San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-21
BRAVE JANET king.
By ]. 4. CONNOLLY.

outlined against the murky sky, the fig
ure Of n man standing in the boat. 1t
was Donald King, going to the beach for
the man he proposed to ''ancho out. ="
When he had gone by they waded on along
the beach parallel with the shore, still
keeping only their heads out OF water.
"Tbis is terribly hard work, COM
nlsined Selden. ut would be much
easier to swim, if we must stay in the
water"
Gin this darkness we would lose direc-
ton and might go out to sea. The depth
guides us"
They struggled on. but the mans i'm
patience could not long be restrained.
"For Heavens sake, Janet" ne ap-
pealed to her, tell me what all this
maansr'
1T means that am not going to let
my father and brothers stain their souls
with murder for the righting of my
wrong upon wretch like you"
"a wretch like me! Why, are you
crazy, Janet? l know I've been away
good deal longer than l expected to be,
but | can explain"--
There is no time for explanations now,
and they are needless anyway. Facts
explain themselves. Your wife and child
have been here. That is enough"
"My wife and child Oh, but this is
maddening! swear to you that r
''Take no more oaths, Selden Rangely.
Here we have reached a boat, and-yes,
L l,
into it and row for your life! Get away
from here as fast and as far as you can.
Listen! They have met and found the
severed ropes. You hear them cursing.
They are in deadly earnest. If they
catch you they will kill you like dog.
And you deserve it. l do not save you
for your sake, but for theirs. Go back
to Philadelphia to your wife, and may
God in his justice deal with You as you
have deserved by your dealing with mel"
Selden Rangely was momentarily too
intensely petriied by establishment to
speak or move. When he had recov-
cred himself Janet had altogether dis
appeared. Instantly upon the utter
ance of her last word she had dived and
swan away under water, he could not
tell in what direction. There was man
ifestly nothing for him to do but take
her advice, for the present at least, so
he clambered into the boat. took up the
oars and set himself energetically to the
quitting Of as much space az possible be-
tween himself and his inexplicable
brothers-in-law.
Janet succeeded in unobseTvedly re-
entering the house and changing her wet
clothing for dry long before her father
and brothers came in. Indeed she had
retired to her own room and was pre-
pairing for bed when she heard them en-
ter, but at the sound of their steps came
out again to see that they got the sup
per left standing in the kitchen for them,
and to lightly chide them for their I'M
wonted neglect of the evening meal.
They looked at her sharply, but there
was nothing in her manner to betray
that she knew aught of the contemplated
tragedy or had any share in the frustra-
ton of their plans
well" she said, having taken up the
food before the fire and placed it on the
kitchen table, everything is either cold
or dried up now, but you will have to
make out with it as you best can.
Mother went to bed an hour ago. When
you are done throw this cloth over the
table. l will clear up the dishes in the
morning"
80 a. lI.. 80.
She retired again to her room.
"She had nothing to do with it, af-
frmel Donald in a low but positive tone,
40 if in answer to a previously offered
suggestion.
Hadn't we better tell herr asked An
drew in a whisper.
No" replied his father. You can
never know beforehand how women will
take things; never be sure when they
cease to love. I'm afraid the poor girl
thinks too much of him even yet. Be-
sides, we've made n poor fist Of this
nights job, and there's no call to talk
about it now or any ether lime. We
had him in our hands and let him get
away. The more shame 20 rs,''
He may have been daE1i when he
got himself loose and Eoundeced ito
the surf" suggested Andrew.
There's some little Eope Of that, as
scented the old man, "sincc he is not on
the beach, and we are pretty a1le of
that. Eut if he should still E2 alive, and
we get another chance to lay hands on
him, there must be no second failure to
kill him"