Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-08-19
CHAPTER V.


The laws were tremendously stringent
in those days when it was considered
much easier to bring ain offenders bad
career to an end than to keep him at the
nations expense; and when the stealing
of sheep was considered a crime to be
punished with death an attack upon the
sacred person of one of the kings officers
by a couple of notorious law-breakers
was not likely 10 be looked upon lenient-
" by judge well known for stern sen
fences.
But a jury OF Devon men was sitting
upon the offense of Abel Dell and Bart
Wrigley, and feeling disposed 10 deal
easily with a couple Of young fellows
whose previous bad character was all in
connection with smuggling, a crime with
the said jury OF very light dye, certain
ly not black Abel and Bart escaped
the rope, and were sentenced to trans
portation TO one of his majesty's colonies
In the West Indies, there to do convict
work in connection with plantations, or
the making of roads, as their task mas
tiers might think fit
Time glided by. and Mary Dell found
that her life at home had become insup-
portable.
She was not long in finding that, now
that she was left alone and unprotected.
she was not TO be free from persecution.
Her contemptuous rejection of Captain
Armstrong; advances seemed TO have the
effect OF increasing his persecution; and
one evening at the end Of a couple Of
months. Mary Dell sat on one OF the
rocks outside the cottage door, gazing
out TO sea. and watching the ships sail
westward, as she wondered whether
those On board would ever see the broth
er who seemed to be all taar was left TO
her in this world.
That particular night the thought which
had been Matching in her brain ever
since Abel had been sent away few forth
fully fledged and ready. ard she rose
from where she had been sitting in the
evening sunshine, and walked into the
cottage.
She went into her brother AbePs bed
room. where she stayed for some minutes.
and then. win quick, resolute step,
she re-entered the cottage kitchen, thrust
the few emhers together that burned up
on the hearth. took pair Of scissors
from box. and again seated herself be-
fore 4 glass.
The sun was setting. and filed the
slate-aoored kitchen with light which
flashed back from the hlurred looking
glass. and cast a fuSous glare in the
girls stern eountenance. With its heavy.
dark hrows. sun-browned. ruddy cheeks,
and cleaning eyes.
Snip,
The sharp scissors had passed thrt ugh
one lock OF the massive back tresses
which sac had shaken over her shoulders.
and which then rippled ID the cottage
floo-.
snip,
Another cut. and two LOCKS had fallen.
Then rapidly snip. snip. saip-a curl
Gus thick. sharp snirr-anh the great
wares o. glorious hair kept, falling a. She
hare. Sun-burned. ruddy ara played here
and there. and the steel blades glirtersd
and opened @na closed. as II arm. hand
and scissors formed the neck, head and
angry bill 81 some fierce bird attacking
that well-shaped head. and IL every snap
took OF a thick tress OF HAIR.
An hour later. Just as the red moon
rose slowly above the surface e the sea.
a sturdy looking young man. with stout
stick in one hand-the very stick which
had helped 10 belabor Cspt2ia Armsrrcng
and a bundle ned up in a handkerchief
beneath his arm. stepped ous OK tie cot
tage. changed the key from Inside 10 OUT
aide. closed the old door. locked il. drag
ged out the key. and with sudden jerk
sent il flying far out into deep wster be-
yond the rocks Then the figure turned
snes more to the cottage. gazsa a. IL Ak