Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-03-13
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\ A ROMANCE OF
( ( NEW YORK BAY.
X BY LEOlJ LEWIS.
n
CHAPTER V.
BY LEOlJ LEWIS.
A Singular Encounter.

| tuTe OF BTlel tudJ must nave uioNeu
angels TO pity.
Where are you taking me, Capt.
Beeman?" she demanded, as he sud
denly entered the cabin.
ITO a country place on the Jersey
coast below Sandy Hook" replied her
oppressor. "No one is going to harm
you. You will be ashore in an hour If
the breeze continues as fine as at pres
ent."
Ruth heaved sigh of relief, evident
ly Judging from his manner that he
was speaking sincerely.
'In whose interest are you acting?"
she resumed, after brief pause.
In the interest of Major Topp."
What is his scheme?"
ITO retain you in his hands until
your mother agrees to marry him."
THAT she will never do, Capt. Bee
man-never!"
In that case it will be a long time
before you see your mother again." as
sured Beeman.
Does she know where l am?"
Certainly not-nor even that you
are living To the contrary, she is
mourning you as one dead at this very
inument."
Have you told me truly the object
Major Topp expects to accomplish by
hiding me in this out-of-the-way
place." she demanded.
Yes. l have explained the whole
matter"
Il am to be prisoner here until fur
ther advices?"
Capt Beeman assented.
"By whose orders?"
by the orders of Major Topp, the
owner of this brig-your late fathers
friend and business partner - your
prospective stepfather. Now, If you
are satisfied, please come ashore with
me-"
Still Ruth did not stir.
Il want to know what Major Topp is
to gain by bringing me here" she said,
gravely.
Haven't | told you already? He
has a farmhouse on the adjacent coast,
and has placed an old woman in charge
of it until such time as he chooses to
come here in person. | am to place
you in the hands of this old house
keeper, and here you will remain until
Mrs. Lyman consents to become Mrs.
Topp, when you can go back to New
York. Is this sufficiently explicit?"
ut is" replied Ruth, her face blush
ing with Indignation. And now lead
on, sir! l am ready to follow"
Gaining the deck, she was assisted
into boat alongside, Capt. Beeman
seating himself beside her, and a cou-
pie of sailors rowed the boat to the
rude pier, where Willie King had so
recently landed.
Row back in the gig and leave the
towed boat for me. I'll row myself
back to the brig" ordered the captain,
after the girl had been assisted ashore.
81 shall be back soon."
He graped Ruth's hand, holding it
firmly, and led her through the shad-
ows and along rude path to the lone
dwelling in which Willie King had
taken refuge little more than an hour
earlier.
Here we are" said Beeman, open
ing the gate. There is no light, as /
sce The old woman must have gone
to bed"
He ascended the porch, half leading
half dragging Ruth after him, and
knocked loudly on the door.
A faint stir was heard within. The
old woman had evidently heard the
visitors and was preparing to give
them admttance.
, There was a cautious stir also in a
room OF the second story, and win
dow was softly raised
Willie King had been awakened from
his slumbers by the noise, and was
looking out to discover the exact ma
ture of the arrival.
Come! hurry up, Mrs. Haxel!" cried
/ Capt Beeman impatiently. Don't
, keep us here all night. My business
; is urgent"
Willie recognized the voice with a
; start, His first thought-improbabl
enough-was that Beeman was in pur-
suit of him.
He leaned forward to see if his enemy
was alone. To his utter amaZement
he beheld in Beemans grasp a little
, shrinking figure, with bare head and
small, sorrowful face-a face and fig
ure he could not have possibly mis-
taken.
Its Ruth" he whispered involun-
tarily, almost paralyzed with aston
ishment. He is bringing her here!'
At this instant the door was opened
and Beeman and his captive were ad-
mitted into the dwelling.
AS if their disappearance had de-
stroyed the spell that bound him, Will
lie sprang up, hurriedly dressed him
self and descended the stairs that led
to the kitchen, crouching on the lower
step, and watching and listening with
a grmness and caution worthy of a
redskin
The old woman, wondering at the
unlooked-for visit, had, after a brief
delay conducted Ruth and the Captain
into the kitchen, and the trio were