Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-11-16
ONE OF LIES RoMAHoEs.

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"And tomorrow you leave me and
go back to that horrid London?"
"Only for three MONTHS" dearest.
Then 1 shall come hack to Rocksea
and claim YOU"
Jessie Poole laid her pretty head
contentedly on the rough tweed
shoulder of the Norfolk jacket.
J Will Preston was clever young ar
list Looking around for a suitable
place at which to stay the summer,
he had stumbled across the little
creeper-clad cottage where Jessie
Poole lived and nursed her lbed-rid-
den father, and had induced them to
Let him make their home his abode
during his stay. A thorough woman
was Jessie, and as such she appealed
TO the artists tempera nrent. Bea uti-
full she could hardly be called, but
her clear gray eyes and the curve of
her small, firm mouth went straight
to VIII Preston's heart, and before he
was aware of it the inevfta BILE had
happened.
Presently the shapely head was
raised from the collar of the Norfolk
jacket and low voice inquired:
WHAT are you going to do with
yourself this afternoon, WHIP"
"Oh, I'm going to row out to that
picturesque old wreck, and take a few
sketches of it,"
But you're not going alone, Will,
are you? You know it's off a very
dangerous part of the coast, and
there are lot of cross currents and
sunken rocks"
oh, that's all right. little one.
Your old admirer, Jem Barclay, is
Dosslng the show He knows every
finch of the coast, and I've every con-
fdence in him: so you need have no
quaIms, dear. that shall not be back
safe before dark"
AS he mentioned the name of his
guide Jessie looked up suddenly and
seemed about to speak, then appeared
to alter her mind, and was silent.
80 ta-ta, dearest" he went ON,
bending down and fondly kissing the
sweet lips uptunned to his. 'T must
be Off. The tide will soon be On the
turn and it's good two miles row"
The wreck toward which the little
boat was rapidly cutting its way was
al that remained of the schooner
Bonnie Belle. A year ago she had
been driven by a storm onto a sunken
rock. At high tide only few feet OF
her sole remaining stump of a mast
was visible, but at low water she was
only partially submerged.
AS Will Preston lay back in the
stern OF the boat lingering the tiller
ropes, he could not but admire the
stalwart figure in front of him. Jem
Barclay was a young fisherman iv-
ing down in the village about a mile
from Jessie Poole's lonely cottage.
Over six feet in height, and propor-
eionately broad, his muscles stood out
like bands of steel as he pulled untir-
Ing at the oars.
Soon they rea ched the wreck. and.
as 1t was now low tide, the boat was
pulled alongside, and they clambered
up onto the slippery deck. The
schooner WAS but a mere shell after
all. and as Will peered down through
what had once been the hatchway.
nothing was to be seen but the inkv
blackness of the water in the hold.
He was startled from his reverie by q
laugh from his companion.
A man wouldna do much good.
Mr.. Preston, once he got down there.
eh?"
There was something in the mans
tome that Jared unpleasantly upon
the artists ear, and he answered
shortly:
No; think he could say goodbye
to life"
Then you can say goodbye to
yours, for that's where you are going.
my fine gentleman"
Will Preston turned quickly round
In amazemept at the words, when.
with an oath, Barclay flung himself
upon him, and bore him backward.
The back Of his head struck the dock
with crash, and he lost conscious
ness.
When his senses came slowly back
TO him, he found himself popped with
his head back against the mast. his
arms passed backward round it, and
his hands tighteDy bound together at
THE other side. His cap had been
forced into his mouth. and his hand
kerchief bound tightly round, form
ing most efficient gag. Before him
stood Jem Barclay, his arms folded
and his black eyes flashing trium.
phantly.
you see, I've changed my mind, /"
ne began. 1T seemed a pity to chuck
you down in t hold. You'd wouldn't
ha' had time TO think over things.
Oh, yes, know she refused me a year
ego. but I'd ha' won her right enough
In time if you hadn't come with your
lime ways and oily tongue. Now I'm
goin' to wish you goodbye. It'll be
high tide at 9 o'clock, and then t. sea
will be a foot aboon your head. Hap
pen you'd like to see how t. time goes,
though. Well, you SHALL
he took his knife from his pocket
and drove the point into the mast a
few inches above his victims head;
then he approached the artist with
the intention of taking his watch
from his pocket to ha; it upon the
fmprovised hook; but Preston, though
MS hands were tied, had the use of
his feet. and as his tormentor came
within reach he lunged out with all
his force.
Taken unawares, the man sprun o
backward to avoid the blow, and, for
getful of the hatchway behind him.
lost his balance and fell down 1t. In
railing he turned half round and, his
temple came In contact with the
farther side of the opening as he fell.
Will heard the splash OF his body
I'm the water. and waited, horror
struck. for any further sound, but