Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-12-11

luln. NO. btSlueS, you WOulu hVt WISH
me to stay under such circumstances as
those"
Lar said her ladyship, as, after
show of resistance, she surrendered her
lily-white hand, and suffered it to be kiss
ed "And how long will It take you to
capture this terrible buccanecrY
II shall be away for months" said the
captain.
Lar said the lady.
but shall fight like some knight
Grant of old, and fly back, with the wings
of my good ship said the captain, land
hasten to lay the trophies of my victory
at my darling's feet"
you will be sure to bring himp said
the lady.
IL hope he will fall in the fight" said
the captain.
Then you are going to fightT
Eyes; / am going out in command of a
splendid ship with crew of brave men,
to attack and exterminate this horde Of
wasps, and | hope to do it like a man."
But will anybody bleedT
"a fear So"
LA! Will you be hurt2"
Il hope not. But must run the risk;
and if come back wounded, it will be in
your service, dearest, and then shall
claim my reward"
mo" said the lady, with one Of her
most winning looks. III don't believe you.
Sailors are worse than soldiers, and you
will fall in love with one of the lovely
Spanish ladies out there and forget all
about poor little me-"
Forget you" cried the captain pas
sionatcy; "neyer! My love for you grows
stronger every day; and as to beauty,
was there ever a woman SO beautiful as
your
Captain Humphrey was about to throw
himself on his knees as well as his boots
would allow, but just then the door open
ed, and fresh visitors were announced,
and the topic Of the captains appointment
to the sloop-Of-war Queen Jane, for the
determination OF the West Indian buc-
cancers, formed the staple of the CONVEX
satiOn.
Love had blinded the eyes OF the stout
captain lately introduced to the fashion
able beauty, and welcomed on account of
the fact that he had lately succeeded to
the Devonshire estates of the Arm
strongs, consequent upon the death of his
cousin James, who had been killed in a
duel.
So deeply in love with as pretty a bit
Of artificiality as ever dressed or rather
believing himself deeply in love, Cap
tain Humphrey joined his well-found ship
at Falmouth and sailed for the far west
and the land Of the torrid sun. The men
of Bristol rubbed their hands, thought
OF their freights and sat down to their
ledgers, while they waited for the news
of the hanging Of Commodore Junk.
|
Captain Humphrey had been out in the
Mexican gulf for six months, and was
as far off finishing his task as on the
day when he had reached Kingston har-
Dor. and listened to the tales of the buc-
cancers last deeds
But it was no myth. Put in where he
would, 1t was to hear fresh news of the
pirates. Now some unfortunate captain
| would arrive in a small boat, with his
crew, suffering from heat, thirst and star
walton. Now the half-burned hull of a
goodly argosy would be encountered ON
the open sea. AT any other time news
would come of derelict that had been
scuttled but not sunk, and seen in such
and such latitude.
Wherever he went Captain Humphrey
*as met with news, and at last with re-
proaches and almost insult by the au-
thorities at the various ports at which he
touched. for the way in which his task
was being done.
For there was he with a small, swift
sailing ship, full of stout seamen, bravely
Differed, well armed, and with guns big
enough to blow all the schooners in the
west to matchwood, while from the cap
tain to the smallest powder monkey al
were red-hot with desire to meet the
commodore and give him foe who knew
how to fight.
Messages travelled slowly in those days
but all the same Captain Humphrey Arm
strong had received a dispatch hintin,
at n recall. and friendly letter telling
him that il he did not soon have some
thing to show he would be superseded ant
In disgrace.
He was rich man, and at the end o
three months he did not scruple to offe
rewards for information; he doubled hi
offer to the man who would bring hin
within reach of the commodore's schoon
er; and beginning with ten guneas, h
went on Increasing, as the time went on
till he reached a hundred, and, Mt last
when six months had passed, it wa
known all round the coast that Captai
Armstrong would give thousand guinea
to be brought alongside the schooner.
Captain Humphrey ground his teet
when he was alone in his cabin. and
swore as a Devon captain could swear i
those days; but it did no COED, and i
spite of all his struggles, he could onl
, look upon Commodore Junk as a will-o
. the-wisp.
what will Lady Jenny think" h
groaned. And | meant to do so much!
AT last what he dreaded arrived. Ii
J sailed into port one day, to find his re
! call; and he went back on board shiI
ordered all sail to be made, and, ignol
: ing the order, determined to find the con
modore or die.
D CHAPTER NJ.
g Humphrey Armstrong sat in his cabi
+ listening to the whirr of beetle whic
q had been attracted by the lights an
down in through the open window,
g make bass to the treble hum of the mo
lutoes which haunted the mouth of IL