Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-11-06

quIIeu almost steadily. oure smarter
than | thought, and deal more crooked"
Listen" the other said hurriedly. 81
didn't like to do this, but there wasn't
any way out of it. I've got lot on my
mind THU morning, and you complicated
matters. 1t may be that I'm saving your
life. The mountain yonder looks as if
he were about to blow his brains out,
and l couldn't be interrupted until got
certain ladies safely aboard here from the
town. AS for the fascinating person you
call Stembridge, he may be my guest, and
he may not. I'll see you about that later
on. He's been square as plumb-line to
me. You're good man, Crusoe, and
Breen is, too. Your lines are different,
that's all. You'll get your five thousand
that l promised to-day. Just sit tight,
and call for anything you want. Wen
be good friends. yet. Captain
Negley, have Mr.. Crusoe quartered pleas
antly aft, and tell Macready to serve him
with anything he desires. III be back
with the ladies in about an hour. You'll
of course have the ship keyed for sprint
to Fort de France"
Constable hurried down the ladder. and
an instant later was again in the launch,
which was aimed at the low-hanging pail,
back of which lay the tortured city. 1t
was now twenty-five minutes to nine He
could make the plantation house slightly
after the hour.
1t was but moment from the pier to
the carriage, and then the half-strangled
Ctrl00lad
Victor Hugo and up the morne toward
the plantation house. Uncle Joey's rig
was at the gate, good evidence that the
mails had been brought.
Constable entered the house hastily at
ten minutes past nine. There was a
word of cheer upon his lips. No one was
in the library or the music room; no one
but maid servant was on the lower
floor. She was gathering up the litter of
broken envelopes and newspaper wrap
pings upon the library table. Constable
imagined that the maid servant regarded
him strangely. He ran to the stairway
and called:
Are you almost ready, lades?'
He heard footsteps above and low
'N'NNS' 'hch bOOi ODtucu anu AlTS.
Stansbury crossed the upper hall and
appeared at the head of the stairway. Al
ready he was filled with a confusion of
alarms.
Pardon me for calling you, but every
thing is ready-as soon as you can come"
I'VE are not going on your yacht, Mr..
Constable" the elder woman said coldly.
He sprang up the stairs and faced her
in the dim light. Two or three times in
his life he had become cold like this,
some trait of his breed equipping him
with an outward calm, when the issue of
the moment was won or lost, but lifted
from his hands.
What is the latest difficulty, please?"
II would rather not discuss the mat
ter, Mr.. Constable"
May l speak with Miss Stansbury?"
1t was not given to the mother to ac-
cede or refuse, for the door behind her
was opened and the girl stood In the aper-
ture, her anguished eyes intent upon him.
Il returned to announce that every
thing is ready" he said quietly, "and your
mother tells me that you are not going"
No, we are not going" she repeated
in lifeless voice.
rs it too much for me to ask why?"
She did not answer at once, but seemed
trying to penetrate his brain with her
eyes. "Then, you have not seen the New
York papers?" she said. You may have
this. The others are below"
She handed him the front page of
daily journal. dated three weeks hefore
His own name was there, and not in
honor. When he looked up from the pa
per the door was shut. Constable went
below.
"Where is Mr. Wall?" he duly inquir-
ed of the maid servant.
He went out to the plantation, sir,
upon bringing in the mails"
"Where is Mr.. Breen?"
HE went down to the city, SIR"
Constable left the house and walked
rapidly out the driveway, turning toward
Saint Pierre. Here the mans pride in
tervened. He had committed a folly,
perhaps, but no broad evil. The state
ments of the press were farcical. Lara
Stansbury should not have allowed her
mother and the New York reporters to
shake her trust. With reaction piling
upon him its most bitter and tragic |
phases, Peter Constable conceded his fail |
IRE as a lover, and turned to his second |
ary passion-Pelee.
CHAPTER VIII.
Breen was not wholly unconscious of