Evening star., 1907-08-31

is his castle. SO is his yacht, and we'n de-
| fend 1t, II we have to-
We'll run up the Jolly Roger" said
| Benson. with an effervescence that could
| hardly have been real.
As soon as 1t was certain tha. Jepson
would not return Immediately we held n
| council of war in the cabin l invited
! Capt. Quinby 10 insult with us. but In
structed him to +. .atlon a lookout on deck,
| that we might not be surprised. And I
| asked Jerome to come in ! felt that
| needed now all the force I could muster.
| Four men. not to mention the crew, of
whom I was not sure would constitute no
| mean fighting force.
| To all except Mrs. Randolph ! was still
posing as Julian Randolph How much
| Miss Hansborough knew. or guessed
| could not tell. She was. of course. her sis
| ter's confdante. And lovers hold few Sc
crets from each other. Hence 1t seemed
| probable that If Miss Hansborough had
been enlightened. Benson had been. too
| Whatever they knew. II anything, they
! concealed from the captain.
| In the first place | said. opening our
! talk. ''it Is to be understood that If ! sur
| render to this man 1t will be only when
| am ready to do so. trap has been set
| for me. ard I do not intend to fail into il.
| I am expecting important news from New
| York. an answer to the telegram l sent
| from Bryant's Cove. AS soon as ! get 1t
| intend to turn the tables on the man who
is now trying to ruin me. When things
| have shaped themselves that l know
| shall be safe from him, shall be ready to
| face whatever legal complications may
| come from our present action. But now.
and until have news from my agent in
! New York. 1 shall fight before l sur
! render
stopped Fuller explanations and the
| mention of the name of Courtney Lane did
| not seem necessary.
Will some go ashore and find If
there is telegram for me?'' l asked in the
| silence that followed.
Il will" said Benson. and there was
| fighting fire In his eyes; Il think I'd like
to know what is being said and done
| there"
II can CO." Capt Quinby volunteered.
Mrs. Randolph lifted her eyes to mine.
perhaps I'd better go, Julian" she said.
surprising me by the offer Margaret and
I are the ones to 60. The men should stay
| will return; but II he should, with assist
ance. as he threatened. you may need all
the force you have here"
The wharves were not far away. and
had been informed that the telegraph office
was not distant from the wharves, so that
1t would have been easy to send Jerome or
even some member of the crew. But saw
that Mrs. Randolph wished to go
The conference broke up at once, and
Mrs. Randolph and Miss Hansborough were
taken ashore in the Idler's launch. Benson
and I. the captain and Jerome, stood on
deck and watched them until after they
landed. The launch remained at the wharf.
and Mrs. Randolph and her sister dsap-
peared.
Though the fading sunlight still shone in
flashes OF fire in some Of the upper win
dows of the houses Of the town, the
wharves and streets were being shadowed
and the street lamps began to shine.
I'm beginning to enjoy this" said Ben
son. walking the deck with me-
':You must have had some old berserker
for an ancestor" was my comment.
mo. it's the excitement-something the
way a fellow feels when foot ball game
Is on coming on. 1t makes me under
stand how our boys get desperate over In
the Philippines, with fanatical Moros pop
ping at them from the bush. and proceed to
wanted to throw chair at that officer and
had hard work not to do 1t.
Capt. Quinby was beginning to enjoy 1t,
too. He strolled up to where we stood
talking.
II heard what you said about a mans
yacht being his castle. That ought to be
good law. It's good law with me, anyhow,
aboard ship"
We killed time with talk, but the walt
began to grow tedious. It had been late
when we steamed into the harbor and night
was now at hand. Benson looked at the
darkening town.
IT don't suppose anything can happen to
them?" he remarked
Impossible" said the captain. ITS but
little distance to the telegraph office"
Some boats pulled off and rowed round
the Idler, the occupants looking inquisi-
lively at her and at the group on her deck.
One. dsreputable and impertinent, drew
alongside and began to ask questions
We've got Capt. Kidd aboard" said
Benson replying. Hes hunting along this
coast for some of his old buried treasure"
"Ah, gwan! What ye givin' us?' was
fired back.
when a fool asks fool questions 1 give
him a FOOLS answer" said Benson, In an
amused voice.
The inauisitive occupants of the boat be-
l1I yr,1t opf anna orEC
and rowed away.
Suddenly lights flashed on the wharf and
a large boat put out 1t was not our
launch. AS it approached we saw that 1t
carried Jepson and a number of men.
'They have come for me and are going to
fight and they have detained the women,
to keep them out Of it, l sad as guess.
"They intend to take the yacht by force:
If they try III drew my revolver-"theyl
find that they have walked up the wrong
passenger"
I was furiously angry and in a mood for
fighting.
A sloop yacht near US had a light burn
ing, which cast a red streak on the water.
IF they cross the line Of light from that
sloop 1 shall certainly fire into them," l
added as the boat came on.
Perhaps they only want to parley," said
Quinby, in a tone which suggested that he
thought me rash.
Capt. Quinby." demanded in squirt OF
wrath, ARE you with me In this or with
the crowd in that boat?"
with you, sir, OF course he said; yet
he was not pleased with the manner OF my
address.
Understand them announced, that I
shall resist arrest to the last gasp"
/ looked at Benson.
Jack" l cried. II know you will back
me in this? They have held Mrs. Randolph
and Miss Hansborough ashore, and now
they intend to capture me"
Benson who had risen and was staring at
the boat, put his hand on the back Of the
steamer chair he had been occupying, thus
seizing 1t for a weapon.
Wen stand by you," he said.
Jerome picked up a billet of wood and
came forward and ranged himself by my
side. The captain advanced to the rail.
with the air of a man who has determined
to stick to his employer, right or wrong.
II guess they're coming for you," he ad-
mtted, reluctantly.
There was a show of excitement among
the members of the crew who were on
deck, but did not ask their aid.
AS the boat carrying Jepson and his
deputies drew near the red glare cast on
the water by the light of the sloop yacht |
7 caught uD a megaphone.