The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-09
4 PR0TEGE OF
JACK HAMLIN'S.
NJ Dsss ussss.

PART I.

PART I.
end steadily clearing the broad. placid
shaIiows of the Sacramento river. A large
way like An sag,s divsrging from its bow
was ex,ead:ng 70 either bank, sssmping
the tuiss AID threatening 70 submsfgs the
lover Iesczs. The great boas itself--a
vast bet .issscass structure Of airy stories,
hanging galleries. fragile colonnsdss,
gilded crrrscss and respondent frescoes-
vas throabsnR throughout its whole peril
Gus isngths With the pulse Of high press
urs and chs strong. monotonous best Of .
powerful vsston. Floods Of foam pouring
from the h syh paddle boxes on either eide
and rsunating In the wake Of the boat LEFT
behind stsack Of dazzling Wilderness. over
which tsskisd two dense black banners
flung from SIS lofty smoksssscks.
Mr.. Jsak Hsmiin had quietly emerged
from his stateroom on deck and was look
ing over Abe guards. His hands wsre rest
ing lightly On his hips over the delicate
curves 1t 5iis white waistcoat and he WAS
whissiins softiy-possibly some air TO
which b. had made certain card-playing
passenger dance the night before. He
was in ce.nfostahie ease. and his soft
brown eyes under their long lashss were
vstlsd with gentle tolsrance Of all things.
He siaE osi iaxily along the empty hurri-
ease deek sorvard; he glanced lazily down
70 the SAIGON deck below him. Far ont
against tho guards leaned . young girl.
Mr.. HasaIin knitted his brows slightiy.
He resneIabsrsd her 1t once. She had
come OF hoard that morning with one Ned
essattos:. g brother gambler. but neither .
favo1te nor intimate Of Jacks. From
csrtain indications in the pair Jack
had iaferred that she was some
foolish CT reckless creature whom
I'D" was spiritiug away from
her frfeads and family. With the abstract
morality az this situation Jack was not in
CURED 60 him that he had seen stratton
quickly clip Oh the boat 1t the last land
Ing stage. ALL that was Il: he had cast
away aad deserted her. Il Vas IN old
story. Jsck smiled. But he Vas NOT
greatly afoussd with Ssrstton.
She visa very pale and seemed 70 b
ciingin 4 To the network railing Is II to sup
port hNseif. although she Vas gazing
hxediy i the yellow giancing current be-
Low. ' Aich seemed 70 be sucked down and
swallowed in the paddls.box ~ tho boat
swept an. II certainly was . fascinating
sight shta slopsng rapid. hurrying on TO
bury Itself under the crushing wheels.
For sssiss moment Jack saw how they
would sesEs anything floating on that
Ghastlr iaclins. whiri IL round in one
awful tevelution Of the beating paddles.
and tlsse curry IL. broken and shattered out
0f oil Fecognition. deep In the muddy uu-
dercurseas Of the stream behind them.
She moved away presently with IN odd.
stin step, chatting her gioved hands to-
Rcthes NJ II thee had become stifFsnsd. too,
In her rigid grasp Of the railing. Jack
leisursiy watched her ~ she moved along
the nsrrew strip Of the deck. She Was not
~ all ~ his tasse--a rather plump girl,
with s rustic manner aud great deal o!
brosr. ksir under her straw hat
She night have looked better had she
not hsen % hasgard. When abe reached
the sfosr of the saloon phc paused, and
then. t1rning suddenly. began to walk
quietly back again. As she neared the
spot sshere she had been standing her pace
slack enett. and when she reached the rail
Ing slse seemed to relapse against IL in he.
formsr helpless fashion. Jack became
isxils Interested. Suddenly she lifted he.
head and cast a quick glance around and
abovs Der. In that momentasy lifting OF
her fsee Jack saw her expression. What
ever IL sas. his own changed Instantly
the neIs moment there WAS q crash on thu
iowes eeck. IL Was Jack. who had swuns
himself over the raii and dropped. ter
feet. 20 her aide. But not before she had
plaee:i enc foot in the meshca Of the net
h.A -
srring.
s~~usee to her bewiidered fancy - . par,
OF fsr frantic act. for che fell forwart
vaesatay ON the railing. Hat BY this tim,
Jact.hhd rrasrsd her arm - II to hel,
himself IN his feet
Il n.sshs have killed myself by tbs
fcostas mighsn', ~" he said, ehe~rsally
Ifa sslund of voice 20 near her seernes
- sesasi to her daxsd sense the uneos,,
plessd action his fail had arrested. Sh,
made q sonvuIsivc hound toward the rail-
ing. BUS Jack held her fast
''iseEs't." he said in a iow vosce. dom,
lii sos,'s rsyi It's the siekess game m a
ever ~ as played BY man or woman. Com
hees";
H., drew her toward an empty state
roet.s. whose door waa suinsinR on II
hing@s few feet from them. She va
trembling violently. be half led, hal
pus.sest her into the room. closed tie do,
and stcssd With his back against II ~ Sd,
drorreSs into chair. She looked as h.ss
vaeenssy; the agitation abe WAS UNDERGO
Ing pnvardly had ieit her no sense Of out
VARS perception.
''Soa know Strastoa would BE aufail,
ri!eEr' continued Jack. easily He
Just s.spred oat - go . friend ana so,
leo ef Tho toal boat. He'll Be along b,
che ne:'t steamer. and you're bound Il
mees htG In Sacramento"
Her asariux eyes seemed suddenly q
R-asc Ills meaning. Bat 10 his surprss<
she easss cut vita certain hyxssrseal
desperation "Sol No' Neverl N~ve,
asasa l<et ne pass, snuss COP and
stresglsa 60 regain the door. Jack, aisei,
sinealasly relieved - know TIA, sae .harr>,
his ssrsfs,e sentiments regarding Ssras,cu.
nevsrt9escss resisted her Whe-~a, che
sudSeniy turned white. reSlea back And
sans Ia: dead faint IN the chair.
Tsse gambler turned, drew the kew from,
shc :4ssgts 81 The door, passed cut i.sckias
IL eehlsid him. aad walked lessurvsy int
the nssin salsea. Mrs Ioanscn. hs
sa,d sstvely. addressing the ssesarsiess. .
tail nshia4to. vita his assAi v.nscms 81.