The Mena weekly star., 1909-01-28
tear at his wounds.


 Hold hard!9 cried Blake. catching the hand in an iron grip. Something in his touch, or the tone | of command, seemed to cover the wretched man into a state of abject submission.
 "selp me. I'll confess confess l alll' he babbled 'The stones are sewed In the stomach pad; 'ad to 1 take 'em bout of their settings, and melt up the gold" He paused, and q cunning smile stole over his distorted l features "Ho, wot bloomin' larkl L,Valet plays the gent. an they never .pas hfnklngl MT. Cecil Winthrope, 'fhR you please. an Int of title wot a hrki 'Awkinss. me lad. you're gay 'oaxer! Wot lark! wot a lark!"
 Again there was pause. The breath of the wounded man came in l labored gasps. There was an ominous l rattling in his throat Yet once again he rallied, and this time his eyes | turned to Miss Leslie, bright with an I agonized consciousness of her pres ence and of all his guilt and shame.
 His voice shrilled out in quavering appeal: "Don't-don't look at me, miss. I tried to make myself gen tleman; God knows I tried! I fought | my way up out of the East End-out | of that hell-and none ever lifted fin l ger to help me. I educated myself | like a scholar--then the stock sharks l cheated me of my savings-out of the last penny; and had to take service. My God a valet--his grace's valet and I scholari Do you wonder the devil got into me? Do you" l Blake's deep voice, firm but strange ly husky, broke in upon and silenced the cry of agony: There, I guess 1 you've said enough" "Enough-and last night My God! | to be such beasti The devil tempted 1 me-aye, and he's paid me out in my l own coin, Pm done for! God ha | mercy on me!--God ha' mercy" Again came the gasping rattle; this time there was no rally. Blake thrust himself between Miss I Leslie and the crumpled figure. l Get back around the tree" he said | harshly.
 What are you going to do?" That's my business" he replied. He l thrust his burning-glass into her ] hand. Here; go and build fire, if you' can find any dry stuff" You're not going to- You'll bury him!"
 Yes. Whatever he may have been, he's dead now. poor deyil!" q can't go," she half whispered, | mot until-until I've learned Do you l can you tell me just what Is para 1 noia?"
 Blake studied a little, and tapped l the top of his head. "Near as can say, it's softening of the brain--up there" Do you think that" she hesitated l -"that he had it?" | Again Blake paused to consider.
 Well, I'm no alienist l thought | him a softly from the first. But that was all in line with what he was play ing on us-British dude. Fooled me, and I'd been chumming with Jimmy
 Scarbridge-and Jimmy was the straight goods, fresh imported--mono- | cle even-when I first ran up against 1 him. No; this--this Hawkins, If that's
 his name, had brains all right. Still he may have been cracked. When
 folks go dotty, they sometimes get
 extra cute. The best I can think of
 him is that losing his savings may
 have made him slip cog, and then the scare over the way we landed here and his spells of fever probably hur.
 rled up the softening."
 Then you believe his story,"
 "Yes, do. But if you'll go,
 please"
 "One thing more-I must know now! Do you remember the day when you set up the signal and you you quarreled with him?' | Blake reddened and dropped his gaze. Did he go and tell you that !? The sneak"
 l "If you please, let us say nothing more about him. But would you care to tell me what you meant-what you said then?"
 Blake's flush deepened; but he raised his head, and faced her square ly as he answered.: "No I'm not go- ing to repeat any dead mans talk; and as for what I said, this isn't the l time or place to say anything in that line-now that we're alone. Under stand?"
 I'm afraid do not, MT. Blake. Please explain"
 Don't ask me. Miss Jenny. I can't tell you now. Youll have to walt till we get aboard ship. We'll catch a steamer before long. 'Tisn't every | one of them that goes ashore in these blows"
 Why did you build that door? Did you suspect" She glanced down at the hnddled figure between them,
 Blake frowned and hesitated; then | burst out almost angrily; Well, you know now he was sneak; so it's not | blabbing to tell that much--I knew he was before; and it's never safe to trust sneak"
 Thank youl' she said, and she turned away quickly that she might not again look at the prostrate figure
 CHAPTER XXI.
 Wreckaae and Salvage.