Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-03

II looks and looks, and finally I makes
| out that Tom was right, and we steered for
| her.
Something told me It was Don's boat
| and 1t was just as If a voice said to me,
Put out your lights. So, contrary to law,
puts out my light and sails along toward
| this little green light AS l watched, SEEM
| ed as If she was pitching strangely for the
kind of weather 1t was. The light was bob
bling round and dancing up and down most
strange.
Something's afoot Already I says to
| Tom, and we scuds on as fast as We could
make the dory spin. When we was quite
nigh heard voices.
THE best man gets her, chr" says Felipe,
| and Don gives a loud cry.
"Nitai'
by this we was close beside the boat and
l could see the two men struggling and
fighting, and 1 seen the boats lantern
cleaning knife that some one was a
using pretty free.
Hold on with the boathook," says 1 to
Tom, "and I'll git aboard an take a
hand"
so we ran alongside and Tom he Crap
pied the dory with the boathook: as I
sprang aboard my foot slipped and 1 fell
on hands and knees in a pool of blood.
Before 1 could stand upright there was
a splash and / seen Felipe pushing Don
into the water. Then Felipe began aiming
heavy blows at Tom to make him let go
his hold. My boat hooks a short one, and
as got to my feet Felipe reached over with
his cleaning knife and cut Tom across the
hand. With cry the lad let go and Felipe
sprang for the tiller to swing her round
and get out of reach.
I'm the excitement he had not seen me
get aboard, but as he came round the mast
we met face to race.
I'm a moment he had crouched for a
spring, but had had my knife out before 1
came on board and was ready for him.
By the light of that lantern we watched
and waited Might "a been for "a half
mi, hal,a
me and caught him by the wrist and had
my knife in him half a dozen times, but
1t seemed as If I couldn't find the right
spot.
80 we wrestled. each holding the other
knife hand for a full minute, then l remem-
bered the slippery spot behind me. I pre-
tended to yield a little. and got him to
pressing me back until bit by bit, we had
changed around completely and he stood
where I had.
Il got my back against the mast and
pressed and pressed until he was obliged
to take step backward. He stepped in
the slippery pool and as I had hoped his
foot went from under him.
And then-I finished him and left my
knife in him, for 1 wouldn't use 1t again
after him.
when I was sure he couldn't do no more
harm I looked about for Tom / heard
cries for help and steering after them found
Tom hanging on the side of my dory hold
ing up Don.
while I was fighting he saw Don rise
to the surface and jumped in after him.
Poor lad, he was most dead himself; but
he held on to Don till we got him aboard
and then sailed this boat home. I couldn't
bear to stay beside Felipe, but Tom said
his head ached him so he didn't care-he'd
as soon sail a dead man as a live one.
Eve looked Don over Seemed as though
he's not MORALLY cut. and he came back to
himself once and spoke to me.
Now said Louis resgnedly. Il spose
I've got to go to Jail; but l couldn't help
myself-it was him or me-"
And so the jury found It. Twelve good
men and true decided that 1t was justifiable
homicide; and along about the end of June
Don and Nita were married. with Louis for
the best man, and Tom second best And
half the girls In the town We're willing to
mother little Joe if only Louis would ask
them.