The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-12-07
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with her personal freedom. She de-
scended the rocks, joyous as pris-
oner escaped from bondage.
Now" she said to herself, Il will
see what Deadman's Island is like
She had not gone far before the
character of the place was made plain
to her. Grim and forbidding it GER
tainly was, and it wore an air of
secrecy and gloom. as though the old
legend of massacre still overshad-
owed it. On its southern slope stood
the house; there, too, the early set
tlement had been planted; but no
trace Of 1t now remained. Eastward,
the outer cliffs reared bald heads out
of the leaping surf. The centre of
the island was given over to morass
and thickets of spruce, pierced only
by an occasional sheep track. The
western end eliminated in a long
point, called Dragons Nose--a mass
of tumbled rocks and low dense cedar
woods, pushed out into the sea, like
the protruding snout of some marine
monster, and often cut off from the
main island by high tides. But JAG
queline did not discover all this at
once, for the brown twilight began
to fall, warning her not to venture
too far into an unknown solitude.
She prudently paused in the shelter
of some rocks that looked down on
one of the few beaches of the island
"a small clear space, covered with
sand and disintegrated mussel shells.
Directly a foot crunched on the
pebbles. In the gathering dusk
man appeared, pacing along bit of
smooth shore and swinging his walk
ing stick carelessly. Jacqueline rec
ognized Trevor's elegant figure and
debonair bearing, and shrank in
stinctively into the shadow Of the
rocks. Her enemy was also abroad
for twilight airing.
Whistling softly, and with an air
of security and ease, he approached
her place of concealment A great
wave of anger surged up in the girls
heart. Safe in his ocean stronghold,
he was we'll able to defy her puny eff
forts, and laugh at day of possible
reckoning. John Hatton's daughter
had been brushed aside as easily as
some troublesome insect. A wicked
impulse seized Jacqueline.
"Judas!" she shouted, in a voice
that rose clear and high on the night
air. The rocks caught and echoed
the word-tossing it to and fro, till
dozen phantom voices seemed rel
peating it to the night. Trevor
stopped short and looked around. A
barrier of brown flint hid Jacqueline.
Again the foul name, synonymous of
the blacklist treachery ever known to
man, divided the silence and hurled
upon him its eloquent accusation. His
walking stick clattered down to the
pebbles. He gave stified yell
staggered pitched forward. Fright
ened beyond measure at the success
Of her ruse, Jacqueline sprang from
cover and fed like the wind, stop
ping not till she had left the beach
behind her.
He will remember my voice!" was
her dismayed thought. Il have now
made my position in this house ten
fold worse than ever! But, oh, what
scare gave him! A guilty con-
science needs no accuser."
She found herself on the rising
ground above the pier, and almost be-
fore the hut occupied by the facto-
tum Joe Raby. The skipper himself
was not visible, but the door of his
dwelling stood open, and offered JAG
queline full view of the one room
within. A rude bunk was nailed to
it's wall sea chest occupied the cor
ner The red-hot stove flung out a
grateful heat and dirty kerosene
lamp flared on the table. A bachelor
establishment.
Jacqueline backed quickly away
and was caught in the snare nets,
lobster pots and salt casks that sur
rounded Joe's door. and indicated
the manner in which the skipper
spent his leisure.
This way, miss!" called voice.
You've lost your bearings!" and
Peter of the cross eyes stepped sud
denly out from behind the hut.
Lord! but you've led me a smart
stern chasel" he continued, as he
famed his red. perspiring face with
his hat. Then it dawned upon JAG
queline that the man had been dog
ging her steps. II just want to warn
you," he said, growing brazen under
her high, imperious glance, ito go
back now to the house. It's not
safe to be abroad on Deadmans at
dark. There's ghosts out-lots of
email the folks killed in the old
massacre. You're in peril of your
life, a-wandering so careless round
the island, miss!"
IF l am in peril" answered Jac-
queline, in whitening tone, tits not
from ghosts. How dare you follow
me?"
Mr.. Trevor sent me to look after
you, miss. | tell you them old dead
folks often walk here. I've seen 'em
myself, with hair flying like mares
tails, and the stains of the slaughter
on 'em. It's bad luck to see ghosts,
miss -something evil is sure TO hap
pen when they show up
Then / advise you to hasten under
cover at once" said Jacqueline, with
cold scorn. II would far sooner
meet the ancient inhabitants of this
place than its present owners /
warn you, do not follow me again,
sir, even though your master COM
mands It,"
He cringed before her.
NOW, miss, / humbly beg your