The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-24

iIHH uA0 uOFEQ AB II lV nRD8hf Rut nV words had come from them. The white face was disflgured with ghastly cut across the forehead. The clothes were so wet that the water dripped from them as the body was lifted from the ground.
 A feeble moan broke from the mans Hips, but Tankerlane did not speak. or run for assistance. There was no smile of triumph on his face, but his heart was glad. Here. at his feet, lay the great John Shil, weaker for all his strength. than a child. Here, deiiv- cred into his hands was the man who had taken from him all the joy and happiness of life. It did not need the hand of q murderer to kill him. An- other twenty-four hours by the edge of the pool would do the work. Az ready 1t was clear that exhaustion, hunger, thirst. and cold had reduced the mans vitality to the lowest ebb. Food, warmth and stimulants. admin fstersd at once. would save his life. If they were withheld. he would die. It was easy enough to withhold them.
 Sir William Tankerlane's face grew hard and grim as he listened to the devil that whispered in his ear. "Af- ter alI," he said to himself, Tt is but justice that this man should die. He Is murderer and the law requires his life. It would be more mercifuI to let him die like this. It will only be a quiet sinking into oblivion. The struggle for life is over"
 And then he pictured to himself the future. His wife would return to him; temptation be removed from her path. In time, perhaps, he might even win her love, or at any rate the affection of a wife for the man who loves her.
 He walked away from the reeds which fringed the pool. and. standing on the top of the bank. looked towards the smack. which had heeled over on the sand. A man was walking along the top of the wall. He recognized Joe Playie, from the height of the mans great frame. He knew that he would have to decide quickly. If John 6hil was to be left to de. Playle would have to be turned back before he reach- ed the broken boat on the shore.
 Sir William Tankerlane moved a few steps along the bank, and then he paused. Ills whole nature revolted against the thing that he had almost resolved to do. Yet his love for Laura was the ruling passion of his life. and better men than William Tankerians have committed greater crimes in the name of love. By a curious irony of fate he was placed fn much the same position as John Shil had been placed, when Ben Holland chung to the edge of the quarry and cried for help. He had but to stretch out his hand to save the life of his enemy. But with John ShiI 1t had been the matter of seconds. following close on a physical encounter. where the blood had run like fire. and the mind was dimmed with the fury of battle. Here. it was a deed to ha done in cold blood--the climax of long months of hatred. an act of justice to the man who had robbed him. and whose life was forfeit to the law.
 It will perhaps stand to William Tankerlane's credit on the Day of Judgment thatA he paused after those few steps. and hesitated to leave his enemy to die. But at any rate if was the means of saving John shiI's life. For, before TankerIane had decided whether 1t would be better to burden his conscience with a great crime, or to lose the woman he loved. the keen eyes of the sailor had detected the fragment of the boat on the break water.
 TankerIane remained where he was and watched PlayIe examine the wreck age. It was too late to divert the mans attention from John Shii. Tho sailors mind would at once turn from A WASCANQ uud% 70 bHo OouY OL Lu0 man who had sailed it, whether dead or alive. Heewould search all the sh ore of the island. He would pass the spot where Shil lay by the pool. It was certain that he would hear a moan, or notice the crushed and broken reeds. Tankerlane at once resolved to fore- stall the discovery. and appear in as favorable light as possible. He ad- vanced to meet Joe Piayle. who was lA~ -n. on every side of him.
 Some poor devil dSuy' ashore" saf I. Playie. as they met. Float amt bin there long, reckon. Shouldn't won der if his body ain't about. Tide sets on here wonderful. Hem dead, I guess. though mebbe he's crawied Rshore."
 'T've found him." TankerIane replied quietly. He's just alive. I was com ing to you for help. We must carry him back to the Hope and Glory"
 Playie followed him down to the reeds by the pool, and picked up shil's body in his strong arms.
 Hem a big, fine man.Y he said, as he struggled to the top of the bank with his load. sfYet I reckon he found the sea too much for his strength. That's an ugly cut on his face, Got thrown on one of them piles. reclG- on." ht t99F
 Tankerlane suggested that the load was too much for one man, but Playle who was proud of his great strength, refused all offers of assistance. and carried John Shil in his arms all the way back to the boat
 When the limp and motionless body was taken down into the cabin and laid on one of the hunks. the three men set to work to restore life to the exhausted frame.
 Hem hurt cruel" said Yardley, as he placed some soup on the stove, but 'tain't that has done him up. Iris want of food and water. reckon ed down to that pool Did Zee say his eyes were open, sir, and that he cried out?"
 'Yes." Tankerlane replied, "his eyes were certainly open, and it was his moaning that attracted me to the spot where found him. But expect he has fainted from exhaustion, and that he'll be all right when he's had some thing to eat and drink"
 Iris an ugly cut" said Piayle, look ing at the dark Jagged tear across the forehead. T wonder who he be-"
 Look in pockets" said YardIey 4 'Adebbe he'll have a letter or sumnat as'll identify him"
 Playle pulled out a small handful of papers from Shil's troGser pocket and looked at the address on an envelope. Tankerlane smiled as he saw the hand writing of Leonore.
 Gosh, Bill" said Playle, as he read fhe name "this be a great day for us. 'Tis Ar John Shil, of Ela k Hall, anI