The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-25

manners, when the doctor had revived
them somewhat, were not such as to
conciliate either their hostess or the
medical man. They were unresponsive
to kindness, and, but that they had a
/ little money with them to pay their
| way, Dave Copeland, when they were
able to walk, would have babe them be
! on their road
"Dagos," said Dave. cat least one on
em, is, an the other looks brother to
| the devil. No wonder Mrs. Holloway
| didn't want EN- at the inn. Howbe, they
| have saved something from the wreck,
/ an a poor man can't afford to turn away
! money"
Thus, the first interest in the casta-
ways over, they were left to themselves,
and the fishermen Of the lonely beach
pursued their own laborious way. One
of the strangers was more badly hurt by
| the surf than the other, and he re-
manned fretfully in his room. The other
was able to wander about little, fright
ening children with his bandaged head,
and repelling men and women by his fur
| tive looks and sullen answers.
Ted Guest, in a manner, since his resi-
dence among them, the adopted chief of
the primitive villagers, by reason of his
roaring voice, his rank as a retired sea
captain, and his possession of an indie
| pendence, made his way, as the sun went
down, to the Copeland tavern. 1t was
Christmas eve, very still evening, chill
| and gray A furry or two of snow from
the gray clouds promised dark, cold win
ter night with the promise of such A
white carpeted earth on the morrow as be-
fitted the Christmas season. He had left
| the Holloways at the inn preparing for
| Christmas and the wedding which was
| soon to follow. Jack Beaumont was call
! ed away on business, to return in the
morning, and mother and daughter were
/ alone Old Ted was wretched in heart.
| There are times when the commission
| of murder seem to sore souls almost par
donable and such it seemed to the skip
per tonight He stood near Copeland s
collecting his thoughts, and shivered un-
der the cloudy skies, as the night closed
in. He had been faithful to her for years,
| hoping for his reward. Now, when it
seemed almost within touch, this-thing
must come back from the dead, and he
had promised to take him to her. There
was little of the Christmas JOY in old
, Teds heart.
| Mrs. Copeland showed him the room.
| 1t was dark save for a candles light.
Il fear he's a bad man. the woman
whispered. eff you're goin' to ask him
about who he is, you'll get short answer
ers, sir. He's a sulky fellow, an, Christ
, mas gone, I'll ask him an his mate to be
| off,
| The skipper closed the door, shutting
himself in the ROOM The man from the
wreck was alone, his face at the window.
| He turned swiftly around.
$50 you've got back, Holloway, you
| scoundrel!' said Guest.
| The man bounded up at the name, and
in an. instant had drawn revolver.
| "Who are you? Who said Holloway?
| What do you want here? My name s
not Holloway"
Put that away" said the sailor, sharp
| ly, but lowering his usually jolly, roaring
voice. Don't you know me? Don't you
know your old skipper, Ted Guest?"
The man gasped, and there was min
| ute's pause. Then. he laid the pistol on
the bed, and came forward with laugh,
holding out his hand.
Guest" he cried what brings you
| here? BY Jove, but l am glad to see you
| again.
Guest pushed aside the hand.
| I'm not at all glad to see you!" he
said. What ill-fortune brought you
! here? What wickedness have you been
up to since, 1 helped you-not for your
| sake--to escape justice before?''
The man gave a growl in the shadows
| like a sullen bear in it's cave.
What ill-luck brought you here?" he
snarled. "And now you have entered my
| room unasked, have you nothing to say
| but to recall the past? If you have not,
| you might as well leave me alone, as you
| found me-"
Have 1 not a right-'the captain be-
gan, with one of his sudden roars, and
then, with an effort, he controlled HIM
| self
Holloway" he said, lowering his voice,
chance has thrown you upon the beach
where 1 live, and 1 wish it had thrown
you upon 1t dead. You know would not
be here for your sake, or because / want
to see you myself. Before l say what
came here to say 1 want you to tell me
what you've been doing since you disap-
peared, five years ago."
You" growled the man, ''you want to
know? You've wanted to know everything
since ever you first meddled with my af-
fairs. You interfe red about my marriage;
you made trouble for me after my mar
riage You bent my wife's mind against
me. You helped me to get away, that
might leave you free with my VII
silence! you blackguard!" yelled the
captain, and, rising to his feet from his
chair, he shook his stick furiosuly at the
other. 'You-scoundrel! Don't say a
word against that best"
What right have you to defend my
wife?''
1.-THE right Of a mani" cried old Ted.
"The God-given right of man to pro-
tect all women against such as you.
Stand back Holloway. | don't care that
for your pistol! Touch it and I'll knock
your brains out.'
The man was painting with rage put
the skipper looked so determined III MS
wrath that the other sank back IN hiS
chair.
"Pshaw. Ted Guest!" he growied.
LET this thing drop. What do you want
If it were not for one thing OF course
I'd know what brought you
"Goota night, camaradoes, salo voice
at the door, and the other man entered
the same who had prayed on the smack.
an the night of the storm. Guest turned
he