The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-19
tchnnter ,r1.-contlnued.)

i sf5fitiEt7s4( Clnfoter Ill.---loi''''"~''
Drayton sat With his chin IN his h l1ln'l.
He was convinced now that the shrivell y
silent figure before hin, was Black Juan
Gaskara. wild, idIotic. impossible az 1t
seemed. all his doubts hnd vanished 1'. l1e
was calner, too. and could reason reason moro
clearly. Suddenly no sprans up,
Some other living, breathing presence
WAS close Mt hand.
He could hear nothing, see nothing.
IIe stood rigid and strained every nerve
To listen, rho feeling Of being watched
! and doREcd slowly passed away. With q
soft, but nervous laugh, no snt down
again.. He took out the scrap OF linen,
and once more read tho gruesome story
OF the fate Of the crew OF the pirate Yos-
sci Satan.
Can fit be tr,,e9 Did Peril Island exist2
II 90. n Nv what maine was It known to
modern navirntors7 Tho leo and the sky
crimson with flame suggested tho
Arctic regions and tho volcanoes Erebus
and Terror. And then one clause In tho
dead mans handwriting rivetted his at
tention:
Some day, II Heaven Wills, n good mnn
will find this vast treasure and use It
only for good purpose. Such Is my
wish and prayer. 1t has cost inc my life.
ana mayhnp' nv soul. But touch It not.
for in your hands 1t will only turn to
sorrow and evil 1t Is the price Of
blood --" las
The rag f,uttered from his hand. Juan
Gaskara had not moved. It was that
hoarse, painting sound again. fiiH
A heavy fist beat against the door,
4.teWho's thcre?"
s Gives hand mechanically clutched the
big pistol e3t ssF s
WHO is there?" he cried more loudly.
"Cnrses!" growed voice; hes not
alonc."
TITS the swab who helped him. Break
down the door and wiring his neckl"
STAND aside, then. Show light.
Monkey"
There was thudding crash. and the
stout door shook under the weight Of n
heavy body. Every muscle In Gives
frame began to tighten. These birds Of
prey Of the night meant no; good to the
old man. Murderer or no murderer. he
was helpless now. III ,tx} ts ,sS
"Gently!" said Give quietly. Keep
away from the door. I've got q pistol Il, in
my hand" s
Of a quick retreat. Then n voice growled:
''Mate, II you'll take good advice. you'll
get out OF this and mind your own con-
Germs. We don't mean you no harm. put
you're working In a proper way TO get
six inches OF knife In your chest. Open
the door and we'll let you go!
''Tcll me what you want. Il M
1--WE want Juan Gaskara.
"Then come at the proper hour, ;" said
Give. "for YOU will see no one here to-
night" ,5tlg
They began to mutter. lie recognized
the queer drawl OF the ''Honourable."
and the harsh. cracked tones OF = NJ on
key" swayne the dwarf.
"Then you won't let US In"
mol"
There was moro hoarse mutterins.
"Chance I'll" growled the dwarf.
'It's too risky The place Is full OF
police"
''Then let me talk to him He be. he
Are you llstenin'. my bantam cock! Come
out before you get your neck wrung.
You've seen me once and admired my
beauty You're settin' on n barrel OF
gunpowder, and we've got mold OF the
fuse. Open the door. We don't want 70
hurt the old man. Sink me! we're mess,
"No!"
Again human body hurled itself
against the panels
"Have you tried the Window"
TITS too high"
For the third time the door shook and
trembled.
III you do that again" said Give
angrily, II shall shoot. The law IS on
our side. We are threatened. and the
law gives us the right to protect our
selves. I shall not warn you again.
Laughter. mingled with more curses,
answered the threat.
"All right, mate, croaked the dwarf,
well sheer off. II some fine night you
get a knife rammed into you, don't
blame us. Well carve you up, don't
fret He, he, he! Good night! Wen
take the liberty Of burning your lovely
barge on the way back, won't we, mate?
He he. he!''
"We'u cut the thing adrift and let 1t
blaze It's fine idea, Monkey"
Give palcd Could they mean It? Was
1t only a lest? II they, burned the barge
and turned 1t adrift he might lose the
fruits OF all his bitter toll. e
There was still time to make terms and
open the door He bit his lips, and his
eyes grew haggard.
They we're at the bottom OF the rat
lines.
There was snarl behind him. Juan
Gaskara was out OF his chair Ho had
wrenchcd back the bolts snatched tho
pistol from Clive's hand, and sprang into
the darkness. Bang
Give saw blaze OF red iight that
showed up the ratlines, and smoke rolled
in. Then the door was closed again and
barred.
With shaking hand the oid man peean
to reload the pistol.
"stand By mo. lad" he cried, 'and RI
make We rich for life. III cheat en-; III
cheat en- Ha. I'm, ha! Stand by Black
Juan. and he'll show Dick Drayton's
grandson where he can dig ont gold like
CLAW. swear you'll not leave me-"
The old man buried his face In his
arms and sumbcrcd.
Give sat with unwinking eyes and
strained ears until the night OF horror
was past. and then he lay back In his
chair and slept,
(,r1ApTER ~,