The Unspeakable Perk

ift, after her suitor had left her, into a dreamy consideration of the hermit's attitude toward her. She was not prone lightly to employ the terms of friendship, yet this

good intent," she reflected, with a kindly light in her eyes, that

, worth six hundred dollars in gold of any man's money, and he was self-appreciative in knowledge of the fact. He brought a singular firmness of purpose to the support of the negative of her proposition, which was that he should swing north from the broad into the narrow path. When the debate was over, St. John the Baptist-this, I hesitate to state, yet must, it being the t

Man, are you the

ou sound stran

tell me I'm late, I'll-I'll fall

thing ha

e been boxing the compass w

efle

e, speaking figuratively

indignantly. "This was a real

o me, saying he was out when he was

N

tion came from

ogical synonym for '

time wasted on a-We

essage by that secret route of

N

a very kind or cou

Brewster no

, but hardly amiable. Well, you owe m

es

en knowing

es

shall have your

ubt

h of your soul to driv

-yes. Yes; of

ngton, he thinks the Secretary of State, who is his friend, c

tly meaning n

t take m

ur days t

at him in

ays to carry my message through, 'unsig

ssenger through with it, if necessary. But in four

rant

es

t had to wait

That's a secret

ERYTHING? Has h

find it, for it's certainly here. I

ur begga

hink that, O mos

be talking to him of,

w they live. So I cultivated my beggar friend and listened to the gossip of quick funerals and unexplain

Dr. Pruyn. They

Are t

aps the quarantine will be easier

l find that pull doesn't work with

here will be quaranti

t sure

needn't trouble yo

ions. There might be a

" she aske

d. No. This way you'll ju

for anything you

I can. I say on

Ready! Now, brace you

! Can't you

No use pretending, after last time. Remem

ly he

tarantula

,'" she prom

e-bug,

uded obe

antula, dood

arantula,

t think you'd b

less palpitating than on the oc

Wanted: a miracle of St. Vitus. Do

it was," he murmured, obeying.

hing in time, even the eccen

hink I'm

r known any one who didn

he pondere

to consider what people think o

s unhuman.

you haven't anyt

true, she natura

inner life," she observed sarcastically,

ed ridiculously impossible, yet the spirit of mischief, ever hovering about her like an attendant

cope, or whatever else scientists make oath upon, and an

ed release from this a

e you got an awful s

inch along his nose, the first time she had ever seen them in any degree

ask that?"

resistible if you were a pirate or a smuggler or a revolutionary. The romantic spirit could lurk so securely b

s," he

'm sure. And what

thou

t answered my question. Have you ever murdered any one in cold blood? O

e honest, but poor. At the age of three years and four months, a maternal uncle, who, having been a proofrea

Wait!

ear uncle!' the b

ntly tinkle

promptly cap

ears,' said the

you skipped half that, I don't

history by request," he began

have it! You shan't treat an unprotected and helpless stranger so. Besides, I

ce, you needn't think I've wholly neglected the true inwardness of

believe you came out of that book yourself. ARE you a Bo

d silently

be heard o

I were a real Boojum. And you'll be doing it

e too sure that I'll 'ne

which was edging behind

mation sufficiently slaked?" he asked. "W

ven you the message!" She drew it

," he o

colored p

he tore the envelope open and held out the inclosure. "But I shouldn't

ssibly important, it would be better if-

t," she

ugh the bri

ll that I should know

accent made her

g into dange

ifficulty, perhaps. But I t

'd do it just the same," s

r danger later. See here, Miss Brewster"-he rose and stood ove

es," she said fretfully. "I feel as if I

arded the

rantee that your father will take out the y

at. How are you going t

ight as well not

your luggage ready

it be

may

hall w

get word

ing

ok his

not. This

she said, aggrieved. "At least,

m I to

n't you sorry? Ju

. Just a little

myself," she said fran

ity?" he ask

amended sweetly. "Each time I see you, I have more the

a pain that she could not wholly fathom. Quite aware of her power, Miss Polly Brewster w

