Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-09

himself with looking it and strolIed Oh
to windward with . naughty gait Of
conscious bcoziness Then. lurching aft,
he planted himself alongside William,
on legs wide apart, and seemed to listen
to the singing in the cuddy.
Masters watched him. Presently he
walked to the foremost skyliRht and
looked down at the fellows sitting at
the table. His face was deadly white
with passion, but it was not fear. Tho
first man his eyes fell upon sitting i'm.
mediately under the open frame was
Mr.. Dixie Caldwell. They were singing
some other chorus just then, and Cald-
well. with wine redeemed eyes lifted to
the skylight and red lips stretching
and gaping as he sang. was keeping
time to the air with an empty Rlasa
When he saw Masters looking down, he
nudged Weston, and both stared up,
continuing to sing and grinning. Mas
ters walked to the companion hatch.
'What do you want with me that
You stare like that:'' said Caldwell,
looking up at Masters, who had walked
to his side. Then turning to Weston,
he said very sudibly, HAS be gone
mad?''
1T was understood" said Masters
in . voice SO strained a. to be Q pain to
the ear with its tension of nerve and
stretch Of passion, when we engaged
in this adventure that there was to be
no bloodshed. Caldwell, you murdered
a girl. Burn" he almost shrieked, IT
have found it ont from Davenire. That's
the secret. The rest Of 'em know it.
This villain murdered poor helpless
girl"
In silence Caldwell sprang to his feet
and, lurching back, aimed q blow at
Masters. The heavy fist caught the
young fellow on the side Of the head
and knocked him. with stupid look ON
his white face. against cabin bulkhead.
But for the swing of the ship at the in
slant of that blow it would have been
fair between the eyes ana a crusher.
None OF that; not among gentle
men; not in this time Of luck" yelled
Trollope, seeing Masters pull of his
coat. There's wine in this Sleep over
it. Turn in, Masters. You're no match
for that man whose soul in wrath is q
fiend's. Turn in
Breathing hard and fast, with q look
Of hellish malice in his scowling black
face, Caldwell was waiting 10 plant q
second blow, waiting till the other had
freed his arms. The rest. seeing what
was to happen. sprang from their seats.
and, clamorous with wine and good in.
tentions, tumbled between tho two.
This isn't the highway, Dixie"
shouted Cavendish.
Clear out, Masters, and cool your
blood at the head pump" bawled Shan
non.
IF it's to be business between You,
let us remember that we are gentle.
men," said Hankey.
isn't he a little particular for q
man who left his knife in bakers BODY
at Ballarat and forgot to call for it.'
roared Davenire in thunder through the
skylight.
HE was in love with the girl" said
Burn. heavily Glowing Caldwell
against the table to keep him off his
friend. You can't fight in this way.
He's no match for you. Dixie. D'you
know that-that you keep all ON squar-
ing: He'll give You satisfaction-hey,
Sam? We're all men of honor"
I'll fight him with my fists. I'll
hight him with handspikes, with pistols.
I'll kill that savage beast with any
weapon he chooses to name" screamed
Masters, whose ear was bleeding.
This was sudden tragic reality. Il
struck into the fumes in the mems
brains and cleared them as a blast of
wind shoots smoke from a room,
"Who says Sam was in love with the
glri:" exclaimed Captain Trollope.
He didn't know her before we sailed,
and he may have spoken to her twice
since"
He mustn't call names" said Han.
kew, looking dakkly through his coal
black, br1stllng whiskers at Masters,
Savage beast is tall language. north or
south"
"A savage, murderous beast" cried
Masters, Ito throw . defenseless girl
overheard, you blank hearted bastard!
l say, you fellows, think of it-a young
girl helpless in the grip of that ruffian.
D'you see the picture, you fellows
Shannon there bowling at the lib boom
end to make a clear deck for this muir.
derer?"
Il say, Trollope." exclaimed Cald-
we'll. grinding the words ont of his
swollen throat through his teeth, "I'u
not kill this manikin with nv hands
1t shall have q chance. I'll shoot il"
There were two in the Job" roared
Davenire in the skylight. 81 was 10th.
er. Sampson.
lyon shall answer for it, you butch.
er. when I've done with him." answer.
ed Masters. leveling his fist at Caldwell
Davenire. framed to the waist bv the
skylight, ewayed, hands ON hips with a
sudden roar. as if he would split his
Sides
Il suppose it must be a. Won nav.
CALDWELL" exclaimed Trollope. ewing
Masters with face of cold, contemptu.
Gus pity.
Masters. turn in, man, and sleen IL
or" cried Shannon.
Making no answer, Masters etepped
straight into his cabin, the door Of
which he shut behind him. Shannon