thaw, ain't it now? I should think the o bust before to-morrow;” and with a flourish of his very seedy old hat the citizen of the United States walked out of the store He did not often lift his hat to anyone; for, believing that all men were equal, such observance struck him as servile But Katherine had a ith her that coirl, as he expressed it: so the hat-flourish was really a tribute to her strength of character

As he went out of the door, Jervis Ferrars ca on Miles Dressed in 'Duke Radford's working clothes, he looked like an ordinary workingto hi to see to your father now, Miss Radford Miles and I have got the bed ready, and the sooner we get the poor man undressed and comfortable, the better it will be for hiain as she recalled the Yankee's words about keeping the stranger from the power of Oily Dave

Jervis Ferrars looked at her keenly, noting the shi+ver and the trouble in her eyes; then he said abruptly: ”What is thefresh?”

For a moment Katherine hesitated, but he would have to be told, she knew, so she said hastily: ”It is so that-that you et a chance”