The Detroit times., 1908-06-22


for walk he had sought shelter
from the burning sun In the great
park surrounding one OF the most
beautiful villas OF the European quar-
ter. Suddenly he stopped and stood
as IL he had been turned into stone
In a hammock near the walk was a
young girl apparently sleeping. Her
face. framed In mass of black hair.
was OF almost angelic beauty and
she was almost covered with flowers.
| AS II she had felt his eyes resting
on her. she opened her eyes. smiled
and leaving the hammock with the
grace OF youth she came toward him.
| He stammered some excuse and
| turned to leave. but she would hear
nothing OF II and forced him to come
with her to the house. where she
| introduced him TO her father. Mr.. Ra-
Hight, who cordially invited him for
I luncheon.
From that day Lundewall was a
changed man. The beautiful girl had
captured his heart and he spent all
his spare time with Mr.. Ralight and
his daughter. who was always happy
to see him.
Dreaming OF future happiness. Curt
LundeWall stood on the bridge or the
Falcon. Suddenly he was aroused.
did you hear that?" he cried to the
second officer.
Thunder | suppose"
No, the barometer Is high, and the
stars are out. II was"
A duh report interrupted him. That
"In few minutes the Falcon II
ready for action.
Cut. Lurdcwall tries his revolver
and orders all lights out. Wrapped in
darkness, the gunboat speeds through
! the night, every man at the guns ready
to fire at the first word OF command.
In the distance a threemaster YES
sci Is sighted, fighting three Chinese
djunks. Hugging the shore the Fall
con creaps up close, undetected. The
engine stop.
Ready at the boats. Ffrst gun,
fire."
,, The fight had been short but bloody.
Curt Lundewall had received wound
In his right arm and three of his men
haG fallen The pirates had fought
bravely but were overpowered at last
by the crew OF the gunboat Most of
them had fallen. but Is were taken
prisoners.
Singapore was full OF excitement
xyh hon tho Eal.nn cleaning
the harbof towing a captured dunk
the next day, and one of the first TO
board the vessel was M. Ralight.
ALLOW me to congratulate you" he
cried, and shook the young officer
left hand cordially. IL hope your
wound Is not dangerous. Now you
must come home with me. Ellen Is
all anxiety and we want you to stay
with us until you recover at least
1t was midnight when Curt Lunde-
wall boarded the gunboat again. He
felt both ashamed and disappointed.
He had been lionized ssd pestered ever
since he put his foot aslCre, much TO
his disgust and he had not found an
opportunity 10 declare h,y love as he
had intended, but he must make up
for II the next day W he was 10
uluc tlOHt Win Tic ldlullN.
In the morning he had TO be pres
ent at the execution of the pirates.
They were to be hanged and accord
ing TO British law the hanging was to
be public. The natives, considering
an execution a sporting event, crowd
ed the square around the gallows.
while Curt Lundewall abhorred the
idea OF Witnessing the sight.
But--was II possible2 In the crowd
he discovered many white faces. Ele-
CANT carriages drove through the
crowd and in the carriages were Eu.
ropean men and women How was IL
possible that a woman should be
heartless enough TO witness sight
the very thought OF which filled him
with horror
Words OF command and the sound OF
drums. The prisoners are led 10 the
foot of the gallows. the sentence read
and the hangman begins his work.
Curt Lundewall turns his face away,
Suddenly he trembles. and his face
turns pale. In a carriage a young girl
Is standing. dressed In white. her field
glasses trained on the gallows.
Everything turns black before him.
n is she-Ellen Ralight. the girl he
adores. pN
He presses his hand against his
heart and his thoughts go back home.
He sees the soft, gentle eyes OF n
young girl and hears her parting
words: SO you may have To fight
Chinese pirates. They must be terri
BILE things. but after all they are hui
man. Who. knows what may have
driven them TO crime? Are We then
not to treat criminals as human be
ings? | am sure you would
Again the beating OF drums.Y The
Fact Is over. The crowds /dlsperse.
and Curt Lundewall walks slowly to,
ward the city. IS
Good morning. Lieutenant" joy
Gus, girlish voice reaches his ears.
Come home with us for luncheon.