The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-03-01

club three drink-crazed firemen into
subsection with a handspike had
never associated him with fear.
Come on" he said TO me, finally
A sloven, redhaired woman an.
swered his rap on the door.
II want to see Gardner, said Mac
Leod.
The woman made a motion to shut
the door in his face. but before she
could do so the stalwart form of Gard
ner. A. b., appeared behind her.
You've found me" he said.
Yes, and ye're to come wi me,
replied Macleod.
Gardner shook his head.
"Ye're coming, and ye're coming
wi me- repeated the mate What
do you mean, Gardner, you full rated
A. b.. deserving from your ship?"
Hits the first time ever was
united for by a skipper" said Gard
ner in reply, but l ad to do it this
time. Come her.e!"
He led us into a back room where,
on not overclean bed. lay the body
of a woman. Her fluffy hair lay on
the pillow and her face was no doubt
once attractive. but drink and trouble
had much hardened and deformed II.
When / came hashore." said Gard
ner. the men started in drinking
near the quay and / walked up into
the town alone drunken woman
started 10 cross street and cart
coming round the corner ran her
down. Hi picked 'er up and when
she told me where she lived l brought
her here She had no need TO tell me
who she was. knew il"
'Well?" asked Macleod.
She was my wife!"
The mate stared silently at Gard
ner, who resumed:
Hi married her four years ago. We
'ad a snug ONE in South'ar and
was sailing in the Black Sea trade.
and much of the time at sea. A man
who called himself my friend lied to
'er about me, tempted 'er and then
ran of with 'er. r got her a berth
as stewardess on the same ship he
sailed on and then he began TO drink.
Has e went down he pulled the poor
lass with i'm, and e treated 'er like
dog. She told me hall this while l
sat by 'er last night. and she died this
morning. The dog who brought 'er 10
this was turned off his ship at this
port for drunkenness three months
ago. and she 'ad to so with i'm. Els
working on a plantation near here"
We'll" said Macleod, gently. the
puir soul has fitted. we've done all
we could do and more than mony a
mon in your place would We done.
Come back to the sheep
Hill come back tomorrow" re-
piled Gardner: the man who did
that"-he pointed TO the form on the
bed" II be here tonight ELS been
sent for and / want to meet I'm"
Tough old salt as he was, saw
Macleod shudder and his rudy face
pale He seemed about to say some
thing to Gardner and then, muttering.
IT'S ma use" seized me by the arm
and started for the door
AS we left the threshold Gardner
came out and laid his hand on the
mates shoulder.
You'll not be too hard on the lass
In your mind. Mr.. Macleod" he said
she was very youngSand that devil
tempted her. Then | was away so
much"
"Ay. ay." replied Macleod. but
lad. leave II as II Is and come wi
me-"
Hive something to do yet" retort-
ed Gardner. his voice coming through
his clenched teeth.
Hell maun ha' his way" muttered
Macleod to himself. as We walked.
THE Laird may help Gardner. or the
, dell may help the ither. Well see"
Steam was up on the Lanark at
four in the evening. but she lay mo-
| tionless until dark. Then. like a
! specter, Gardner clambered up the
fore chains and dove into the forecas-
tie. Juan had been hanging about the
decks all day waiting for Gardner to
be brought on board. and before dark
he had been inveigled below and
shut up in the steerage. Now he was
/ hustled on deck and the skipper con-
! fronted him.
I'VE can't get the man, but my
word is passed and you're TO get the
pound"-he handed II to the Spaniard
and now here's the shillings," add
ed the skipper. giving the informer a
kick that carried him of the poop.
Macleod gave him another that sent
him against the rail. and the terrified
dago flung himself over the side into
his boat and pulled madly for shore
or the happening at the hut that
night Gardner never spake word.
and beg pardon for my unfinished
yarn. But to see that haggard-faced
man glazing into the distance as he
gazed over the sea II is badly
equipped mind that could not picture
the terrible drama of vengeance that
had It's closing scene that night
The skipper half feared there would
be an officer waiting for Gardner
when we entered the Mersey, but
there was not, and he shinped on a