The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-06-04

coat. Captain jim SfIppSu TIC JAIN
c brOken cnalr Win MS leIu manu-,
III oduciAg his PISTOL, cetei mined to
deed henIsen. He SJoOd erect as
he confronted Joe. "Drat my skin,
you CANT worIiC me no more, he eX-
clLedIy exclaimed.
At mat moment the front door open
ed and Jack Walker entered. He
closed the door behind him and stood
quietly gazing on the scene.
A husn Tell over the party, broken
by Barbara, who exclaimed, Dad, |
1orgoI all er'bout IL"
Annie recognized him at once, and
her laughter ceased instantly. n
deathly pal;or o'erspread her face.
What thoughts few through her brain
at that instant may only be COuiec-
tured. What We d > know is, that she
was woman Of wonderfully quick
perception, and it is possible the
thought OF her surroundings may have
caused {; fear to come over her, the
like of which she had never before ex-
pelIenced. And it flashed through her
mind hat it was Jack, and not Cap
tain jim, who seat Smith with the
Christmas box. She loved Jack, loved
him as a wife who IS devoted to her
husband. and that love never faltered
through all the years of his absence.
Twice be was reported dead, and once
that be had abandoned his wife and
family Tor another woman; but she
would not believe it, and though COM
paratively young. had been trnG to
him, faithful to her vow made at the
altar of her wedlock. For four years
she mad struggled on alone to pro
vide -or hesrelf and three helpless
children. True, her brother ice was
a source of protection, but little help
she derived from him. She was never
without hope, always cheerful, though
oftentimes with aching sides and
smarting eyes, and still never a word
did she receive from him. Her be-
lief that he would some day return to
her and his children had never been
for one moment shaken. And now he
had come. Now that he stood within
the portal of their home, without warn
ing, for as we have seen, Barbara had
entirely forgotten to carry out her
part of the program, at a moment,
when the scene presented, must ne
cessarily convey a bad impression, an
impression of unfaithfulness, of de-
Element; the thought of that impress
sion dazed her. 1t was therefore, with
blancEed face she at length, gasped
his name, Jack" and staggered to-
ward him.
He stopped her with a slow, but
meaning gesture of his right hand
while his other pressed tightly
against his left breast, as though
something hurt him there. His stern,
dignified appearance .awed even that
hayward child, Barbara, into silence.
1t was at this dramatic juncture,
that Captain Tom thrust his head in
the still open kitchen door, menacing-
ly fourished his club, and shouted out
in the profound stiffness of the room,
I'm live corpus, yet, yer bloodthisty
villain, shore | am. Come out" No
answer to his challenge being made,
he was about to act Oh the offensive,
when his eye rested on Walker. He
was surprised at seeing a stranger
there and all silent before him, but
his surprise quickly gave way to
amazement on recognizing his old
friend, and he impulsively CALCULATED
"snags a-boomin', it's Jack, ez shore
ez I'm kicker" He had known
Walker intimately for a number of
years and when Jack left to try his
luck at mining, Tom would not be-
lieve he ever intended to desert his
family, and so stoutly did he enter
tain that belief that for the space of
three years of Jacks absence any one
limiting "desertion," met with the lie
1irect, and an invitation to fight I'M
less Immediately retracting the
"alumny. But the fourth year shook
Cautain Toms faith in Jacks return.
The situation had begun to take on
a serious form by the sudden appear
ance of Walker who was a man of
prompt action. Fortunately, however,
Captain Toms exclamation of amaze
ment had the effect of starting a thaw
in the frigidity of Walkers demeanor.
Jack had confided his desire that
they. the Webbs keep an eye on
Annie and the children during his alb
Sence. His misgivings were allaved
some bv seeing Nan there, and his
ewes rested on Smith, and upon Joe,
his wife's brother. surely all of a re-
assuring nature.
Yet. there stood that villainous look
ing stranger Crank armed with
deadly weapons, and the half fright
ened old man, a stranger too.
What could it all mean? His face
began to take on a troubled look and
then Annie appealed to him. in low
and tender voice full of pathos, "Jack.
Jack, don't think evil of me- Don't
1eny me. after all these years, or my
heart will break" Words wrung
from young, high spirited and hand
some woman.
In that appeal. uttered in tones that
went straight to his heart. he saw por-
trayed. her life. unblem'shed and de-
voted to him. He stretched forth his
arm and exclaimed, Annie. my dar-
ling" In another instant they were
folded in each others embrace Bar
ha ~ cnddnnlv nmmancad To nYacnta