The Princeton union., 1900-12-06
! A Girl
! OF GRl I
): BY MAJOR ARTHUR GRIFFlTHS..
Copyright, 1900, byR. +. Fe,,,.o & Co.

AOI W MySe1l. IWO Ol Tie lurGe were
always at my elbow or held me con-
stantly in sight. I was close guarded
but I hardly minded it, for a sort of
dreamy, luxurious lassitude overcame
| me, the reaction, no doubt, from so
many emotions, and dozed on and off
pretty we'll all that day, Thursday.
awoke next morning between 6 and z,
feeling fresh and fit. and would gladly
have turned out to enjoy the invigorat-
| ing air on deck. But no one came for
a long time, although rang and called
and clapped my hands. When, after
q time, Lysander appeared, he wore a
discontented, saturnine look on his
dark, ugly face and went on with his
valeting sullenly and silently till he
left me. BY and by Lawford came in,
anxious and perturbed, as 1 could see
by his face and manner
"What's amiss, Lawford? Have your
sins found you out? The hangman
might be aboard, to say nothing of the
police"
'They're in sight anyway" he said
in a low whisper. Then, checking my
exclamation Of delight. he added i'm
pressively, "H-sh. man, h-sh, or you'll
spoil ALL"
There was evidently sudden change
no doubt, to temporize and treat. and l
snatched at the opportunity, forestall-
ing him in what he intended to say.
'Listen, Lawford! You've behaved
scurvily enough to me, but III forgive
you and pay you $1,000 to come over
to my side.
"H-sh, man! Do be careful It's as
much as your life is worth or mine if
McQuahe should hear you. You must
not be in hurry. There may be some
mistake. She may not be really after
u.s.
"She? What is it you mean? Go on.
in the name of goodness
"A steam tug is in chase. We sighted
her at daylight steering our course, and
we cannot shake her OF. We have
shifted our helm twice; so has she.
Now McQuahe is bearing down on the
French coast, where, of course. nothing
English can touch u.s.
But I shall appeal to the French
authorities
"Not if they keep you locked up
here. That's what McQuahe will do
It's all he wants to do-keep you out
of the way while the rest Of US fill our
pockets with your dollars on the other
side. It's all arranged and squared
They leave Southampton in the Chat
tahoochee on Sunday, and the game is
to sweep up everything before you can
show hand"
"Lawford, l will make it two, three,
five thousand pounds if you get me out
Of this trap in time for the steamer"
"You wouldn't be safe on it, They
cannot afford to let you up. They've
other good reasons for putting a STOP
per on you and getting first across
You're not perhaps aware that your
scheme for the attack on New York
has fallen into their hands? The duke
has the papers, and he means to trade
them with the United States govern
ment for coin. Yes, sir.'
II tell you, Lawford. must recover
them. It's matter of honor, Of more
than life and death. Name your own
price. Only set me free from this
"1t's worth 100000. and you won't
miss it. Here. scribble down an l.. o.
U. for the amount. I'll take the risks,'
and | agreed for the amount condi-
tional on release.
knew nothing of what was in prog
ress above, for Lawford never came
near me again. I saw nothing Of the
chase. for I was not suffered to go on
deck or even leave my cabin. The
negro brought me my food, but was
absolutely dumb. and I was forced to
possess myself in patience for what
might come to me- 1t was early in the
afternoon that, looking through my
port. first saw land ahead. The out
er port had never been lowered, and
the headlight. being too small in cir
cumference to allow a man to pass
through the aperture, had not been
closed or fastened. So easily made
out rocks and green slopes, but no
houses or signs Of life.
realized as heard the anchor rat
tie down at the chains that we had en-.
tered some quiet haven where we
might lie free from interference and
prying eyes.
For the rest of the day experienced
= all a captive's emotions when escape
seems near. I Ialternated between high
spirits and the depths of despair, the
latter predominating as the hours crept
slowly on to nightfall. had all but
given up hope, believing either that
LaWfOrd had sold me or could not see
his way to help. when something tick
ed lightly against my portfolio, and I
saw small parcel pendent outside.
Opening the headlight eagerly, fished
in the parcel, which was wrapped
around with paper and contained a
key. There were also a few brief lines
from Lawford:
"This will let you out. It is the key
OF your cabin. Beware Of the black
and wait till after dinner, when we are
on deck and the darky forward. Slip
out through the stern ports. The
dingey is astern, if you can only reacl,
her. Cut adrift and paddle your own
canoe. That's about the best I can
4 do" ..--.