Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-05-22

er .follies!' he answered. o
He was an easy mark, the distance
was short, Darlington was sure shot,
and II ever a man bad murder In his
heart it was In that Of Ellen's hus-
band. Yet there was something in
the daunuess way In which Strath.
gate faced him and in the fact that
the latter appeared unarmed, that
caused Darlington, with finger
upon the trigger, to stay the pressure.
"Why don't you fire, my lord?"
cried Strathgate.9
Draw your weapon, Suathgate,"
said Darlington, dropping the point Of
his own pistol.
I'm sorry to say that I'm unarmed."
There was no use. Darlington could
not kill him under the circumstances.
He stood staring after him for mo-
! ment, and then raised his hand and
shook it in the air.
God have mercy on you II l meet
you again!"' he cried.
Take the peril to yourself, Lord
Darlington" Strathgate called out,
and with a farewell wave of his hand
the cutter shot out beyond the extrem-
ity Of the pier, and, catching the full
force of the breeze, which happened to
be blowing straight up the harbor, ne
cessitating a hard beat out against it,
bore away toware the opposite shore,
i. Pistol in hand Darlington turned
and confronted the astonished crowd
which had gathered in his rear.
What went he after?" he asked.
The men facing him looked from
one to another.
Darlington thrust the pictol back
into his belt, tore out his pocketbook,
opened 1t, and took out ten-pound
note. O.
That for information"
One Of the men whose boats Strath-
gate had disdained to employ fo.ced
his way through the crowd.
"Pll tell you for the money"
Speak out. IT'S yours"
HE come down here lookin' for a
man and woman, and Cooper, he
owns the boat yonder, said his broth
er put party containin' a man and a
woman aboard the Flying Star or a
ship like her last night"
What them" asked Darlington.
Then he offered a hundred pounds
for the tastes boat to put him aboard
the Flying Star afore she got clear
into the channel"
| "And he took Cooper's boat" said
another boatman.
us she the fastest In the harbor? p
"Well, there's some as do say that jim
Haight's boats got the heels Of her.
Here's your ten pounds" said Car
rington. Where's Haight?"
Here ! be, master"
"A hundred pounds to you," saiC
Darlington, If you put me aboard thai
ship, and another hundred if you put
me there before 6trathgate."
"And II = don't do neither" re
turned Haight, quickly.
Nothing" said Darlington. 1T,
win or lose"
81 take you, yer honor" criet
Haight, whose sporting blood wa
aroused, and the remark was greete,
by three cheers from the wharf.
IF it's in the power of a Ports
mouth boat to do il, Haight's the mai
r for you, MASTER" said one old vel
eran.
y Stay" continued Haight, "Pd lik
to know who I'm dealin' with"
I'm Lord Darlington, first lieuter
, ant OF the Niobe yonder."
2 He pointed to one Of the frigate
swinging ahead In the line of battle
? ships of Kephard's feet.
e "Right-o, your lordship" said Haight
/ making a sea scrape at the mention o
!. rank, social, political and naval, of hi
e speaker. Lads, who goes with u.s."
D He picked up three or four volur
teers, to whom Darlington promised
: suitable reward
. my boats twice as big as Cooper
cutter, and / need the hands, you
? lordship."
Take anybody, anything 20,
: please" said Darlington. where's tn
boat%
"She be lynn beyond the other pier
Shall l bring her here, or"
We'll go there" returned my lord
: "Tis quicker"
: Committing his horse to one Of tn
bystanders, with instructions to TAX
him to the inn, Darlington, followe,
BY Haight and three seamen, ran bacl
to the shore, made their way alonI
, the strand to the other pier, leape,
into the boat which was large
swift cutter, az Haight had said, a
least half again as big as Cooper's
which was now we'll down the harbo
} and going tremendously under ever,
: freshening breeze.
To cast OF the lines, hoist the sails
! warp the boat along the pier until sh
: gained the open roads, was the worl
/ OF a few moments. Darlington stoo,
D quietly while the skillful men worke,
busily around him, but so soon as tn
wind filled the sail and the boat gatt
| rrrox L. Il