The Grit-advocate., 1903-10-16

ITO my last dollar" exclaimed IN.
Of the male passengers, pointing VITA
lean and yellow forefinger ar the
| pile upon the table, and the otba-s
murmured to the effect that they t,I
| removed everything from their r.r.
sons. Pope, in voice of thunJ.-
/ without stirring from the side Of rf.
table. called through the cuddy door
TO one Of the pirates, who immediar
ly came aft. While he was ordering
the man to make the heap of trinl ets
and watches upon the table into a
parcel. Crystal, Grindal and seyeraI pf
the brig's seamen came into the end.
, dy.
Now no sooner was Crystal in the
cuddy than he began to stare with all
his might at the handsome girl who
looked also very hard at him, and the
face OF each wore a singular sub eX-
preston Of inquiry. In a moment the
girl, putting her hands upon the ia
BILE, said, in sweet but trembling
voice. rs your name Crystal?"
"Ay,' he answered.
4 heH suuuchls pidAtiuS MS hanHS
upon the table as she had, and lean
ing eagerly forward, he cried, "You
are not going to tell me that YOU are
Laura?"
Il am Laura Crystal" she answered.
holding herself erect and cIasping her
hands.
Jim Crystals daughter?"
a.
her head.
by heaven. Pope" cried the aston.
ished man, she's my cousins child;
and she used to sit upon my knee
when little girl saying which Crys-
tai walked around the table to her.
He grasped her by the hand, pulled
her more fairly into the light. and af,
ter gazing for few moments with
unfeigned admiration into her face.
ne cried out, How did you know
me?"
by a look OF father about you"
she answered, ''and by your name
But what are you doing here? What
has this ship done that she should be
boarded and her people killed and
robbed? You are not a pirate, cOus-
in?"
Here Pope burst out. Blame it
all, Johnny, but introduce me, will
ye?"
Pope, Richard Pope. Captain Pope
of the pirate brig, Gypsy" exclaimed
Crystal. and the handsome Irishman
made the lady one of his most elegant
bows.
She curtseyed in return, and said to
Crystal, Where is Captain Kerr?
What is to become of us? Am safe?
Are the lives of the passengers safe?
Oh, cousin, to find you-there are lit
tie children among US"
las excitable as ever" said Crys-
tai. grimly.
He was proceeding; Pope broke in.
Depend upon it," he exclaimed
with profound significance, you are
perfectly safe, and SO too" he added
lightly, with a glance at the lady pass
enger, "are the Others"
Tie sun was now close to the edge
OF the sea, and those are parallels
where the twilight moves with giant
strides, trailing behind it glittering
robes of stars, when it's brow is still
FURNISHED with the glory in the west.
Much was to be done. 1t was a de-
lightful task to talk to beautiful
young woman after days of the dreary
monotony OF the ocean, but the bust
ness of the two ships must be seen to,
and Pope left the cuddy followed by
the pirates.
The two captains walked The poop
of the West Indiaman, and man had
been fetched from the forecastle to
steer her. The skylight was spa
cious; its easements stood open; it
framed a considerable portion of the
picture below Laura Crystal sat
almost directly beneath. Beside her
was a child, whose hand she cherished
as though she sought to hearten the
little creature.
"She has the most beautiful face of
any woman | ever met in this world"
says Pope. Damn me. Crystal, how
come ye by such relatives?"
Ito be cOntinued)