The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-11-06

Charles. II say the people are here
and mean to have them, and"
by what right?'
"Mr. Collier has given you an an
SWer to that question
And if I refuse to give them up"
"Ah. You admit they are here
them returned Sir Charles, smiling.
Il admit nothin. But if they were
here an I'd refuse to give EN- up,
what them"
Wed take them by force"
And how would you get emf"
I'D search the ship ..> ...
Search my ship" roared Captain
Tuggles. Il have 20 stout able-bod.
led American seamen aboard here,"
And | have as many in the boat
yonder,' said Sir Charles, and there
are seven hundred on the Britannia.
Now, be reasonable, one of those PEE
sons is the wife Of Lord Darlington.
She's running away from him" -
rs it again the law for woman to
run away from her husband?"
I'VE have nothing to do with that"
returned Sir Charles.
AN how do | know your story's
true?' continued the captain "Ameri.
cans are not in the habit of runnin'
away from Englishmen, not even
American women from English lords"
And here the worthy captain spoke
truer than he knew There was even
touch of the prophetic in his voice,
but we must not anticipate.
Whether you believe it or not"
said Sir Charles, lis a matter of no
consequence. The point is, the wom-
en- were seen to board this ship and
We mean to have them Neither you
nor the crew. nor the women them
selves can prevent it and you might as
we'll submit to the inevitable, sir
You can do what you please" re.
turned the captain turning his back
upon the Englishmen and stalking aft.
When you're through with my ship
perhaps you'll kindly turn her over to
me, and when | get back to Boston
I'll see that this is reported to Gen.
eral Washington"
Hes a gentleman for whom l
have great respect" returned Sir
Charles, easily, "and I shall be inter.
ested to know what he thinks of you
for abducting the wife of peer Of
England on the high seas
'Abductin'." roared Captain Tug
giles turning from aft Il like that She
boarded of her own free will"
Mr.. Collier said Seton, interrupt
ing the captain who quickly subsidized
when he saw he was out of the game,
perhaps you will be good enough
to assist me to search the ship. I
confess that the nautical side of my
education has been neglected. Where
do you think they are likely to be-"
IF they haven't concealed them
selves returned Collier, well find
lliell Ill tle CdDlu.
"And how do you get to the placer"
This way" said the lieutenant,
pointing to the companion hatchway.
The two stumbled down, bidding the
midshipman who had accompanied
them to watch on the deck and sum-
mon the boats crew at the slightest
evidence of trouble.
The cabin was dark, since Ellen had
taken the precaution to carry the Ian
tern with her, but that seemed to
make no difference to Mr.. Collier Bid
ding Seton stay at the foot of the lad.
der, he went from one stateroom to
another. He tried the doors, opened
most of them without difficulty, salts.
fed himself by brief inspection Of
each that no one was within, until he
came to the room in which the women
had retired to rest. This door was
locked. He felt for key. There was
none there He shook the door, beat
upon it with his fist, called out, but
there was no answer
They'll be there" he said, cor per.
haps in the captains room which
should be aft"
He turned to the door of the thwart.
ship bulkhead and found it too was
locked
We'll go on deck, If you please.
Sir Charles" said the officer, and
interview the captain again
They found Tuggles waiting by the
companion hatch. His curiosity had
drawn him to point whence he could
see and hear the expected explosion.
(TO BE CONTINUED)