"
"Leading me on?"
"Yes."
"I do not understand."
"You say you are going off with them?"
"Yes."
"They would not take a stranger off with them unless they had
a purpose."
The girl had offered a most startling suggestion.
"The circumstances are peculiar, Renie, and I am a good
seaman. I have already proved myself of service to them."
"That does not alter my idea."
"What's your idea?"
"I have a suspicion."
A moment's silence followed, when the detective asked:
"What do you suspect!"
"They have recognized you!"
CHAPTER XVII.
The few sharp quick words of the girl betrayed volumes. Her
suggestion was indeed startling; and, what was more; there was
not only a possibility, but a probability that her suspicion
was correct.
A silence followed her words, but at length the detective said:
"I shall go off on the yacht, Renie."
"And you will never return!"
"Yes, I shall return."
"Suppose my suspicion is correct, and those men are leading
you on?"
"It matters not, Renie, I shall go!"
"Are you madly seeking death?"
"No."
"If those men have recognized you, and are playing a part,
there will be no chance for you the moment that yacht crosses
the bar on her way out to sea."
The detective on the impulse of the moment, was prompted to
ask:
"Suppose they kill me, what will you do, Renie?"
The girl was silent until the detective repeated his question.
"I know what I shall do!"
"What will you do?"
"Roam the beach until all hope of the recovery of your body is
passed and then I shall lie down and die.
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