Bandit Love

No word came from Don Carlos, but he duly presented himself aboard the

Killarney, Tony Standish's yacht, on the appointed day. And he

looked as little like a heart-broken, forlorn lover as anyone could

imagine. Indeed, he seemed to be in exceptionally high spirits, talked

gaily of the enjoyable time he had had in Paris, explaining that he had

combined business with pleasure.

He made no attempt to speak to Myra alone on the first night aboard,

and joined a party of men playing poker in the smoking-room, in

preference to dancing.

"He is really the most baffling and exasperating creature," Myra told

herself. "I expect he thinks he is vexing me by being so casual, the

conceited fellow. I am annoyed with myself for feeling annoyed."

She encountered Don Carlos next morning, when she went up on deck from

her state room to take a stroll before breakfast, and he greeted her

smilingly.

"Buenos dias, señorita," he said, with a gallant bow. "I start the day

well by meeting you, my Myra. Has absence made your heart grow fonder,

my heart's desire?"

"Yes, I am fonder of Tony than ever," answered Myra lightly. "I think

I really ought to thank you, Don Carlos, for pretending to Tony that

you had fallen in love with me. I was vastly amused, but Tony actually

took you seriously, and he has been the most adorably devoted lover

ever since. I am half inclined to suspect that you must have given

Tony some lessons in love-making!"

Don Carlos flashed a searching glance at her, and his smile faded.

"If I thought that Standish would hold you to your promise to marry

him, knowing that you love me, I should kill him," he said, quietly,

calmly and deliberately.

"In that case, Tony is a doomed man," commented Myra, with a mocking

laugh. "But perhaps the fact that I do not love you will induce you to

spare his life," she added hastily. "Don't you find it rather

difficult to be melodramatic and to talk farcical nonsense before

breakfast, Don Carlos?"

"I am debating with myself how best to get rid of Standish," responded

Don Carlos unsmilingly. "An opportunity may present itself during this

cruise. I do not wish to kill him, and would much prefer him to

surrender you to me voluntarily. But if he is obstinate, and if you

persist in refusing to obey the dictates of your heart to break with

him, he, as you have said, is a doomed man."