Evening journal., 1904-07-16

verted cunning Of his mind, he had
almost instantly rejected IL. China
town was his aim. Once there and
under the protection of his tong, Hoang
knew that he was safe. He knew the
hiding places that the See 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 a couple Of gunny sacks across
his shoulder. Two hours later Hoang
was lost I'm San Trancisco'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 boardG A swift, sharp sense
of some unnamed calamity leaped sud
denly at 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.
"Lookw he shouted. "LOok Your
schooner! DO you see her? She broke
away after I'd started TO tell you-to
tell you-to tell you-your girl there on
board II was horriblew
"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-knlfed
her! went out TO ask you people to
come into the station to have supper
with me-
"K.lled her! Killed her Who?
don't believe ytu"-
"Wait-io have supper with me, and
I found her there on the cabin floor.
She was still breathing. I 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, mani Who
killed herg Where is she? OH But
of course It isn't truel How did you
know Moran killed. Moran killedw
"And the schooner broke away after
l startedw
"Moran killed. But-but-shes not
dead yeti Wen have to see"-
"She died on the deck. / brought her
up ANA laid her on
How do you know she's dead?
Where is sheG Come on: wen go right
back TO her-to the statonr
"She's on bOard-out therer'
where where is she? Man, tell
me where she lsw
"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-
cr broke away while l was coming.
she's drifting out 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
I she's drifting out TO sea-"
Wilbur put both hands 20 his tenn
i pies, closing his eyes.
Z '1'll 80 backw exclaimed Hodgson.
"Well have the surf boat out and get
after her. Wen bring the body backv'
"No, nov' 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
so down"
tits better-that way. Let her go.
want il So"
Il can't stay; ! can't stay herew said
the other There's a storm coming
up. and I've got TO be at my station"
Wilbur did not answer. He was
watching the schooner.
Il can't stayw cried the other again
IF the patrol should signal-I can't
stop here; l must be on duty. Come
back; you can't do anything."
"No."
Il have got TO gow Hodgson ran
back, swung himself on the horse and
rode away at furious gallop, inclin-
ing his head against the gusts.
And the schooner in n world OF fly
ing spray, white scud and driving
spoondrift, her cordage humming. hcl
forefoot churning. the flag AT her peak
straining stin in the gale, came up intC
the narrow passage of the Colder
Gate, riding high upon the outgoing
tide. On she came. swinging from
crest TO crest OF the waves that KEEP
her company and that ran to NEE
the ocean. shouting and calling out be
yond there under the low. scuddlng
clouds.
Wilbur had climbed to the top Of tn,
old fort Erect upon its granite ledg,
he stood and watched ana waited.
Not once did the Bertha Mlllner fal
ter in her race. Like an inhibited
horse, all restraint shaken or. she raI
free toward the OCEAN as 10 her pastur,
land. She came nearer, nearer. rising
and rolling with the seas. her bowspri
held due west. pointing like n finger
out TO sea 10 the wcst-out TO the
world OF romance. And then M last
as the little vessel drew opposite th'
old fort and passed not a hundre;
Yards away. Wilbur, watching from
the rampant. saw Moran lying upoI
/ the deck with outstretched arms ant
calm. upturned face; lying upon IN,
deck Of that lonely fleeing schooner as
upon q bed OF honor. stiil and calm. hel
great braids smooth upon her breast