San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-20

She quickly cat array the sailor Knots.
At dusk one evening ten days later
Janet, CHANGING to go to the door and
look out toward the beach, noticed a
scuffle among three men at such dis
lance from her that in the indistinct
light then prevailing she could not de
termine positively who they We're or ex-
actly what they were doing. Two of
them she fancied were her brothers,
Donald and Andrew, but of the identity
of the third she had not even suspicion.
No cutlery came from the struggling
group, and taking it for granted that
they were simply indulginS in Thorough
wrestling and horseplay common among
the younger beachmen she turned back
to her household duties. But after Il
few minutes a strong impression flashed
upon her that she should go out there
and ascertain what had been going on.
Without knowing why she found herself
running at full speed to the place. Dark
ness had fallen very suddenly, owing
not only to the setting of the sun but
the rising in the moonless sky of heavy
clouds, precursors of coming storm.
Close down by the water, however,
the frothy whiteness of the breaking
surf seemed to little dispel the obscur-
ity, making not exactly light but rather
the ghost of light for small space on
the sand, and there she stumbled over
the PROSTATE body of man. She drop
ped upon one knee and laid hand upon
him, in so doing sensing by intuition
that it was he whom she had called
husband" 1t was too dark to see his
face. bat she felt the thick, soft crIrls of
his hair and knew him. Yes, it was
Selden Rangely, with his feet tied to-
gether, his arms securely bound behind
his back, and a twisted handkerchief
forced between his jaws as gag and
knotted tightly at the back of his head,
She tore the handkerchief away and
demanded:
''Who did this?"
donald and Andrew" he replied
gaspingly.
"Are You hurt"
Somewhat bruised and strained, that
is all. They pounced upon me so sud
denly and unexpectedly that there was
no chance for much of fight"
He spoke slowly, breathing hard. For
a moment she hesitated. Had not her
brothers q right to vengeance on their
own account? Had he not brought
shame upon them, too, through her? She
might be willing to leave his punish
ment to higher power, but if they were
not should she presume to interfere:
Then in an instant the true nature of the
temptation flashed upon her, and her
thoughts returned to harmony with her
nobler self. But her voice was cold and
hard as she asked him:
Have you knife?"
There is one in my right vest pocket. "
She found it and quickly cut away the
elaborate sailor knots with which they
had made him fast. While she was busy
doing SO he asked i'll bewiIdered way:
why the mischief should Donald and
Andrew have jumped on me?'
You should Know" she answered
dryly.
Il should! Well, I'll be shot if do"
You'll be shot anyway, if father
comes here before l get you out of this.
Andrew has gone to bring him."
"Ah! Then there is no time to be
lost"
And Donald has gone to get boat.
What is all this you have about you in
side your clotling?"
Gravel. They stuffed my clothing
with it in order TO, as Donald was good
enough to explain, anchor me out Sc
curelv in deep water 1t really seems
to me the most extraordinary reception
ever rendered by family to one of its
members. wish you would explain 1t
if you can"
There is no time for that now. A
minutes delay may cost you your life.
Follow me closely and shake that gravel
out when you get into water too deep for
it to make splash"
- She led the way straight into the surf.
wading out SO far that only her head
was above the surface, he obediently fol-
lowing close. Then, standing near him,
she whispered:
DO Ho1 iilSS SOuI- NOlCS' pOulLu IA"'
els On the water. We are safe here from
being seen, but not from being heard.
Why did you dare to come back hereY
Il came to my wife"
From your wife, you mean"
mo. don't mean anything of the
sort. What do you meany'
"Hushr'
They stood still, listening to the low
grinding sound of an oar rapidly piled