The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-11-06

dressed, came on deck and saw this
man with whom she was SO fiercely
enamored. staring gloomily over the bull
warks. With her 1.-THE, silent walk she
stepped across the dewy decks under
the moonlight and without his hearing
her leaned on the rail at his side and
flung an arm across his shoulders.
Captain Kettle woke from his musing
with start, stepped coldly aside and
saluted formally. He had an eye for a
good looking woman, and this one was
deliciously handsome. He was always
chivalrous toward the other sex, what
ever might he their character, but the
fact of his own kidnapping at the mo-
ment of Mrs. Kettles pressing need
made him almost as hard as though a
man stood before him as his enemy.
Miss La TCIche," he said, ''do you
wish me to remember you with
hatred?"
81 do not wish you to have need to
remember me at all. AS you know,
wish you to stay with me always"
''That, as l told you before, miss, is
impossible for more reasons than one.
You have done me infinite mischief al
ready. l might have found employ
ment by this time had 1 stayed in
South Shields, and meanwhile my wife
and children are hungry. Be content
with that and set me ashore"
81 repeat the offer / made you in
South America. Come with me, get a
divorce, and your wife shall have an
Income such as she never dreamed of
and such as you never could have got
her in all your life otherwise You
know am not boasting. AS you must
know, am one of the richest women
in the world"
'Thank you, but l do not accept the
terms. Money is not everything"
"And meanwhile, remember, l keep
you on board here, whether you like it
or not, and until you give way to what
want your wife may starve. So if
she and your children are in painful
tirely your fault"
"Quite So" said Kettle. "She will be
content to starve when she knows the
reason"
Donna Clotilde's eyes began to gilt
ter.
'There are not many men who would
refuse if offered them myself"
"Then, miss, must remain curious" I"
She stamped her foot 81 have hun
gered for you all this time, and will
not give you up for mere words. You
will come to love me in time as love
you. l tell you you will, you must, you
shall! have got you now, and will
not let you go again."
Then, miss" said Kettle grimly. 81
shall have to show you that am too
hot to hold"
She faced him with heaving bosom.
1--WE shall see who wins!" she cried.
Probably" said Captain Kettle, and
he took off his cap. "Good night, miss,
for the present. We~know how we
stand. The game appears to begin be-
tween us from now" He turned de-
liberately away from her, walked for
ward and went below, and after a lit
tie waiting Donna Clotilde shivered
and went back to her own luxurious
stateroom.
But if she was content to spend the
rest of the night in mere empty long
ing Captain Kettle was putting his
time to more practical use. He was
essentially man of action.
Cautiously he found his way to the
stewards storeroom, filled case with
meat tins and biscuit and then, coming
on deck again. slowed it away in the
lifeboat, which hung in davits out
board without being noticed. With
equal success he took the boats break
er forward, filed it from water tank
and got it fixed on its chocks again,
still without being seen. The moon
was behind clouds, and the darkness
favored him. He threw down the coils
of the davit on deck, cast off one from
where it was Delayed, took turn and
carried the blight to the other davit SO
that he could lower away both tackles
at once.