The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-06

10 the rgnt, but there sun, untoucneu,
unframed by the terrible storm. Joans
practised eye ran over the desolate waste
OF single. There would be little or no
difficulty to launch the boat here, and once
ahoat. She elasped her hands together,
looking wistfully about. After all, this
place, this lonely little Driven Point, had
been her home. and its people. after their
fashion, kind to hel. Some self-reproach
mingled with that wild intoxicating nope
Of freedom.
Must she leave them thus, without a
single look a whispered word of thanks
and farewell? She bent down to examine
the boat then started, a half-uttered cry
of apprehension on her lips. The boat was
Bathursts-the Joan Mallory" In his
first flush of pride and passion Bathurst
had christened his good craft by the name
Of the woman he loved Many a pleasant
hour had Joan passed in it, and now at
last she was putting it to treacherous
use, and the Joan Mallory must serve
as a means of escape. She sat down III
the stern, burying her face in her rouSh
hands. Up there in the cave FORBES Dew
ereux waited impatently.
IT want to do right, l want to do right
but the way is very hard, murmured
Joan beneath her breath. Presently she
became aware of voices-steps.
Only just in time to escape observation
Joan knelt down behind the boat, holding
ton itself was unwise, but Joan did not
pause to think Indeed, she had no time
for the speakers. who had emerged from
behind low group of boulders. detached
fragments from the mighty rocks above
were close upon the boat almost before
Joan had crouched behind it for shelter
She recognized Bathursts voice, and
trembled violently. If they should make
an attempt to launch the boat, she must
be discovered. One of the men sat down
upon 1t; she could feel the boat shift under
his weight and hear the dull swish Of
water which had collected in the bottom
What is this cock-and-bull story go
ing about amongst the women?' said
Bathurst's rough voice.
The second man laughed. He was dig
ging holes in the shngle with the heels
of his heavy boots.
ooh, so you heard it?" he said, and
Joan recognized the speaker-her foster
brother, Hewson Mallory. "a cock-and-
bull story, truly. The women say there
were five bodies washed up on the shore
and now there are but four for the parson
to bury. One must have walked; only
dead men don't often walk"
Il seem to remember seeing five my
self" said Bathurst slowly.
Been drinking, eh?'
II hadn't time for even a nip at the
whisky bottle this night but l did see
five"
"Oh. gammon you're worse than the
women. What's running in your head
now?"
1--WE mind to look for that fifth man."
went on Bathurst Maybe 1 could find
| him.
Joan's heart stood still
What, going to look now?" There
was unmis taxable derision in Hewson Nal
lory's voice.
mo, not now; I'll wait bit Time
enough; he cant get away in hurry. May
be Joan knows something of this"
"Joan?-bless the girl, not she. What
put that into your head?"
Il reckon that's no business of yours"
| said Bathurst, sullenly.
But she wasn't even on the beach.
saw her up there by the bonfire. Catch
Joan amongst that work. You know her
| better"
well, she was there that's all, for
talked with her" retOrted Bathurst.
"Quarreled again? Why don't you leave
the girl alone? She'll never marry you"
Wont she?" Bathurst raped out an
oath between his teeth. Wen see about
| that"
Halo, where are you going?" shouted
| Mallory. His companion had evidently
made a movement to depart. The boat
gave great lurch. squeezing Joan's fin
| gers as If in a trap. With difficulty she
repressed a scream.
Il left my dog on guard up there by the
| cliff" said Bathurst. Joan could Just
make out the words, although the speaker
was now some distance away. Trapped
| a couple of guls, so / am going for them e"
A moment later Hewson Mallory also
moved off. Crunch, crunch, crunch, his
heavy steps went across the shingle Joan
did not dare to move. She must give him
a few minutes Gear start.
1t was just possible he might seek her
in the cave. but she felt sure that if he did
| he would call out to her first, and, failing
! to receive an answer, would not go in. Joan
| fervently prayed that this might be so.
| She simply dared not disclose herself now.
! Deyereux must take the risk Her pres
| ence at this late hour of the night and
| here amongst the rocks would only inten-
| sify the danger. So she remained crouch
ing there behind the boat. Meanwhile the
| fog continued to lift.
Now as i'll luck would have it, Mallory
| did 90 TO the cave in search of Joan, but,
| contrary TO what she had hoped, not re-
| ceiVlug any answer, he went boldly i'm.
| Forbes DevereuX. warned in time by the
| heavy steps and Mallory's voice humming
rollicking song, had retreated to the
| further corner of the cave hiding himself
| under the rug, which he had hastily drag
| ged down. From this hiding place he
| could take stock of his enemy and calcu-
| late the chance of victory If 1t came to a
| struggle between them
! In this one instance DevereuX had cause
| to congratulate himself. Mallory was by
no means Bathurst's equal in size OF
| strength, so that while in an encounter
| with the latter DevereuX would have been
| but as a reed, he could, he fancied, make
short work of the newcomer. There was
| not much time 10 lose. either. Any mo-
| ment Joan might return He must make
| things sure before she did so. Besides
| DevereuN's blood was up and itching ia
be at his enemy. He would show scant
| mercy, for had not this man. in common
with others lured the Inflated Mary Au-
gusta to her ruin. and her helpless crew
to their death?
Meanwhile he waited his opportunity
II went against the grain TO take any man
| at "A disadvantage and attack him from
behind but he had the girls safety alsc
to consider His own defeat might near
| to her-what2 lie scarcely dared think.
Mallory sat down al last on short
! legged stool near the fire. II was chilly
outside. and ne rubbed his hands togeth-
er as If the warmth here were pleasant
Dovereux's hand closed upon coil ol
rope near to him. lie would have need OF
| that Then quickly. cautiously, with ba.