Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-29

ter" and then. surveying her from
head to foot, with broad grin on bis
features. 81 declare. you look the pic
ture of health. If ever saw 1t. How
old are you"
Mary quickly responded. Fourteen
years."
Fourteen" returned Bradhurst.
"Well, don't think you will shed
much blood. You look more like q
deuced handsome girl than any man
ever saw" At this the men all
laughed and were very impertinent In
the free and easy manner Of such gen.
try, most of whom were professional
adventures with every finer sense
dulled and debased by years Of vice.
These fellows, half Of them tipsy.
now gathered about Mary to inspect
her personally, each on his own ac-
count. Their looks and conduct were
very disconcerting. but they did moth
Ing insulting until one fellow gave he
a slap on the back, accompanying y
By an indecent remark. Brandon tried
to pay no attention to them. but thi
was too much, go he lifted his arm and
knocked the fellow or the poop into
the waist. The man was back In a
moment, and swords were soon drawn
and clicking away at great rate. The
contest was brief, however, as the fel.
low was no sort of match for Brandon,
who, with his old trick, quickly twist.
ed his adversarys sword out Of his
grasp and with a fash of his own
blade flung 1t into the set. The other
men were now talking together at a
little distance in whispers, and In q
moment one drunken brute shouted:
ut Is no man. 1t Is woman. Let rs
see more Of her"
Before Brandon could interfere the
fellow had unbuckled Mary's doublet
at the throat and with jerk had
torn it off. carrying away the sleeve
and exposing Mary's shoulder, almost
throwing her to the deck.
He waved his trophy on high, but
his triumph was short lived, for almost
instantly it fell to the, deck, and with
1t the offending hand severed at the
wrist by Brandon's sword. Three or
four friends Of the wounded man
rushed upon Brandon, whereupon Mary
screamed and began to weep. which Of
course told the whole story.
A great laugh went up, and instantly
a general fight began. Several Of the
gentlemen, seeing Brandon attacked by
such odds. took up his defense, and
within twenty seconds all were on one
side or the other. every mothers son Of
them fighting away like mad.
You see how quickly and completely
one woman without the slightest act on
her part, except modest effort to be
let alone. had set the whole company
by the ears, cutting and slashing away
at each other like very devils. The sex
must generate mischief In some un-
known manner and throw 1t of, as the
sun throws off its heat. However, Jane
is an exception to that rule-f 1t Is
rule.
The officers soon put a stop to this
lively little fight and took Brandon
and Mary, who was weeping as any
right minded woman would, down into
the cabin for consultation.
With a great oath Bradhurst ex-
claimed: ut is plain enough that you
have brought a girl on board under
false colors. and you may as well make
ready to put her ashore. You see what
she has already done-a hand lost to
one man and wounds for twenty others
and she was on deck less than FIVE
minutes. Heart of God! At that rate
she would have the ship at the bottom
of Davy Jones' locker before we could
sail half down the channel"
ut was not my fault" sobbed Mary,
her eyes flashing fire. 81 did nothing;
all wanted was to be left alone, but
those brutes Of men-you shall pay for
this; remember what say. Did you
expect Captain Brandon to stand back
and not defend me when that wretch
was tearing my garments of"
Captain Brandon, did you say"
asked Bradhurst. with his hat of in
stantly.
"Yes," answered that individual. II
shipped under an assumed name for
various reasons, and desire not to be
known. You will do well to keep my
secret"
"Do understand that you are Mas
ter Charles Brandon, the kings
friend% asked Bradhurst.
81 am" was the answer.
''Then, sir. l must ask your pardon
for the way you have been treated.
We of course could not know 1t, but
man must expect trouble when he at
taches himself to Il woman" It II q
wonder the flashes from Mary's eyes
did not strike the old seadog dead. He.
however. did not see them and went
on: 1--WE are more than anxious that 50
valiant knight as Sir Charles Bran
don should 30 with US. and hope your
reception will not drive you back. But
as to the lady. you see already the re-
suit of her presence. and, much as we
want you. we cannot take her. Aside
from the general trouble which wo-
man takes with her everywhere"-Ma-
~ would not even look at the creature
ION shipboard there Is another and
greater objection. 1t Is said, you know.
among sailors that woman on board
draws bad luck to certain sorts OF
ships, and every sailor would desert
before we could weigh anchor If 1t
were known this lady was to 60 with
us. Should they find 1t out in midocean
a mutiny would be sure to follow. and