Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-05-06

shine. In the winter its surface was
covered with wild fowl--gecse, ducks
ana occasional swans. Tonight not
living creature met my eye. Solitude
icigned supreme.
Skirting the tules, came to point
OF land SO near to the island that stone
might be thrown from one to the other
and across the channel / noted a boat
moored to post and light twinkling
IN the window Of the hut. To attract
the notice of the Greek | shouted
louder than Stentor-thrice At the
third shout the door of the hut opened
and could see plainly the huge body
OF Demetrius filling the entrance and
outlined sharply against the back
ground Of light.
who is it?" His bass voice rolled
generously across the water.
"I-Hugo Livingston"
lie turned and entered the hut, shut
ting the door. For n moment sus-
pected that he meant to ignore my
presence, but | was mistaken. lie APP
peared again almost Immediately and
walked slowly towards the boat, A
minute later he was by my side.
Good evening" he said, TRANQUILITY.
II came here" began, bluntly, "to
tell you that I am not the fool you take
me for. You can impose upon Mr.. &C.
rard, but not upon me. | saved you
nn1v pactarJoy fro,,, oo,,,,, ;4+;,,. ~ 10.
tardly murder"
I'm not ungratcful," he returned,
softly.
What lies between you and Burling-
ton is unknown to me- A furious per-
sonal hate upon both sides, suspect
hate which the facts hardly warrant.
Mr.. Gerard has suffered torment at the
hands of the enemy, but you are merely
paid servant" Ispoke harshly, ahame
with repugnance. Demetrius listened
to my words in respectful silence. 81
say you are servant, but you are usurp-
ing the functions Of a master. How
dare you lay trap for me?"
"a trap?" he repeated. 81 have laid
no trap, SIR"
"You lie!"
Hedisplayed noresentment. Thought
it may have been faucy-that a smile
lowered upon his lips.
"You lie" repeated, "Demetrius, as
glibly as honest men speak the truth.
You pandered to your masters fears
and urged him to send his family to Eu-
rope with me, knowing that / should
refuse to leave Burlington at your mer-
cy, the mercy Of coward"
He spread out his hands with de-
pretiating gesture.
mfr. Livingston, swear that you do
me an injustice. l agreed to stay here
and watch this mailman, but ] had no
intention of arousing his fury by going
near him. The doctor and a competent
nurse have him in charge suggested
to Mr.. Gerard that you should take
Mark to Europe because you know
Europe and because you can teach the
boy what l cannot"
"Yes-honesty," l said, with en-
phasis.
What happened yesterday, Mr. Liv-
ingston, juotities these taunts. I've
served Mr.. Gerard faithfully-he saved
me from starvation, or worse fate
and, seeing his relentless enemy at last
in my power, IL lost my head. You
saved me, as you say, from the crime OF
murder, and from the bottom of my
heart | thank you"
His extraordinary fluency of speech
took me aback. Anglo-Saxons, as a
rule, express themselves so unreadily
that q freely flowing diction almost be-
wilders.
Keep your thanks till Task for them
/ promised to hold my tongue about
what occurred in the cave, but youI
action tonight absolves me from that
promise. Before go to bed Mr.. Gerard
shall be placed in possession of the
facts. We will see, then, what he viii
say"
In the moonlight | could sec his lips
whiten and culver. noted these signs
of distress with much satisfaction
They proclaimed the absence. Of col
fusion between the Greek and Gerard.
! ''For Gods sake, sir, don't tell hin
that"
you've left me no choice in the mat
ter"
lie began to urge me to keepsilcnce
employing such arguments as his pro
life bpain afforded. When he had eX
hausted these l shook my head.
'Will you think this over, sr?" HI
pleaded. "Sleep upon it, and remember
that five-and-twenty years of faithful
service are at stake"
VERY well,' replied. "1'll think i
over. AS for sleep, watch tonight il
Burlington's room. There will be nj
sleep for me-"
He thanked me for the IL hours grace
but cut him short.
"Mr. Livingston, pardon me, but are
you not afraid of being alone with tina
mailman? His injuries are not so severe
as"
| AS you COulti hiSL, INillCllluo' itcS
assured, my friend, that the prospec
of spending the night with Mr.. Burling
ton does not scare me at all. | dom
think he could move if he tried. And
in my case, I'm stronger than he"
| "Yes," he answered, quietly, scanning
me from head to heel, you are n power
full young man; but in fight the vic
tory does not always rest with tn
strongest. l wish, sir, you could trus
me. My friendship is worth having
Give me your word, Mr. Livingston, tina
you will not smirch my character, ant
make me your friend for life"
The oily smoothness of his tones dis
gusted me, and ] answered, roughly:
"Your friendship, Demetrius, has nj
value in my eyes. And tell you frank