Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/300

Rh against you. But, of course, I can now see that it wasn't the police. It must have been this mysterious Manling again. And I tell you, Mr Preston!" the blood came hot to her cheeks at the remembrance, "when he was able to fool us all somehow again and he dared to describe you down to the last detail as you stood there before the police, I tell you I had to think quickly that time to beat him! But I did," she flushed honestly with her triumph, "don't you remember?"

"You lay your life that I do remember!" Preston cried in admiration.

"Yes; and though I had beaten," the girl continued quickly, "when he found both you and me on board this boat with him, he at once began to strike his clear, clever attacks at both of us again. Don't you almost love him for it?" she exclaimed in her excitement. "For this time he not only dared to rob me again, but you, too; and when he implicated you again, as usual, he gave me the final fillip in implicating me with you!"

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