The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-03-20
The Spoilers.
By REX E BEACH.
e.,,r,.At. 1905. ,, r. s.'sA
(coat@DAJ
By REX E. BEACH.

skiT came rushing In through the
breakers she was caught
She had made 1t past the first line
soaring over the bar on foamy role
crest like a storm driven gull wingil
a toward the land. The why figure
Of BnI Wheaton crouched In the stern.
while two sailors fought with theil'
oars. As they gathered for their rush
through the last z0na Of froth a great
eomber rose out Of the sea benin
them. rearing high above their heads.
The crowd on the surfs edge shouted.
The boat wavered, sucked back into
the oceans angry nav, and with
crash the deluge engulfed them. There
remained nothing but q swirling hooC
through which the lifeboat emerged
bottom up, amid tangle Of oars, graf
lngs and gear.
Men rushed into the water. and the
next roller pounded them back upon
the marble hard sand. There came the
sound of splitting wood, and then
group swar1ned in waist deep and bore
out q dripping figure. 1t was hemp
en- beaded seaman. who shook the wa
ter from his name and grinned when
his breath had come.
A step farther down the beach the
byrtanders seized a limp form which
the tide rolled to them. 1t was the
second sailor. his scalp split from
bow Of the gunwale. Nowhere was
Wheaton.
GIenister had plunged to the rescue
nrst. a heaving line about his middle,
ana. although bunstsd about he had
reached the wreck only to miss sight
~ the lawyer utterly. He had time
for but q glance when he was drawn
outward by the undertow I'LL the line
Mt his waist grew taut, then the water
purxed over him and he was hurled
high up on the beach again. He stag
Rered dizzfly back to the struggle.
when suddenly a wave lifted the cap
sized cutter and righted 1t, and OUT
from beneath shot the form OF Whea-
ton. grimly clutching the life ropes
They brought him in choking and
breathless.
u got IT," he said, slapping his
streaming breast "It's all right, Glen
lister. l knew what delay meant SO /
took a long chance with the surf. The
terrific ordeal be had undergone 7si
blanched him to the lips. his legs wab-
bied uncertainty, and he would have
fallen but for the young man, who
thrust an arm about his waist and led
him up into the town
"I went before the circuit court OF
appeals in Frisco" he explained later,
land they issued orders allowing an
appeal from this court and gave ne
writ Of supersedeas directed againSt
old Judge Stillman. That takes the
litigation out of his hands altogether
and directs Mcnamara to turn over
the Midas and all the gold he's got
What do you think of thatf did BET
ter than / expected"
Glenister wrung his hand silently.
while a great satisfaction came upon
him. At last this waiting was over
and his peaceful yielding to injustice
had borne fr,lit-had proved the better
course after all, as the girl had prophe-
sled. He could go to her now with
clean hands The mine was his again.
He would lay 1t at her feet telling her
once more of his love and the change
It was working in him. He woulo
make her see it-make her see that be-
meath the harshness his years In the
wild had given him his love for ner
was gentle and true and all absorbing
He would bid her be patient till she
saw he had mastered himself, till ne
could come with his soul in harness.
sI am glad / didn't fight when theT
Jumped us" he said. Now we'll get
our property back and all the money
they took out--that il, II Mcnamara
hash sailed It,"
Yes; all that's necessary is to hle
the documents, then serve the judge
and Mcnamara. You'll be back on
Anvil creek tomorrow"
Having placed their documents on
record at the courthouse, the two men
continued to McNamara's office. de
met them with courtesy.
81 heard you had a narrow escape
this morning. Mr.. Wheaton. Too bad
What can | do for your
The lawyer rapidly outlined his posi-
hon and stated in conclusion:
II fled certified copies of these or
ders with the clerk of the court ten
minutes ago, and now ! make formal
demand upon you to turn over the
Midas to Messrss Glenister and Dex'
try and also to return all the gold dust
in your safe deposit boxes in accord
ance with this writ" He. handed. his
documents to Mcnamara, who tossed
them ON his desk without examination.
well" said the politician quietly, i
won't do It."
Had he been slapped In the face the
attorney would not have been more as
tonished.
'Why-you''-
ST won't do II, l saidf" Mcnamara
r-v,aa ted sharply. Don't think for q