The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-02

|
ing!" said Redlaw, deeply. ITO play the
hero, craft being unsupported, is an eff
| fective stepping stone to maiden's
heart. To acquire wealth by a divided
ransom, duplicity being undreamt of. Is
| an artful way of avoiding poverty's
Clutch In Annoy this precious scoundrel
| Vail, sir, originated and preached to me
| tho plan OF attacking the German brig,
| and Of securing the persons or nimselr
and his two companions-to be held Tor.
exorbitant ransom from their wealthy
husband and father. Lord Somers, the
same to be divided between us!"
Walton started slightly.
"Do you mean" he demanded that
he deliberately aimed to throw the women
In your power7"
Precisely, sir"
"a servile cur, indced! said Walton,
with intense contempt
Half smile showed about tho pirates
I lips.
100 base cur to have been allowed
to escape from me, through the bold
ness of another" he said, significantly.
TOO treacherous q wretch to have been
suffered to escape TO London. there ulti-
matcly to effect perhaps, the union he
desires 1t was by his treachery that
secured liberty at a very opportlne
moment
That Walton knew no particulars fol-
lowing the shot which laid him low at
the very moment Of his triumph, and
which he assumed had been fired by one
of the crew, was evident In the swift
change that swept over his pale face.
"Do you mean" he frowned, that
Robert Vail released you?"
HE sent Saggetts down to do go.
when his own escape was assured" said
Redlaw. with n curious expression in his
sonber eyes. Evidently he feared that
YOU too. might hazard the attempt at
Ia - ant nh
a far moro serious barrier than poverty
between him and, his ladyl A crafty
cur, indeed!'
Walton sat silent. But there had set
tied on his face the expression of
man to whom unexpected truth had
come home bringing with 1t a bitterness
beyond words, the knowledge OF
wrong he was powerless to repay, and
q keener sense than ever Of the loss OF
that love for which liberty and life had
been no sacrifice.
From under his dropping brows Red
law watched his changing face. It gave
him secret satisfaction. Yet 1t told him
only what he might have known. Al
length, with deeper voice and notice.
able significance, he said:
But there is yet a way II have
read the signs Alright. by which this
cur may meet his Just deserts. Therein,
perhaps. will be found my present mo-
tive. Speaking Of Just deserts, I once
heard you say when tho women against
whom my design was-ah. but what of
that, since it is past! ! once heard you
say, sir, that only as q last resort the
life of Redlaw. his vessel or his crew.
should be sacrificed"
II said it--yes."
1T Is well, perhaps, that I overheard"
said Redlaw, rising. 1T is we'll. perhaps,
that on the Nord Brandt's deck you
spared me the thrust OF a Tartar's
bloody weapon. I told you then I'd not
forget It."
He had walked to the door OF his
room while speaking. where, under Wal
TOMS own commands. he had lain help
less, and he stood with his hand on the
knob. With strange look in his dark
eyes, with strange expression on his
darker face. he continued. deeply
YOU Mr.. Walton. are too brave
man to swing from the yardarm OF any
craft afloat, much less the craft your
own hand preserved. l believe like
you, in givlng-llfe for life! Silence,
sir! There can never be any tie OF
friendliness for us! There is world
between us! But shall put you ashore
before my vessel ventures into Mel
bourne--and leave to you the cur in Lon
don! And the woman!'
Then the door of his room closed hard
behind him.
For moment Walton stood nom
plussed Then. with a face transfigured.
with something like half sotdng cry
breaking from his lips he spNng to
the closed door.
''Redlaw! Redlaw"' he cried
From within, deep and stern. there
came only:
II am enga ged!-a
II wish to see youi"
You will never see me again! Send
Saggetts below!"
"Redlaw!"
Send Saggetts below!
There was In the voice fury which |
Walton did not thcnsca to ignore. Con-
tent to wait d while, he turned away.
But the pirates will proved infexible-
and he never saw him more.
Yet the promise he had made Walton,
with a suppression of feeling which only
served to more effectively betray the |
sentiments the latter had inspired, was
faithfully performed. On tho following
day Walton was set ashore and left WITH
no other resources than the contents OF
common sailors canvas bag. On OPEN
Ing this, however at the weight of which
he wondered, no found at the bottom a
package Of gold and jewels, the value OF
which he could by no means estimate.
Attached thereto was written card
containing these words only:
'The price at which l value the Vul-
ture!"
IT had been rightly inferred that Walton
would not voluntarily have accented any
portion of the pirates plumber, hence
this action on the part OF Redlaw. Yet
the former went so far even, AS to seek
The Yulture in Melbourne, with the inten-
ton of returning the gift. But Redlaw
had had no intention of entering the port.
His search proving vain, Walton then
resolved to avail himself Of the consider
able fortune-for that It proved to be.
Looking back over the past there was
in the book of his own life one page
which. during the five years he had fol-
lowed the sea- had been his constant re-
buko and sorrow,
While stil in his teens. the son of a
proud father who held the high Office OF
president of one Of the larger American
youthful escapade of the
student son had brought from the sire
a public reprimand too severe for Wal
TOMS sensitive nature to bear. In the
full flush of his resentment and shame
he had obeyed his first impluse-and had
run away to sea.