The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-12-14
THE STORY OF
FRANCIS ClUDDE
By STANLEY j. wEYRAS.


C0HiinHfi
! heard pcnruddocko's voice dronlne
the words Of the oath. but ! paid no at.
teution to thum-I was buslod with some.
thing olse where had scon the sinister
qlrnm in those eyes ioforo, and that fore.
head high and narrow, and those lean,
swnfthy chcoksi Where had before con.
frontod that very face which now glarcd
into mine ncruss the book Its look was
bold and defiant but low down In the
cheek saw little pulse beating furious
". n pulse which told Of anxiety, and the
Jaws, half voilcd by the ragged mustacho,
wero set In an iron grip. Mhcroi Hal
know. / dropped my end Of the book and
stepped back
look 90 the door" ! cried, my voice
sounding harsh and strange in my own
ears. Let no ono leave. denouncu that
mani" And raising my hand ! pointed
pitilcssly at my oath fellow. 81 donounco
him-ho is a SPY and traitorV'
II spyf' the man shouted fcrcely
with the flercenoss Of despair
AYE, you, youl Clarence, or Crcwdson'
or whatever you call yourself, l donounce
youl My time has oomel
CHAPTER XIX.
The bitterness Of that hour long past,
whom he had left me for death, when he
had played with the human longing for
life and strivon without thought Of pity
to corrupt me by hopes and fears the most
awful that mortals know, was In my
voice as spoke Irejoiced that vengeance
] had come upon him at last, and that
was its instrument saw the pallor Of q
great fear creep into his dark check and
read in his eyes tho vicious passion OF a
wild beast trapped and felt no pity. Mas
| ter Clarence" said and laughed
/ laughed mockingly You do not look
pleased to see your friends, or perhaps you
do not remember mo. Stand forward
Master Bertie Maybe he will recognize
you"
But though Master BERTHE came forward
and stood by my side, gazing at him, the
villains eyes did not for an instant shift
from mine. 1T is the mani" my compan
ion said after solemn panse, for the
other, breathing fast, made no answer
He was a spy in the pay Of Bishop Gard
liner. when / knew him. Al the bishop
death heard that he passed into the serv
ice Of the Spanish embassador, the Coun
de Feria. flo called himself at that tint
Clarence. ! recognize him"
The quiet words had their effect From
full one-half Of tho savage crew round n
n fierce murmur rose more terrible thai
any loud cutlery, yet this seemed relic
TO the doomed man. He forced himself Z
look away from me and 10 confront thod ar
ring of monacing faces which hommo
him in. Tho moment no did SO he az
peared to find courage and words. The
take me for another man" he cried !
hoarse accents. II know nothing 9
theml" and he added n fearful oath. "H
knows me. Ask himp'
He pointed to Walter Kingston, VIII
was sitting modify on tram outside Oh
ring. and who alone had not risen unde
the excitement Of my challenge. On bein
thus appealed to he looked up suddenly
r "If am to choose between you" he sal
bitterly, and say which is the true maj
/ know which shall pick"
"WhichW Clarence murmure,
(which" This time his tone was diffe
: emit. In his voice WINS the ring of hope.
Il should give my vote for you" KIM
ston replied, looking CONTEMPORARY I
=, him. II know something about you, bI
1 Of the other gentleman l know uothtngl
"And not much Of the person you ca
Crewdson," retorted flercely, since yo
do not know his real name"
81 know this much, the young ma
answered, tapping his boot with his seal
bard with studied carelessness, that
q lent me some money and seemed got
fellow and one that hated mass prizes
That is enough for me. AS for his nam
1t is his fancy perhaps You call yourse
Carey. Well know a good many Carey
j. but do not know you, nor ever heard
1t youl"
/ swung round on him with hot chez
But the challenge which was upon II
'r tongue was anticipated by Master Bert
who drew me forcibly back. Leave I'll
'e to me, Francis" he said, land do "
watch that man. Master Kingston al
gentlemen" he continued, turning aga
. to them and drawing himself to his fl
" height as he addressed them, "listen
you pleased You know me, II you do II
know my friend. The honor of Richa
Berthe has never been challenged until
night nor ever will be with impunit
Leave my friend out of the question al
put me in 1t. /, Richard BERTHE, say tn
that man is a paid spy and informer, col
here in quest Of blood money, and /
Crewdson, a nameless man, says that
lie. Choose between us, or look at hi
and judge Look"
He was right to bid them look. AS
savage murmur rose again and took fro
the wretched man his last hope, as
ugliness of despair and wicked, impote
passion distorted his face, he was inde
the most deadly witness against himsel
The lights which shone ON treacherc
weapons half hidden or on the GLITTER
eyes Of cruel men whose blood was rous
fell on nothing SO dangerous as the liy
Nan. tnl nm aG rn1 IA ND az
by all with aversion, still defled us. TT
tor and spy as he was, he had the merit
courage at least. He would die gan
And even as l. with first feeling of p
for him, discerned this, his sword v
out and with a curse he lunged at me.
Penruddocke saved me by buffet VIII
sent me reeling against the wall, so Il
the villains thrust was spent on air.
fore he could repeat 1t four or five N
flung themselves upon him from behil
For moment there was great upro
while the group surrounding him swal
to and fro as he dragged his captors
J and down with n strength i should
have expected. But the end was oerta
and we stood looking on quietly. II
minute or two they had him down, {
disarminR him bound his hands.
For me he seemed to have a special
red. Course YOU" he painted, glarinl
me as he lay helpless "You have b
my evil angel From the first day l 4
you you have thwarted me In every pl
and now you have brought me to thisl
mot /, but yourself" l answered.
4 MY curse upon your he cried aga
10 the rage and hate In his face SO terri
that turned away shuddering and sicl
heart. III 1 could have killed you, u
cried, II would have died contented. T"
Enough" interposed Penruddo
briskly. at is we'll for us that Ma
BERTHE and his friend came here tonil
Heaven grant 1t DO not too latel W.
not need, " he added, looking round, :"
more evidence, think"
The dissent was loud, and, save
Kingston, who still sat sulking ap
unanimous.
DEATH" said the Cornishman quie
No one spoke, but each man CAV
brief, stern nod.
VERY WELL" the leader continU
then propose
lone moment, said Master Bertie,
terrupting him. "A word with you ap
with our friends permission. You can
peat 1t to them afterward."