The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-02

inner skin and Rotch hid the anger. 1t
was all Rotch's planning and heped.
I'd have. owned up several times when
we were going home in the shlp-of-Wars
| along with Captain Butler for the trial.
I but Rotch told me it was too late. that "a
| already committed perjury before the Con-
4 sui at Rio and both lin and me Stooa 10
/ be trans uorted for life if confessed: Gap;
/ tain Butler was nothing 10 me one way oI
4 the other.I never liked nor sdlSllked him.
! Rotrh he hated the man, never said why.
! I allow he was ate up with Jealousy, from
4 his toeseto5 hrs hair he was fired with It,
laI'II make no excuse for myself: Drink was
t.at the bottom Of not caring. ! never reck-5
Toned it would have come TO 10 nrteen years
4 fermentation I hope this here cOrfes-.
sim will clear Captain Buffers character.
! and set bin right again in the eyes of the
! world. And now willing to sigu this doc
ument III the presence of witnesses. I've
gOtnothing mOreoto say. Is soc -. 3
: Bates ceased to read. e 2 9 60
Some one fill my pannikin." said. Nod
fder. Hearing that damned yarn over
agan's taken it out of me- q %. sas5.s55
+ Bates pointed TO a bottles; VIII mixed
/ draught, and NOdder, sitting up. lifted the
pannikin with both ha9dS. trembling vlo-
lently. ssasg X, .ss5ss.e':sS -
l had listened with a mad heart; srecol-
lection Of what Tom had been made to
Suffer. by that sf6nI. drunken. llideous
scoundrel rushed upon me. The villain
had owned it was drink and not caring;
he had done it for n promise OF $50 and the
run of the rum casks and a mates berth at
some hundred shillngs month. | could
have torn the poisonous rats eyes out as
he lay, and turned my back upon him to
hide my face. % - s.a8.s s.sa''
5; He threw the pannikin he had empted
onto the deck and said, "GT me hold of a
pen while Pm settiD2 up :; it'll be a bruisy.
queer scrswt What music's a-playmg
ba+ { 10
looked at his fingers with 3hoTrid grin.
Bates put the bunk hoard on the fellows
knees and called to Will to hold the lamp
close. My temper was under control
again, and 1 looked atsthe nan as ne sat
up in his bunk. fearing that even now he
might cheat lis by refusing to sign, though
i supposed thatin any case the confession
made 10 Mr.. Bates. and heard read aloud
10 us in Nodderss presence, would be
counted good evidence. - = :.s99sss.s 9s..
The mans hand trembled so violently.
that twice or thrice he let fall the pen.
s.H old my wrist" said he. with avile oath.
Helped BY MIR. Bates, he scraWled his
leading, Collins ending with a cross; the
date was added. the name of the brig, her
situation at noon. s567 % s.as
Nodder had fallen back and Law watch
ing us while we signed. AS Mr.. Bates
handed me the written confession the fei-s
low III illS I'd w, hlifS NuJcc
Mix sIne another pannlkin one of yer, then
clear out. You've got what you want,
han't y0u"" 90 oSs. : 5
/ passed through the hatch quickly, fear
full of the mans language. WEI accom-
panied me-. glanced at him in the bright
western daylight. = He looked shocked,
almost stunned. g. .ssoo5 60
q II always knew he was innocent, he
exclaimed. So % So 90
8 But 1 was mad to join Toms 1 held up
the paper rs L ran toward the wheel. at
which stood Toms fine commanding
igurp. solitary on the briggs decks. He
was pale and the shadow Of bitter expecta-a
ton lay like a scowl or frown upon him.
j. HAS he confessed p he said. aa $
Yes" se59ss &c s.
VIII took the wheel. and followed my
sweetheart into the cabin. He took the
paper upon the table and bent his head to
read the precious document. i watched
his face with impassoDed intentness. /
thought he had read to the end of the
writing when he lifted his head he. rubbed
his eyes and pressed his temples betwixt
his hands, bent his head TO the paper
again and now | was very sure he had not
read quarter down. sa g ga3
Mr.. Bates came along the deck and en-
tered the cabin door; put my finger to my
lips and he halted close behind Tom, who
seemed not to have heard him come. In
this mannerthree Or tour minutes. passed
neither Bates nor speaking and Tom ap-
pearing to read. My sweetheart then
fetched deep breath. and looking round
to me without seeing Bales, he said. THAT
such a man should have had in his
power to injure me So" saw "a mist in
his eyes ana his breathing was labored,
then perceiving Bates he grasped him by
both hands. aS8e o.
Dear friend" he cried, at is ruined,
bIoken-hearted convict sailor who thanks
you"
mo more of that. Butler. for Gods
sake" answ cred the mate. You are no
convict and your hearts not broken. ALPS
well with US now, and I'll be dancing at
your wedding very soon"
II was innocent was always innocent.
told you so," cried Tom.
ibid ever doubt it, Butler?" exclaimed
the mate. .'And this lady's marvellous
devotion! Match me again such perfect
faith, such beautiful loyalty
Tom stretched out his arms and in
moment l was locked to his heart.
/ CHAPTER Wv 32o