The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-12-10
stained, and his saddle bags over his
CHAPTER XVI.
INCLINATION vERsus DUTY.


ON first meeting this man, who proved
himself weak and faithless to his trust
in the presence Of gold, Fox offered to
take him to New York on the Wanderer;
but as the pirates plans became
matured he changed his mind, as he
found other uses for the man.
Had Thrasher gone to sea on the
Wanderer, as he was more than willing
to do, he would have been tied up In
shotted bag and dropped overheard the
first chance, for Fox believed In destroy
ing his useless tools.
Captain Fox found in Thrasher just
the man to aid him In one OF the
grandest schemes he had yet plotted,
which was no less than to get posses
sion of the cruiser, Sea Hawk, and by
the easiest means to rid himself OF such
of the officers and crew as did not en-
list under his piratical standard.
Already the reader Is familiar with
the identity OF Captain Fox with the
traitor and pirate, Captain William Kidd
Of the Adventure Galley.
There was scarcely one species OF
villainy In which he was not proficient,
and where he failed, he found most
willing coadjutor in Guy Frenauld.
A good specimen Of Ralph Denham's
handwriting WAS obtained in that
officers reply. accepting Fox's invita-
ton to sail In the Wanderer to New
York.
Frenauld was an adept in the imita-
ton Of handwriting, so that 1t became
an easy matter to forge a letter from
Captain Denham.
Such letter was forged and given to
Thrasher-with due instructions-just
before the Wanderer sailed.
The better way to carry out these IN
structions, Thrasher was given large
sum of money, with promise OF
fabulous amount II he succeeded.
He was to prevent, by death as a
preference, any other post-rider from
getting through the forest to the town
| Of Sag Harbor. He was free to asso-
| ciate any other man Of like character
with him, but he was advised against 1t
| IL he could get on alone. At certain
date he was to appear In Sag Harbor,
| with a letter from Captain Denham to
Lieutenant Hedges, and this date had
| now come.
Mr.. Hedges and Valentine Dayton, as
! we'll as SQUIRE Condit, who had just
come out with his wife and Ellen, recog-
nized the post-rurner as he came up
the walk.
Hello. nv man, where do you come
| from?" asked Mr.. Hedges, In his
anxiety, going out to meet the courier.
| From New York." was the reply
given In the voice Of one much ex-
hausted by the journey.
Have you letter for me2"
You are Lieutenant Hedges?"
Il am.
Then, sir, I have letter for yol
from Captain Ralph Denham, OF the
cruiser Sea Hawk.
Thrasher came up on the verandt
and took the saddle-bags from hi
shoulder, and Ellen got him a chair, ant
Mrs. Condit went of for glass Of cur
rant wine.
Thrasher had not been thirty miles
from the town; during his absence h
had companion Of like kidney watch
ing the road for genuine post-riders.
So anxious was Mr.. Hedges for new
from his we'll beloved Captain that b.
was about to stoop down and he'll
Thrasher to open the pouch, when tn
latter handed him the letter.
All. there could be no doubt about 1t
Qenuineness; there was the dear Eel
lows handwriting, and the impress o
the seal on the wax was all right;
bore the design Of the provincial i'm
press.
Mr.. Hedges realized how anxious tn
people about him were to hear from tn
Captain, but he was too good an Office
to read aloud an official communication
!, the contents of which he was not famil
lar with.
AS he read the letter, ali eyes
Thrasher's included, were on his face
which reflected his emotions as limpi
, lake does the foliage overhanging II
banks.
as Ralph well?" asked the Squire, vi
able to stand the uncertainty.
He appears to be, said Mr.. Hedge
his eyes still on the paper.
ANY bad news?" from Ellen.
Il can't exactly say"
is it unusuaI2" asked Mrs. Condlt.
= Unusual? Well, yes; upon my sou
it is the most unusual and altogeth'
the most extraord nary thing that l ev'
came up with in the five-and-forty yea
of my life, mostly spent at sea whel
2 surprises amt uncommon. I'll tell yc
about it after bit, said Mr.. Hedge
with a glance in the direction
Thrasher, to indicate that he was Il
obstacle that prevented his telling the
q all about 1t at once.
ITO BE CONTINUED