The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-10-27

Far into the night there was revelr,
on board the Filter, more guests hav
ing come out from the city. The ,larl
hours before the dawn Of day had ar
rived before they put Off for shore, bu
the Usher boats still were bobbin,
about in the black waters Of the har
Dor. The lights gradually disappear
ed from the portfolios of the yacht, ant
the tired watch was about to be re
lieved. Monty Brewster and Peggy re
mained on deck after the guests had
gone over the side Of the vessel. They
were leaning over the rail aft listening
to the 5ovial voices Of the visitors as
they grew fainter and fainter in the
distance. The lights Of the town were
few, but they could plainly be seen
from the offing.
> Are you tired, Peggy?' asked Brew.
ster, with touch of tenderness. Some.
how Of late he had often felt strange
desire to take her in his arms, and now
1t was strong upon him. She was very
near, and there was n dropping weari-
ness In her attitude which seemed to
demand protection.
Il have queer feeling that some
thlng awful Is going to happen tonight,
Monty she answered, trouble in her
soft voice.
You're nervous; that's ALL" he said,
and you should go to sleep. Good
night" Their hands touched In the
darkness, and the thrill that went over
MIN told truth Of which he had been
only vaguely conscious. The power Ut
1t made him cxultant. Yet when he
thought of her and her too oulet afrec.
tion for him it left him despondept
'' Something bumped against the side
or the ship. and grating sound follow
ell. Then came other gentle thuds com.
Dined with the soft swish of water dis.
turbed. Peggy and Brewster were on
the point OF going below when their at
tention was caught by these strange
sounds.
What is it?'' she asked rs they paus.
ei iircsolutely. lie strobe to the rail.
the girl Following close behind. Three
sharp little whistles came from above
nnd behind them, but before they had
time even to speculate rs TO their
meaning the result was In evidence.
over tho sides Of the ship came shad.
owy forms rs if by magic; Mt their
backs panther.like bodies dropped to
tfe deck with stealthy thuds. AS IL COM
ulg from the iinky sky above. There
Was an inSS--nt of -i,rentIfr,I .,aI,, ,,d
then the crisis. \ dozen sncwy fnr,-,c
(.arled themselves upon Brewster, who,
taken completely rs surprise, was
thrown to the deck In an instant, his
attempt to cry out for help being check
ell by heavy hands. Peggy's scream
was cut Off us quickly, and, paralyZed
by terror, she felt herself cngulfcd in
strong arms and smothcrcd into silence
1t all happened so quickly that there
was No chance to give the alarm, no op-
portunity to resist.
Brewster felt himself lifted bodily,
and then there was the sensation Of
falling. He struck something forcibiy
with all his weight ana fell back with
crash to the deck. Afterward he
found that the effort to throw him
overheard had failed only because his
aSsailunts In their haste had hurled
him against an unseen stanchion.
Peggy was borne forward and low
cred swiftly into arms that deposited
her roughly upon something hard.
There was jerky, rocking motion.
the sudden splash Of oars. and then
she knew no more.
The invaders had planned with
cTiGtness and patience that deserved
success. For hours they had waited,
silently. watchfully and with deadly
assurance. How they crept up to the
FILTER In such numbers and how the
more daring came aboard long before