Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-27
CHAPTER VII,

1t was late in the afternoon when
Sarah Purfoy awoke from her uneasy
slumber. She had been dreaming of the
deed she was about to do, and was flush
ed and feverish, but, mindful Of the
consequences which hung upon the sue
cess or failure Of the enterprise, she
rallied herself and ascended, with as
calm an air as she could assume, to the
deck.
The Malabar seemed to be enveloped
In an electric cloud, whose sullen gloom
a chance spark might fash into a blaze
that should consume her. The woman
who held her in her hands the two ends
of the chain that would produce this
spark looked down into the barricade.
Three men, leaning carelessly against
the bulwarks, watched her every motion.
There she Is, right enough" growled
Mr.. Gabbett, as if in continuation of
previous remark. "Flash as ever,
and looking this way, too. There, look
at that" he added as the figure of
Maurice Frere appeared side by side
with that of the waiting maid, and the
two turned away up the deck together.
Maurice Frere had come behind her
and touched her on the shoulder. Since
their conversation the previous evening.
he had made up his mind to be fooled
no longer. The girl was evidently play
Ing with him, and he would show her
that he was not to be trihed with.
"Well, Sarah"
''Well, Mr.. Frere," dropping her hand
and turning round with a smile.
"How well you are looking to-day!
Positively lovely. l say, though, what
Is the use of playing fast and loose with
a fellow this way?
She cast her eyes down to the deck,
and a modest flush rose on her cheeks
81 have so much to do" she said in a
half whisper. "There are so many ewes
upon me, l cannot stir without being
seem"
She raised her head as she spoke, and
to give effect to her words, looked round
the deck. Her glance crossed that of
the young soldier on the forecastle, and
though the distance was too great tol
her to distinguish his features, she
guessed who he was-Mles was jealous
Frere, smiling with delight at her change
of manner, came close to her. and whis
pered in her ear. She affected to start
and took the opportunity of exchanging
a signal with the Crow.
81 will walk with you at 8 o'clock,
said she.
"They relieve guard at s." he said
deprecatingly.
She tossed her head. Every well, then
attend to your guard; don't care"
"But, Sarah, consider"
"As If women in love ever consid
ersv" said she, turning upon him burn
ing glance, which in truth might hav,
melted more icy man than he. Sh,
loved him, then! What a fool he woul;
be to refuse. The guard could reliev,
itself for once without his supervision.
every well; at 8, then"
"Hushw said she. Here comes tina
stupid captain"
And as Frere left her she turned, and
with her eyes fixed on the convict bar
ricade, dropped the handkerchief she hell
in her hand over the railing. 1t fell a
the feet of the captain, and with a quicl
upward glance that worthy fellow picke
1t up and brought 1t to her.
"Oh, thank you, Captain Blunt" sal
she, and her eyes spoke more than he
tongue.
"Did you take the laudanum?" whis
pered Blunt with a twinkle in his eye
"Some of it," said she II will brin
you back the bottle"
Blunt walked aft, humming cheeriy
and saluted Frere with slap on tn
back. The two men laughed, each q
his own thoughts, but their laughter onl
made the surrounding gloom seem deeI
er than before.
Sarah Purfoy, casting her eyes towar