Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-27

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"Halloi hoU do you come heref"
He nodded. The momentary excite
ment faded quickly from bis face, leav.
ing him to appear again what he was, q
man dirty, pallid, half famished. About
my height, he wore also clothes, shabby
and soiled indeed, but like mine In make
and material In his desperate desire
for sympathy, for communion with some
one. he had already laid aside any fear
Of me. When asked him how he came
to be in my cabin. he told me freely.
II intended to ship from Valencia to
France, but they watched and searched
all the boats. crept on board this one
in the night. thinking that as she was
bound for Carthagena she would not be
searched. was right; they did not
think any one would venture back into
the lions jaws"
''But what will you do when we reach
CarthagenaY' I asked.
''Stay ON board and, II possible, 70
with this ship to Cadiz. From there
can easily get over to Tangier." no an
swercd.
It sounded feasible. "And where have
you been since we left Valencia" ]
asked.
behind this sailcloth." He pointed
to a long roll Of spare canvas which was
slowed away between the floor and the
lower berth. Iopened my eyes,
"Ayl" he added with q grimace, ''they
arc close quarters. but there Is just room
behind there for man lying on his face.
What Is more, except your two biscuits
havo had nothing to cat since the day
before yesterday.
"Then it was you who took the bis
cuits7" l said.
He nodded; then he fell back
against my berth, oil his strength
gone out Of him. For from be-
hind US came another more emphatic
answer. "You may take your oath to
that, governor" II ran: and briskly push
ing aside the door and curtain, Sleigh,
the engineer, stood before "a. you
may bet upon that, guessr' he added,
an ugly smile playing about his mouth
and eyes.
The refugees face changed to o sickly
white. and his hand toycd feebly with
the pistol, but he did not move. think
that we both felt we were In the pres
ence Of q stronger mind.
"You had better put that plaything
away" said Sleigh lie showed no fear,
but ] observed that he was watching Us
narrowly. "A shot would bring the
ship about your ears. my friend. There
q no call for long explanation. took
the governor here for you. but when he
told me that some one was stealing his
biscuits, thought had got the right
pig BY the ear. and Eve minutes outside
this door hare made It . certainty.
Two thousand pesetasl Why, hang me
u should have thought. to look at you,
that you were worth half the money!" he
added. brutality.
The other plucked up spirit at this in
suit "Who ore you? What do you
wantT he cried. with an attempt at
bravado.
Precisely. What do I wantr replied
the engineer, with . sneer. "You are
right to come to business. What do
+ want7 A hundred pounds. That Il
my price. mate. Fork Il out and
mum b the word. Turn rusty, and
BE did not finiih the sentence, but
graphing his neck In both hands, pressed
his thumbs upon his windpipe and
dropped his jaw. It was a ghastly per-
formance I bad seen a garrote and
shuddered.
"You would not give the man upe
Your own countrymanr I cried In hor-
ror.
"Would not2' hs answered ruthlesly.
You win soon see. r he has not got tho
caGhfs k z
Z "A hundred poundsr" moaned the
wsetched fellow. whom Sleigh,s per-
Torrance had completely unnamed.
II have not q hundred pesctas with ma.
AZ 4 happened-alas. Il has often hap
pened % with NEIL had but some three
hundred pesetas. some twelve pounds
odd. about me, nor any hope Of q remit.
TANGO nearer than Malaga, whittier IWas
On my way. Still ! did what I cosald.
"Look here said to Sleigh, II can
hardly believe that you arc IN earnest
but ! viii do thfa ! will give you ten
pounds 70 be silent and let this man take
his chance Il r no good to haggle with
me. !" ] added. because I have no moro"
ton poundsr he replied deridvely,
"when tho police win give mo eighty
am nos such fool"
"Better ten pounds % a gift than eighty
pounds of blond money" retorted.
"LOok here. mister" he answered
sternly; do you mind your own busi-
ness and let us settle ours I am sorry
et you. mate. that IL . fact, but I can.
not let the chance pasa II do not get
thb money some one else will I'll tell
you what l win do. though" As he
paused breathed again. while The mis-
cradle man whose life was in the balance
glanced up with renewed hope. II viii
lower my terms. he went on. II would
rather get the money honestly myself,
am free to confess that II you will out
with two thousand pesetas I win keep
my mouth shut and give you helping
hand besides"
III mott" l said.
If not" he answered, sl,rugging his
shoulders-and noticed that he laid his
hand on his knife-.'if you do not &C.
cept my terms before we are In port at
Carthagena. 60 to the first policeman
and tell him who Is aboard. Those are
my terms. and you have until then to
think about them"
With that he left the cabin, warily,
and with his face to us to the last.
Hateful and treacherous as he was-I
loatlscd him 60 that could scarcely meet
his eyes-l could not help admiring his
perfect GOODNESS ami courage, and his
; quick grasp Of tho men hc had to do
with.
For felt when ho was gone that we
were sorry pair. l suppose that my
companion. bad as his case had seemed
before. had yet cherished strong hopes of
escape. Now he was utterly unnamed
He sat on the couch. his elbows on his
knees. his head resting on his hands, the
picture Of despair. The pistol had dis