Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-17

deceive the world into supposing that you
had DESTROYED yourself? Tell me that:
nan, Daniel Sweetland? I do not think
So II you can prove to me that you
did not murder Adam Thorpe. do it; If not,
my duty, painful as it may be, is clear.
you shall not escape 1t altogether, II 1
can prevent YOU
Dan stared aghast at such turn of af-
fairs. The speaker was inflexible No
gentleness marked his voice. He had not
noticed the hand that Daniel ventured tim
Idly to put forward.
II thought twas Providence that threw
me here" said the sailor. II counted to
find you. sir, as was my friend always,
ready to stand up for me against But
what can l say? How can I prove aught,
having no witnesses? My gun was found
the beautiful gun you gived me. And If
than you do how 1t coined in Middlecott
woods upon that night, what's the use?
see In your face you be against me and
won't believe me-
Il am not fool, whatever else / may
be-" answered the other. ITO say you do
not know how that gun came into Middle
colt Lower Hundred is folly. You alone
had access to the gum You must know.
l cannot say; that you saw him die, be-
neve; and If you could have thrown the
blame elsewhere, you would naturally have
done SO. 1 am sorry you dared to come
have enough anxiety and difficulty on my
hands at present without YOU"
Very WE'LL" said Sweetland, IF that's
your answer, then We be man to man and
no love lost. I'll go my way and you can
go yours, an / hope afore your boards
growed you'll get a larger heart in you.
If it had been t'other way round, I'd have
believed your word like the Bible, an I'd
to show the world you was an honest, true
man. But since you won't believe further
than you can see. and haven't got no
friendship stronger than what goes down
afore this trial, then go your way an be
id to you; an may you never find your
self at a moose end with nought but sud-
den death waiting for you an no friends
hand and heart ready to help!'
Friendships may be broken, and 1 will
never willingly assist a criminal against.
the laws he has defed and the state he has
outraged. You fled to escape the just
penalty Of your deeds, and no honorable
man would succor you. 1t is not I that am
faithless, but yourself. have never
changed; my devotion to duty and to honor
has never been hidden from you and If
you had ordered your life on my example
you would not stand where you do to-
day."
Il hope you'll see clearer in the time to
come, then" answered Daniel. II be sorry
to have troubled you with my poor affairs
I'll ask no more from e except to keep
your mouth shut about me. That, at least,
ban't too much to ax?'
Your moral sense Is not merely weak,
but wanting" answered the other ITO
ignore you is to ignore your crime No
Enslishman can do that. 1, at least, will
not have 1t on my conscience that let
murderer go free. Move at your peril!'
The sailor glared in sheer wonder: then
his surprise gave place to passion.
BY God but you'm a canting prig! Your
frieEdship-'tis trash 1 wouldn't own for
money. Talk of vartue and duty to me!
Do e think of all I've suffered-all the
torment and misery I've gone through-a
man as innocent the young dawn! Taken
from my wife-called murderer afore I
was tried-every mans hand against me!
The likes of you would make Job break
loose. Your honor and your duty! Bah
sinking stuff. I'd rather be a mongrel
niger without a shirt than you! I'd"
Vivian interrupted him and cried out in a
loud voice:
ARREST this man! In the name of the
law, take him. He is murderer
They stood some distance from the rest,
and now Jabez Ford fastened forward with
several negroes. The colored men chat
tered wildly, but none made any effort to
run in on Sweetland. Before they reached
him. Vivian had already closed with his
old friend.
For justicev' he cried Right is on
my side, and well you know it!'
"Liar! answered the other. You're no
man to do this thing. Neither right nor
might be on your side. Take what you've
courted, curse you!''
The unequal struggle was quickly at an
end, for Vivian's physical powers were as
nothing beside the strength of Daniel. The
sailor shook him like dog shakes a rat;
then he gripped his huge arms round him
and Rugged him breathless.
SO let all be sarved as turns upon their
friends in the time of need!' he beloved
Come on-come on, the pack of 'e!"
1t might have been observed that at this
sensational moment the overseer, Jabez
Ford, made no instant effort to come to
Henry Vivian's rescue. He was as big as
DO ,ia1 nd
while his black eyes blaZed and he shouted
wildly to the negroes to secure Sweetland
himself he took no risk. He saw the
struggling men get nearer and nearer to
the edge of the wharf and secret hopes
fired his heart while he shouted to the ter
rified colored men to separate the fighters.
At last a big buck negro tried to grasp
Daniel from behind but his effort was i'll
timed. The sailor, bending his head
drove with full force at the black mans
chest, and fairly butted him head foremost
into the sea. A moment later Vivian was
in the water ALSO while Ford yelled to the
negroes to leap in and brighten the sharks
The overseer fumbled with life belt the
while; but long before he had cut it from
its fastenings Henry Vivian swan with
strong strokes to the landing stage and
climbed upon 1t.
No anger marked his demeanor, despite
this sharp reverse. He brushed the water
from his face and looked for Sweetland,
only to find Daniel had vanished.
''Thank heaven-thank heaven" said
Ford warmly. MY heart was in my
mouth. The water under this stage har-
bors a dozen sharks"
where's that MANI"
Hes safe enough He can't escape in
the long run. He knocked down two po-
licemen, and then the harbor master, who
tried to stop him. After that he bolted to
the left there, and has got into the woods.
1t may be a long job, but he must be
caught sooner or later"
Hes runaway from justice-a poacher
and a: murderer. By an amazing chance
we have met here. We were boys together.
Everything must be done that can be done
to ARREST him.
''CoAe to my house and get change Of
answered Jabez Ford. Thank
God, the wretch was not a murderer twice
over. You've had merciful and marvel
Gus escape. Mr.. Vivian"
(which might have itself been escaped
If you had been quicker and braver," an
swered the younger coldly. I'm afraid
you a coward, JabeZ Ford"
Presence of mind is a precious gift"
answered the overseer with great humility.
Il did the best that l could think of. OF
course, had l guessed that he was going to
throw you into the sea, I should have
rushed at him myself, cost what 1t might"
Mr.. Ford turned his face away as he
spoke.
Come" he said, you must change your
clothes quickly. or you will be chilled"
After l have been to the office of police,
not before" answered Henry Vivian.