The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-11
NJ O T. q n
Of the
-.4
Lady Lefty

evitably wrench free with the first
heavy strain. The dory was stiIl tug
ging at the line astern IIoaug drop
ped the sacks in the boat, swung him
self over the side and rOwed calmly
toward the stations wharf. If any
notion of putting to sea with the
schooner had entered the obscure. per-
yerted cunning Of his mind, he had
almost instantly rejected It, China
town was his aim Once there and
under the protection of his tong, Hoang
knew that lie was safe. He knew the
hiding places that the Sec Yup asso-
citation provided for its members, hid
ing places whose very existence was
unknown to the police of the white
devil.
No one interrupted-no one even no
ticed-hiS passage to the station. At
best it was nothing more than a coolie
carrying n couple of gunny sacks across
his shoulder. Two hours later Hoang
was lost in San Francisco's Chinatown.
At the sight Of the schooner sweeping
out TO sea Wilbur was for an instant
smitten rigid What had happened?
Where was Moran? Why was there
nobody on board? swift, sharp sense
of some unnamed calamity leaped sud
denly Mt his throat. Then he was
aware of a gathering Of hoofs along the
road that led to the fort. Hodgson
threw himself from one of the horses
that were used in handling the surf
boat and ran to him, hatless and pant
ing
Look" he shouted. "Look, Your
schooner. DO you see her? She broke
away after I'd started 10 tell you-to
tell you--to tell you your girl there on
board 1t was horrible"
is she all right?" cried Wilbur at
top voice, for the clamor of the gale
was increasing every second
All right, No; they've killed her
somebody the coolies, think knitted
her. | went out to ask you people to
come into the station TO have supper
with me-
"Killed her! Killed her! Wlo,
don't believe YOU
wait 10 have supper with me, and
found her there on the cabin floor.
She was still breathing. | carried her
up on deck. There was nobody else
aboard / carried her up and laid her
on the deck, and she died there. Just
now | came after you TO tell you,
and
But great heavens, man. Who
killed her? Where is she? Oh. But
of course it isn't true. How did you
know? Moran killed, Moran killed"
And the schooner broke away after
/ started"
"Moran killed! But but-she's not
dead yet. Wen have TO see
"She died on the deck. brought her
up and laid her on"
How do you know she's dead?
Where Is she? Come on; wen go right
"She's on board--out there"
"Where-where is she? Man, tell
me where she Isl"
"Out there aboard the schooner. /
brought her up on deck-left her on
the schooner-on the deck-she was
stabbed in the throat--and then came
after you to tell you. Then the schoon-
err broke away while was coming.
She's drifting ont to sea now"
where is she? Where is she7'
"Who-the girl, the schooner-which
one? The girl is on the schooner, and
the schooner that's her, right there
she's drifting out to sea-"
Wilbur put both hands to his tenn
pies. closing his eyes.
"IlI so back" exclaimed Hodgson,
We'll have the surf boat out and get
after her Wen bring the body back"
no. no." cried Wilbur ITS bet
ter-this way. Leave her; let her go;
she's going out to sea - out to sea
again."
"But the schooner won't live two
hours outside in this weather. She'll
90 down"
Its better-that wey. Let her go.
| want it So"
Il can't stay; can't stay here" said
the other. There's a storm coming
up. and I've got TO be at my station
Wilbur did not answer. lie was
watching the schooner.
Il can't stay" cried fhe other again.
'1f the patrol should signal-I can't
stop here; | must be on duty. Come
back: you can't do anything
"Nor
Il have got TO co. Hodgson ran
back, swung himself on the horse and
rode away at furions gallon. iEclin-
ing his head against the gusts
And the schooner in a world OF fly
ing spray. white scud and driving
spoondrift. her cordage humming, her
forefoot churnng. the flag AT her peak
straiuing stiff in the gale, came UP into
the narrow passage of the Golden
Gate, riding high upon the outgoing
tide. On she came. swinging from
crest TO crest Of the waves that kept
her company and that ran to meet
the ocean. shouting and calling CIT be
yond there under the low, scudding
clouds.
Wilbur had climbed 70 the top Of the
old fort. Erect upon its granite ledge
he stood and watched and waited.
- onfe iii Tho pa-ths; NffIlupr fsi-