The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-05-15
~ 81 eOse5 .fzE9RLkL "a z94NY


une enough TO get out of the creeE
and back to the island; but what mis-
chief Gillespie was furthering in his
behalf l could not imagine.
There was a gradual rise toward the
creek and we were obliged to cling to
the bushes IN making our ascent. Sud
denly, as I paused for breath, Giles
pie grasped my arm.
For Gods sake, stopi This is no
affair of yours. On my honor there's
nothing that affects you here"
Il will see whether there is or mott"
1 exclaimed, throwing him off, but he
kept close beside me.
We gained the trail that ran along
the creek, and paused to listen.
Where's your Iallneh 2''
rTuu IT, ne replied, succlnctly.
had my bearings pretty well, and
set of toward the lake, Gillespie
trud ging behind in the narrow path.
When we had gone about 20 yards a
lantern glimmered below and 1 heard
voices raised in excited colloquy. Gil
lespie started forward at a run.
Keep back! This is my AFFAIR.""
I'm making it mine," 1 replied, and
flung in ahead of him.
l ran forward rapidly, the voices
growing louder, and soon heard men
stumbling and falling about in conflict.
a woman's voice now rose in a sharp
cry:
Let go of him! Let go of him.
Gillespie flashed by me down the
bank to the waters edge, where the
struggle ended abruptly l was not far
behind, and 1 saw Henry Holbrook in
the grasp of the Italian, who was ex-
planning to the woman, who held the
lantern high above her head, that he
was only protecting himself Gillespie
had caught hold of the sailor, who
continued to protest his innocence of
any wish to injure Holbrook; and for
a moment We peered through the dark,
taking account of one another.
$50 it's you, is it," said Henry Hol-
brook as the Italian freed him and his
eyes fell on me. 81 should like to
know what you mean by meddling in
my affairs. By God, I've enough to do
with my own flesh and blood without
dealing with outsiders"
Helen Holbrook turned swiftly and
held the lantern toward me, and when
she saw NE shrugged her shoulders.
You really give yourself a great
deal of unnecessary concern, Mr.. Don
ovan."
You are damned impudent med
dler!" blurted Henry Holbrook. 81
have had you watched. You-you-'
He darted toward me, but the Ital-
ian again caught and held him, and
another alteration began between
them. Holbrook was wrought to a high
pitch of excitement and cursed every
body who had in any way interfered
with him.
Come, Helen" said Gillespie, STEP
ping to the girls side; and at this
Henry Holbrook turned upon him vici-
ously.
You are another meddlesome out
slider. Your father was pig-a pig,
do you understand? If it hadn't been
for him I shouldn't be here tonight,
camping out like an outlaw. And
you've got to stop annoying my daugh-
teri"
Helen turned to the Italian and
spoke to him rapidly in his own
tongue.
You must take him away. He is
not himself. Tell him 1 have done the
best could. Tell him"
She lowered her voice so that
heard no more Holbrook was still
heaping abuse upon Gillespie, who
stood submNshely by; but Helen ran
up the bank, ne. lantern light flashing
eerily about her
The Italian drew Holbrook toward
the boat that lay at the edge of the
lake. He seemed to forget me in his
anger against Gillespie, and he kept
turning toward the path down which
the girls lantern family twinkled Gil
lespie kept on after the girl, the Ian
tern flashing more rarely through the
turn in the path, until l caught the
threshing of his launch as it swung
out into the lake
I drew back, seeing nothing to gain
by appealing to Holbrook in his pres
ent overweight state The Italian had
his hands full, and was glad, judged.
to let me alone. A moment later he
had pushed of his boat. and 1 heard
the sound of oars receding toward the
island.
found my horse, led him deeper
into the wood and threw of the sad
die. Then I walked down the road
until I found a barn, and crawied into
the loft and slept.
CHAPTER XVIII.