The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-06-09

ingston, swear I'll-Tll never be able
ter kiss Danish Mary again-and enj'y
it,
1 told him to be of good cheer and to
carry out my instructions to the letter
Before we crossed the low sand-duncs
which lay between the marshes and the
sea. Jap eXtinguished the lantern, and
we held a brief council of war. 1t was
decided to treat with the enemy under
friendly cover of the fog, the whitest
and largest of flags of truce.
'It would be wise," said I, "to advance
in open order. The hut is provided with
a largebore duck-gun, and a charge of
swan-shot might excite a panic"
"I'll take the CENTER" said Gerard,
"and do the talking"
"I'll take the left" said Jap, IAN do
the cussin'"
Sand I'll take the right" said I, "and
keep my mouth shut
The fog was now so thick that an OBJ
ject a dozen yards away could not be
seen at all.
'"rhe first thing to determine is
whether the Greek is here" observed
Gerard. "Are you ready? Then
march,"
Our commander-in-chie halted at the
identical spot where had stood few
hours before, and l heard him sigh
heavily as he realized that the boat was
on the wrong side of the channel. The
Greek had returned.
"Demetrius," he yelled, shrilly.
"come OUT
81 am here" was the instant reply.
1 waited for no more, but ran noise
lessly for some fifty yards to the right.
1t was bitterly cold, but I stripped off
coat, waistcoat and boots. Then, hold
ing my gun in my left hand, pushed
through the tules and entered the icy
water. The channel was deep, and, at
the place had selected, broad. a swim
was inevitable
When reached the island I removed
my dripping underclothes and stole for
ward, naked as an Indian. l feared
that the swish of wet cloth might be-
tray my approach, and, besides, the
clinging garments might impede the
free use of my limbs. Demetrius must
be taken, if possible, alive, and l de-
cided to leave the gun within reach and
to trust to my muscles and a knife
which thrust between my teeth.
What passed between masterand man
while I was executing these maneuvers
I learned subsequently,. Demetrius, as
we had expected, submitted a cut-and-
dried proposition, worthy, 1 must adj
nit, of his subtle brain.
lie denied nothing, and conceded
nothing, but his conditions implied adj
mission of guilt. Briefly, they were as
follows: Gerard and his party were to
return to the house and stay there. lie
and Mark would take the morning train
to the city. There, in San Francisco,
he would leave the boy at some hotel
he naturally did not specify the hotel
and go his way. If-he laid great en-,
phasis upon the conjunction-if any
treachery were attempted, by tele-
graphic communication with the DO
lice, or otherwise, he swore solemnly to
kill the boy instantly. lie would use
his own judgment as to when and where
he wonld part company with Mark. and
he demanded in addition a solemn
pledge from Gerard that he, Demetrius,
should be given plenary absolution for
his misdeeds up to date.
Gerard, knowing the nature of the
man, and trembling with apprehension
for the safety of his darling, was about
to ac',ede to these impudent demands as
[ crawled within earshot.
"Let me have the boy now," he
pleaded.
Demetrius laughed. The scoundrel
could twist the famous financier around