Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-23
If you are not fool you will set me ashore

If you are not fool you will set me ashore
at once"
II shall act entirely by my owners Or
ders.'
Then ,rot out your owner. and I'll pass
the time of day with him next. I'm not
particular. I'll kill the whole blooming
ships company If don't get my own
way"
Man. don't be a fool. You can't hit a
woman"
"A won an?'
Yes: told you before. Donna Clotlde.
You know her well enough
Donna Clotilde whO?"
La TOuche.''
of the little man. He stepped YEARLY
across the deck and leaned his elbows on
the yachts polished topgallant rail- by
James, he murmured to the purple arch
of the night. by James. that-that woman.
What a ruddy mess And then he broke
off into dreary musing. He had known
this Donna Clotilde La Touche before; had
entered her employ In Valparaiso: had
helped her revolutionary schemes by cap
turing a warship for her. In return she
had conceived a mad infatuation for him.
But all the while he regarded her merely
as his employer. In the end ne had been
practically set edrift at sea in an open boat
as a penance for not divorcing his own wife
and marrying her. And now she was come
to add to his other troubles by beginning
to prosecute him again. 1t was hard. Bit
terly hard.
By some subtle transference of thought.
the woman in her berth below became
conscious OF his regard, grew restless.
woke, got more restless. dressed. came
on deck. and saw this man with whom
she was so fiercely enamored staring
1.-THE silent walk she stepped across the
dewy decks under the moonlight and with
out his hearing her, leaned on the rail at
his side. and flung an arm across his
shoulders.
Captain Kettle woke from his musing
with a start. stepped coldly aside. and
saluted formally. He had an eye for a
gocd-looking woman, and this one was
deliciously handsome; he was always chiv-
alrous toward the other sex. whatever
might be their characters. but the fact
Of his own kidnapping at the moment Of
Mrs Kettles pressing need made him
almost as hard as though man stood be-
fore him as his enemy.
Miss La Touche, he said, do you wish
me to remember you with hatred?"
II do not wish you to have need to re-
you to stay with me always"
THAT, as told you before. miss. is i'm
possible for more reasons than one. You
hove done me infinite mischief already.
had l stayed in South Shields. and mean
while my wife and children are hungry
Be content with that and set me ashore
Il repeat the offer l made you in South
and your wife shall have an income such
she never dreamed of. and such as you
never could have got her in all your life
otherwise. You know l am not Boosting
AS you must know by this, am one Of
the richest women in the world"
Thank you. but l do not accept the
terms. Money is not everything"
And meanwhile. remember l keep You
on board here. whether you like 1t or not.
and until you give way to what / want
your wife may starve. So II she and your
children are in painful straits you must
recollect that 1t is entirely your fault
Quite So" said Kettle. She will be
content to starve when she knows the rea-
SON.
Donna Clotilde's eyes began to glitter.
There are not many men who would re-
fuse II offered them myself
Then. miss. l must remain curious"
She stamped her foot II have hungered
for you all this time, and will not give
love me in time as l lCve you. / tell you
you Will. you must. you shall. l have got
you now. and will not let you go again"
Then. miss" said Kettle grmly, Il shall
hold
She faced him with heaving breasts.
I'VE will see who WINS she cried
Probably" said Captain Kettle and took
present. We know how we stand: the
game appears to begin between us from
now. He turned deliberately away from
her. walked forward and went below: and
AFTER little waiting. Donna Clotilde shiv-
cred. and went back to her own luxurious
state room.
But IL she was content to spend the rest
OF the night In mere empty longing, Cap
tain Kettle was putting hts time to more
practical USE He was essentially q man of
action.
Cautiously he found his way to the stew
aTds store room. oiled Z case with meat