Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
HEARTS y : : M:
COURAGEOUS
Copyright. 1902. BY Tho BoSen.Merrlll conpsn,

the lower deck, gazing dumbly up like
cattle.
"a brave sight" submitted Cary, "to
show the riches of the colonies"
His tone was not without bitterness,
as the Frenchman perceived. you
would not have it so?"
81? No. We have no need Of some of
the offscouring you see there. 1t will
breed us the curse of crime. But what
care the factors? Ills profit to them.
And what cares the king? 1t means
more tobacco, and tobacco stuffs his
Golfers"
'Yet some of these may be lifted by
opportunity"
aye" answered Cary. "Bad as they
are. Wooden hogs, fair sick for the
lash, Jumps from Cork or lack Latin
sots shipped for schoolmasters. Their
sons may be good citizens. New lands,
new conditions. If this land be not
saddled with anothers ills, here these
shall at least have hope. By their faces
them"
Before either spoke again cry came
up from where knot Of sloven re-
demptioners were gathered-a cry and
hoarse word in one. Down below, at
one side, woman leaned, hugging a
shawl wrapped bundle to her breast.
She was a drab, but with certain
sullen beauty that is bred of Latin
blood. Armand had seen her face more
than once transfgured by that Won
drous glory of mother love. He had
that very day heard her grooming softly
as she walked, noted the strange fur.
tiveness with which she avoided the
too curious gaze of her fellows, won.
dered what subtle grace nature had
lent for mother eyes to those infant
features.
Now one of the crew stood over her
plucking at the shawl She was weep
ing passionately, loudly. without pre-
tense of concealment
"What devils that?" bawled the
mates voice from a rope ladder.
1.-THE brat's dead" said the sailor.
elbow me tight, I've been watching
her for two days. The lallop's been
singing to it to pull the wool over oul
eyes,"
Dead. is 1t? Pitch it overheard
then" He kicked down greasy rag
of canvas.
AS the man he commanded approach
ed the woman she fell on her knees
shrinking in close against the bulwarks
and speaking rapidly in some foreign
tongue.
whats that loblolly?' asked the
mate.
'She says" translated one of the pitt.
full group around her, that the land is
SO near and the water is cold. She
wants IL bury It In the ground.'
"Split me-" oathed the mate, sis that
all? Over with it, Jerryr'
Again she spoke, volubly and with
many groveling sobs.
.'She says" said the redemptioner,
"that if it could only be blessed. There
is no priest aboard"
The mate, with his hands on the rail
laughed at this. "Do what say, yor
down there!' he cried. '.Will We stant
making mouths all day? Tie it in tha
canvas"
The man lie had hidden approached
the woman to take the cold little body
from her, but she turned suddenly :
fury and, holding it to her breast Will
one arm, fought him off, screaming.
He Jumped back, with his hand clap
ped to his armpit. "The Jezebel's hi
mel" he yelled.
There was a great laugh from til.
sailors, and the mate cursed luridl,
from above. care We mollycoddles
them" he shouted. AS they hesitate,
he scrambled down hand over hand
damning them for landlubbers AM
clearly minded to do it himself.
The Frenchman's fingers, as he stool
beside the Virginian, grippcd the rail
"Swine" he said under his breath
Then he leaned over and called clearly
keep your hand from that woman!'
The, mate looked up, astonished, a
the group, for the other passengers lat
gathered to witness what was goin.
on.
whats that?' he asked.
Armand repeated his words
The mates face turned spongy pur
pie, and he laughed in way that wa
not good to hear. For answer lie reach
ed out hand to the shawl and LITERAL,
tore it away from the poor clay it GOV
cred.
At the instant he did SO Amman,
yaulted the rail where lie stood, caugh
rope, swung to a stanchion and land
ed as lightly as a cat at the side of thu
burly ruffian. The act was so clean, S,
graceful and SO quick that none of til,
passengers could have told exactly low
it was done.
The mate turned and, seeing him n
his elbow, struck with all his strength
ut the others head.
The stroke was one to stun, but i
never reached home. The young for
eigner bent one side, not moving hi
feet, with Il motion that would hav,
spoken volumes TO an athlete, and TIL
mates fist banged against the bul
wark. While lie staggered from this
Armand, Selling Il ropes end as III
such a slash that the blood ran from
the CASH.
Now ensucd strange combat. TIL
mate, heavy and culnbrous. tried t,
reach the other with slcdge hammc
blows. The Frenchman, slight, wary
circling. retreating. slipped htlier an,
thither. Three times in as many sec
onds that sibilant "swisi' sang and
red mark sprang out OH the brutal face
AT each swing of the fist Il sort o
groan went up from the huddled re
demptioners, and at each cut the.
sucked in their breath with delight. |
was a new, strange entertainment 70
tliem-to have brain sick pussenge
descend from his clean deck to cham
pion the cause of scum.
The Nirginian, looking down, wa
qulvering visibly. AS the passengc
evaded blow that would have crush
ed his ribs lie could not forbear shout
well done, by the Lord! But WAR