The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-10


row. l haven't stolen anything, nor
poisoned the crew-really l haven't"
She smiled at them, ard Glenister
found it impossible not to smile with
her. though dismayed by her feeble
explanation.
well, I'll wake up the steward and
find a place for you to 90" he said 1t
length. You'll have to double up with
some of the women. though It's aw-
fully crowded aboard
She laid a OBTAINING hand on his arm.
He thought he felt her tremble.
"No, no. 1 don't want you to do
that They mustn't see me tonight.
know I'm acting strangely and all that
but it's happened SO quickly haven't
found myself yet. I'll tell you tomor-
row, though, really. Don't let any one
see me or it will spoil everything.
Wait till tomorrow, please"
She was very white and spoke with
eager intensity.
Help you? Why, sure Mixer as
sured the impulsiye Dextry. AN, see
here miss-you take your time on ex-
plantations. We don't care a cuss what
you done. Morals amt our long suit,
cause there's never law of God or
man runs north of fifty-three,' as the
poetry man remarked, an he couldn't
have spoke truer if he'd knowed what
he was sayin'. Everybody is priyi-
legged to look out his own game ND
here. A square deal an no questions
asked"
She looked somewhat doubtful at
this till she caught the heat of Clients
ter's gaze. Some boldness of his look
brought home to her the actual situa-
ton, and a stain rose in her cheek. She
noted him more carefully-noted his
heavy shoulders and ease of bearing,
an ease and looseness begotten of per-
feet muscular control. Strength was
equally suggested in his face. she
thought for he carried a marked
young countenance, with thrusting
chin, aggressive matching brows and
mobile mouth that whispered all the
changes from strength to abandon.
Prominent was a look of reckless en-
ergy. She considered him handsome
In a heavy, virile, perhaps too purely
physical fashion.
You want to stowaway?' he asked
tive had right smart experience
in that line" said Dextry, but 1 never
done it by proxy. What's your plan?'
''She will stay here tonight" said
Glenister quickly. you and / will go
below. Nobody will see her"
Il can't let you do that" she OBJ
jected. Isn't there some place where
l can hide?" But they treasured her
and left.
When they had gone, she crouched
trembling upon her seat for a long
time, gazing ixedly before her I'm
afraid" she whispered. I'm afraid.
What am l getting into? Why do men
look so at me? I'm frightened. Oh,
I'm sorry l undertook it." At last she
rose YEARLY. The close cabin op-
pressed her. She felt the need of fresh
air. So, turning out the lights, she
stepped forth into the night. Figures
loomed near the rail, and she slipped
astern, screening herself behind a life
boat, where the cool breeze famed her
face
The forms she had seen approached,
speaking earnestly. Instead of pass
ing, they stopped abreast of her hiding
place. Then as they began to talk she
saw that her retreat was cut of and
that she must not stir
what brings her herer" Glenister
was echoing a question Of Dextry's.
Bah! What brings them all? What
brought the duchess and Cherry Ma
lotte and all the rest?"
mo, no. said the old man. "She
amt that kind-she's too fine, too deli
cate-too pretty"
That's just it-too pretty Too pretty
to be alone-or anything except what
she Isl
Dextry growled sourly. "This coun-
try has plumb ruined you, boy. You
think they're all alike-an' l don't
know but they are-all but this gal.
Seems like she's different, somehow,
but can't tell.''
Glenister spoke musingIy:
Il had an ancestor who buccaneered
among the Indies a long time ago. so
I'm told. Sometimes l think l have
his disposition. de comes and whis-
pers things to me in the night. oh,
he was devil, and I've got his blood
in me-untamed and hot-I can hear
him saying something now-something
about the spoils of war. Ha, ha.
Maybe he's right. 1 fought for her to-
night, Dex-the way he used to fight
for his sweethearts along the Mexicos
She's too beautiful to be good, and
there's never a law of God or man
runs north of f1fty-three'"
They moved on, his vibrant, cynical
laughter stabbing the girl till she lean
ed against the yawl for support
She held herself together while the
blood beat thicl1ly in her ears, Their
fed to the cabin, hurting herself into
her berth. where she writhed silently
beating the pillow with hands into
which her nails had bitten, staring the
while into the darkness with dry enc
aching eyes.