Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-08
CHAPTER xxx

rSCoihe cainl, anu passing MS daughter
ever to the youths Keeping, Humphrey
confronted the bound villain.
Mari Laroon," he said, II always
knew you had a hard heart, but | never
knew what a villain you were uniu you
stole my children from rae. FOR years
after that dark day When ecu thr.s rob
bed me | could gain no ciew to your
whereabouts, but at length ! heard Of
the fearful depredations Of the isceurge,
and | heard your name mentioned as her
captain, and sometimes Mari Lar9on was
but the incarnation of that Sconrge.
learned that you had haunt a, Eanila,
then found Buffo Burlington, and to
him l gave the task of hunting You up.
He joined you. and when lie fest sure
that my child was in this place he wrote
a letter to the Governor of NaRasaki in
forming him of the facts. II was by
the contrivance of him, too. that he and
your party of horse hunters were appre-
hended. And now, Paul." continued the
old man, turning to where the youth and
haiden stood, you know why Burning
ton did not want you to escape, as you
had planned TO do.
"Ay," answered Paul, fervently, II
see it all now. But l knew not then how
noble he was"
mobile" cried Laroon, crashing his
teeth. "Oh, the traitor! Let me set
eyes upon him once againp'
And what will you do?" asked Hum
phrey with a strange smile.
"I'n have his lifer Missed the pirate
For a moment the other regarded La
room with curious look. and then he
placed his hand within the breast of his
frock. and took from there a curiously
contrived boot, within the leg of which
there was a firm socket for small--sized
foot, while the apparent foot of the boot
was of solid cork. This he put upon his
right foot. thus making his left leg APP
pear some inches shorter than its mate.
His next movement was to take from
his hat a wig of red. crispy hair, and put
it upon his head Next he pressed his
fingers about the socket of his left eye,
and that eye, being of crystal glass, fell
out into his hand. Then the strange man
took a box from his pocket, from which
he drew a sponge, and having passed this
several times over his face, and particu-
larry about the eyeleSs socket, he turned
toward the pirate captain and smiled.
The mystery was solved There stood
Buffo burlington. save in mere dress
The metamorphosis seemed even now inn
possible, for the transformation was COM
plete. Hardly a feature seemed left:
and yet Otehewa had seen it all at her
first examination of Buffo.
At first Mari LaFoon seemed hardly TO
credit the evidence of his own senses, but
soon the whole truth was open to him,
and Tor a few moments his head sank
upon his breast. When he looked up his
anger had assumed a detected cast, for
he saw that at every point he was met
beyond power OF resistance.
oh" he muttered. IF Warda had
done his work l had been free from this
trap"
You should ave been more careful
how you did your work" said Col Hum
phrey. your whole plan of that night.
when you stole into my room and looked
upon the scar you gave me so many years
ago, was seen anC overheard"
"Ay," said 0tehewa, looking him full
in the face. II was awake that night.
and 1 heard your offer TO Wardar'
This was too much for the pirate
chieftain. To find that he had been the
tool of an old man and poor slave
while he thought himself carrying all be-
fore him at his will--struck him so near
the heart that he sank back upon a chair
and bowed his head.
Now. Mari Laroon." spoke Hum
phrey. in a sad tone. I'VE are about TO
part. 10 meet no more on earth. For all
you have done against ME and mine. |
freely forgive you. for | now receive
back all ! have lost: but / cannot save
you. for the laws you have so long out-
ragged. and the blood you have spilled.
call Tor justice. Heaven grant you may
repent before you die"
As he ceased he made q sign 70 the
colonel aud Mari Laroon was led from
the room. The pirate stopped rs ne
reached the door AID turned back. His
eye rested upon Mary. and strange
look of sadness stole over his features.
But in a momeRt more he saw Paul. and
Humphrey. and otehewa. and the whole
Of his momentary emotion ended. de
was conveyed 10 Nagasaki. AID the
whole crew. save the four hoatmen who
had brought Paul up in the morning.
were taken with him. There be and they
were tried for piracy. condemned and ex-
ecuted under the laws, or these four
boatmen. three made their escape. but
Billy Mason came up to the castle. ana
Col. Humphrey gave him liberty and pro-
lection. for he knew that the youth had
been taken when boy. and had ever
since remained on board the pirates YES
sci from comprlsion-
Paul and Mary were anxious 70 know
the secret 81 al that had traaspired. and
Col. Humphrey. now himself IN looks
again. spoke as follows:
Mari K-aTo0n. whose real name IS De
laney. loved your mother. Paul but she
would not marry him. She found he was
q bad youth. and she left him. aud then
married with George baltimore. a
warm friend az mine. 1t was through
my fundamentally that this lstter match
was brought shout for loved George,
and | knew that Helen Laroon would