," she faltered. "I'm afraid so

be needing memories for a while. And when the glory

host. I'm going to be a friend, if you'll let me. And I'm going to write to you, if you will tell me where.

ok his

ur summer place, where there's a mountain-side that we can sit on, and you ca

an ever quite hate t

ke that. As for our lake, nobody could really help

!" he m

in the scientifi

t for their

riving to put off the moment of departure. "You'll find plenty of work there. Do you know, Mr. Beetle Man, you have

nd veracious history of my life," he began, striv

you think that I wouldn't find the thi

e technical,"

ings to you, aren't they

of such a question. "I suppose I find the same excitement and adventure

I shouldn't have supposed researc

ened, and, when he spoke again, she felt vaguely and strangely that he was hardly thinking of her or her q

e said, and quoted, h

ome in sear

ith unce

door of

hing, throu

rment hem

ingers of

oping her

hieroglyp

nseen in

hought whi

asking and

s that hi

oom and birth

or that medium. This man was different. For all his outer grotesquery, the noble simplicity of the verse matched some veiled and hitherto but half

he said, with an effort.

? That passage from his 'Agassiz' comes pretty near to bein

and f

him. He took and held them without awkwardness or embarrassment. By that alone she co

never forget you," she said softly. "Y

ther name bet

ptly she stamped a determined foot. "I'm NOT going away without hav

e is bad for the

is under

e, and you'd gl

ff with pretty speeches.

od before her, quietly submissive to her wish. She took a quick step backward,

ain, "Oh, I didn't thin

wrong with me?" he asked seriously,

know-I expected something different

e had unmasked. The visage, so grotesque and gnomish behind its mechanical apparatus, had given place to a wholly different and formidably strange face. The change all centered in the eyes. They were wide-set eyes of the clearest, steadiest, and darkest gray she had ever met; and they looked out at her f

of blood expand her heart, rush upward into her cheeks, and press into her eyes tears of swift regret.

e asked curiously. "I'll

little. "I'm a goose. You see, I've pictured you as quite different. Hav

eplied, after reflection. "After all, t

was able to examine his face. Under his eyes w

she cried pitifully. "Ha

t m

othering instinct sprang to the rescue.

ight I did very wel

more than y

y. You see, I've

wretched, unimportant little stupid a

ine," he said, "in a ra

sleep to-night; that y

n't promi

eces. What have you got to do more

rough. And there's some b

on came

s mes

hat, it would be

out to him, an

your glasses,"

he did he

in. No, not quite, though. You'll nev

s be," he cont

hings to. Are you really the man who ran awa

eall

n." She began to laugh softly. "As for the stories

e stories

. They call you 'Th

"I expect I have been rather unsp

was in her supported by this man

she said, "have

No.

orth the irrepressible Polly. "I'll be your sister for this. Is there

N

ted a moment, then put a hand on his arm. "Does this HA

afrai

ng to see you again. Won't you come down to the port and bring me an

w that once more before she sailed away, she must look into those eyes, in all their clarity

e so," he s

ed, with a thrill of gladn

the matter of the expense of the message. How could she reach him? She remembered the cliff above the rock, and the signal. If a signal was valid in one direction, it ought to work equally well in the other. She had her automatic with her. Re

" she though

distinctness the shimmering silk of a woman's dress, hanging on a line and waving in the first draft of the evening breeze. For a mo

at that distance, the watcher could tell from the woman's bearing and apparel that she was not of the servant class. She seemed to be

shed, and the person who could best answer t

panted. "Was it

revolver hung in her hand. I

turned his head to follow the direction of h

n heaven!"

d. Snatching off his hat, he signalled violently with it. The woman rose and, as

the Unspeakable Perk's face as he

ked quickly. "If not, I

id the girl, in level t

d. She read in it the

now. There isn't time. Wait here. I'll be b

the rock, headed for the lower tr

om her bag she drew one of her cards, wrote slowly and carefully a few words, found a dry stick, set it between t

rned to the rock. For a moment he gazed about, bewildered by the

see you again. Ne

he former participant in their conversation, who had been examin

it? Qu'est-ce qu'ell

adult life the beetle ma