The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-05-25

wricn the keenest eye could not detect
q flaw.
They were discussing the matter
when u knock came at the door. With
tie cry. al hands on deck for inspec.
tion.' Inspection. Jesu. Mary would
not safely endure 1t a minute. Bran
don left her at once and went TO the
captain.
My lord is Ill and bess to be excused
from deck inspection" lie said.
E%radhurst. a surly old half pirate OF
the ~saltiest pattern. answered.: I'll?
Then he had better 20 ashore as sooli
as possible. | will refund his money.
we cannot make Il hospital out of the
ship. Ii his lordsl.ip is too i'll to sta..d
inspection, see that lie goes ashore ut
ONCE"
This last was addressed to one of tie
ships officers. who answered with the
usual Aye. aye. sir" aud started for
Mary's cabin.
That was worse than ever. and Bran
don quickly said lie would have his
lordshlp up at once. He then returned
to Mary. and aftef buckling Oh her
sword ard belt they went OH deck and
climbed up the poop ladder TO take
their places with those entitled to
stand aft.
Erandon has often told me since that
ii was as much as he could do to keep
back the tears when he saw Mary's
wonderful effort to appear mal.ly. Ii
was both coinical ard pathetic. She
was a princess to whom all tie world
bowed down. yet that id not help her
here. After all size WAS only a girl.
timid and fearful. following mt Bran
don's heels. frightened lest she should
get out of arms reach of him among
those rough men and longing with all
her heart to take his hand for moral as
well as physical support. 1t must have
been both laugl.able and pathetic in the
extreme. That miserable sword per-
sisted In tripping her. and the jack
boots. so much too large, eyinccd an
/ alarming tendency to slip off with ey-
cry step. How insane we all were not
to have foreseen this from the very
beginning. II must have been a unique
figure size presented climbing up the
steps ut Brandon's heels. Jack boots
and all. So unique was 1t that the
sailors working In the ships waist
stopped their tasks to stare in wonder
J ment and tie gentlemen on the poop
made TO effort TO hide their amuse-
ment. Old Bradllurst stepped up to
her.
Il hope your iorlslIip is feeling bet
I fnvp atu1 st.Et Srr+pyfnu her from
head to foot. with a broad grin on his
features. Il declare, you look the pic
ture OF health. If | ever saw 1t. Row
old are youY"
Mary quickly responded. Fourteen
years"
Fourteen" returned Bradhurst.
well. | don't think you will shed
much blood. You look more like Il
deuced handsome girl than any man
| ever saw" AT this the men all
laughed and were very impairment in
the free and easy manner of such gen
try. most of whom We're 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 ac-
count. Their looks and conduct were
very -disconrcrting. but they did moth
ing Insulting until one fellow gave her
a slap on the back. accompanying il
BY an Indecent remark. Rrandon tried
to pay no a;tt alton to them. but this
WIS tee sancl.. so he lifted his arm and
knocked the fellow off the poop into
the waist. The man was back in Il
moment, and swords were soon drawn
and clicking away NJ Il great rate. The
contest was brief. however. as the fell
low was no sort of match for Brandon.
who. with his old trick. qr.kly twist
ed his adversary's sword Gut of his
grasp and with a flash of lis own
blade flung it into the sea. The other
mel we're now talking together at a
little distance In whispers. and in n
moment one drunken brute shouted:
1T Is no man. Ii is a Let us
see more of her."
Before Brandon could interfere the
fellow had unbuckled Mary's doublet
Mt the throat and with n jerk had
torn IL off, carrying away TIE sleeve
md exposing Mary's shoulder. almost
.hrowiEg her to the & elk.
i1o he continued