Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-06-10
7 table. absolutely spent. and stin hold.

S~NhaNu W hAai ONctnoWSfincly not
and sitting. He warmed himself
with nip OF gin. He looked over his
clothes for trace of blood. and
was thankful to find none. He took
OF his coat: he examined the soles of
his shoes. No blood. Thank God. no
blood,
He went on deck and cast the re-
volver overheard. standing at the tar.
rail and wstching 1t sink. Even in
the time ha had been below the wind
had risen: it was blowing great guns
TO seaward. the lagoon itself was
white and broken as far as the eye
could reach. Aboard his own schoon-
er they We're busy housing the top
masts. and the yeo-heave-yeo OF
straining voices warned him that
Cracroft was hosting in tho boats
and making everything snug
Gregory leaned against the wheel
and tried to think. To throw Hor.
ble's body overheard would be to &C.
shot holes, the disordered cabin.
would all betray him. To scuttle the
schooner with n stick OF dynamite was
better plan, but that involved re-
turning TO the Northern Light, with
the possibility of Madge coming of
in the interval and discovering the
murder for herself No. the risk of
that appalled, him. Besides. what
ever happened. he had another rea-
son for keeping the truth from Madge
The fact of Horble's death. even If
hA a.. n
shock her to the core. 1t was in
conceivable that she would feel any
thing but horror stricken, whether
she judged her former lover innocent
or not. She might even undergo a
terrible remorse. At such a moment
how little likely she would be to give
way to him. OF course she would re-
fuse. Any woman would refuse.
Every restraining influence would be
hope lay in getting her aboard his
schooner and out OF the lagoon be-
fore the least suspicion could dawn
upon her. Once away, and 1t might
be two years before she might even
hear OF IIorbles death. Once away,
and the empty seas would keep his
secret. Once away
He studied the weather with a new
and consuming anxiety. How could
he manage to get out at all. or pick
course through the middle channel,
1t was thick with coral rocks. and in
day so overcast the keenest eye
aloft would be at fault And out
side, what then? Already 1t was
working up n hurricane To run be-
fore 1t would be counting death.
But to stake Madge's life! Madge,
whom he loved so dearly! Madge.
for whom he would have died!
And yet there was something sub
lime in the thought OF taking her in
his arms and driving before the gale,
the storm sails treble reefed on the
bending yards, the decks awash from
end to end, Madge beside him, the
pitchy night In front, the engulfing
seas behind; to swim or sink, to ride
or smother. accepting their fate to-
gether, and, If need be. drowning at
the last in each others arms.
He looked toward the settlement
and saw crowd OF natives pushing
again, and saw old Maka taking his
place in the stern sheets and assist
ing woman in beside him. The
woman. 1t needed no second glance
to tell him 1t was Madge He had
never counted on her coming off In
company. Fool that he was. he had
taken 1t for granted that she would
be alone. Everything, in fact, turned
on her being alone. Then, with n
start, he remembered his own dinghy,
and how It would betray him. He had
made il fast on the schooner's star.
board quarter, near the little ac-
commodation ladder. Going on his
hands and knees. lest his head should
be seen above the shallow rail, he un-
loosed the painter, worked the boat
astern, and drew IL again TO port.
Then he crouched down in the alloy
way and waited
A few minutes later and the whaler
was humping against the sohooners
side. It might have been humping
against Gregorys heart. so agonizing
was the suspense as he lay breathless
and cTamped between the coffinlike
width Of the house and rail.
1T was kind Of you to bring me
off, Maka," said Madge.
The old Hawaiian laughed mu-
sically in denial NO, MOI" he cried.
You must come below and see the
captain" said Madge.
Gregory was in cold sweat OF ap-
prehension.
Too much storm" said Maka.
doubtfully. II go home now, and put
rocks on the church roof"
Five minutes won't matter" said
sladge.
Again Gregory trembled
More better I go home quick"
said Maha. mo rocks, no roof"
The boat showed of, the crew strik.
ing up song. Madge seemed to 70.
main standing at the QanpUav vubora