Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-04
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCI

Then in two breaths: Cant do It,"
he decided; mot at the price"
9"Why?" Kirkwood stared despair
ingly after the brigantine, that was al
ready drawn far ahead
Danger" growled the fellow, "-
wind
At a loss completely, Kirkwood
found no words. He dropped his head,
considering.
Not at the price," the sullen voice
lterated; and he looked up to find the
cunning gaze upon him.
How much them"
Five poun' I'll have-no less, for
riskin' my life this day"
Impossible. haven't got it,
In silence the man unshipped the
tiller and moved toward the cleats.
Hold on minute
kirkwood unbuttoned his coat, and,
freeing the chain from his waistcoat
buttonholes, removed his watch.
As well abandon them altogether; he
had designed to leave them as security
for the two pounds, and had delayed
stating the terms only for fear lest
they be refused Now, too late as
ever, he recognized his error. But
surely, he thought, it should be appar-
ent even to that low intelligence that
the timepiece alone was worth more
than the boat itself
will you take these?" he offered.
Take and keep them-only set me
aboard that ship"
Deliberately the fisherman weighed
the watch and chain in his broad, hard
nal n orr0Uj,oo. CT IN
his bronzed mask.
"HoW much?" he asked slowly.
Eighty pounds, together; the chain
alone cost me twenty"
The shifty, covetous eyes ranged
from the treasure in his hand to the
threatening east A puff of wind
caught the sail and sent the boom
athwartships, like mighty fail. Both
men ducked instinctively, to escape a
Draining.
How do know" objected the skip
per.
I'm telling you. If you've got eyes
you can see,' retorted Kirkwood saw
agely, seeing that he had erred in tell
ing the truth; the amount he had
named was too great to be grasped a.
once by this crude, cupidous brain
How do I know" the man repeat.
ed Nevertheless he dropped watch
and chain into his pocket, then with a
meaning grimace extended his horny
greedy palm.
What ?"
"Hand over tn two pound and well
go"
I'll see you damned first!"
A flush of rage blinded the young
man. The knowledge that the Alethea
his reach seemed to madden him
White-lipped and ominously quiet he
rose from his seat on the combing, as
without answer, the fisherman, crawl
ing out on the overland, began to haul
in the dory.
ashore We 60" he pronounced his
ultimatum, motioning Kirkwood to
enter the boat.
| The American turned, looking for the
Alethea or for the vessel that he be
lieved bore her name. She was near
ing the light-ship when he found her
and as he looked a squall blurred th5
air between them, plotting the brig
antine out with a smudge of rain. The
effect was as if she had vanished as
if she were forever snatched from his
grasp; and with Dorothy aboard hel
Heaven alone knew in what need Of
him!
Mute and blind with despair ant
wrath, he turned upon the man ant
caught him by the collar, forcing hin
out over the lip of the overhang. They
were unevenly matched, Kirkwoot
far the ssighter, but strength came te
him in the crisis, physical strength
and address such as he had not dreamed
was at his command. And the sur
prise of his onslaught proved an ally
of unguessed potency. Before he him
self knew it he was standing on tbs
overhang and had shifted his hold t,
seize the fellow about the waist; then
lifting him clear of the deck, and aid