The Columbus journal., 1909-06-23

well, now, ! must say, was never
much of a hand at such things, and
really can't imagine what one could
rig up. There might have been a bit
of sail in the boat, but one can't see
a sign of it. fancy 1t was smashed"
Miss Leslie ventured a glance at
Blake. Though still lying as he had
sprawled in his drunkenness, there was
comforting suggestion of power in
his broad shoulders and square jaw.
rs he still-in that condition."
Must have slept it off by this time,
and there's no more in the flask" an
swered Winthrope Reaching over
with his foot, he pushed against
Blake's back.
Huh! All right" grunted the
sleeper, and sat up, as had Winthrope.
half dazed. Then he stared around
him, and rose TO his feet well, what
in hell! Say. this is damn cheerful"
Il fancy We are in nasty fix. But
l say, my man, there is woman pres
ent. and your language. you know"
|" Blake turned and fixed the English
man with cold stare.
Look here, YOU tlOomin' lud," he
said, there's just one thing you're
going to understand. right here and
now. I'm not your man, and we're not
going to have any of that kind of blat-
ter. Any fooi can see we're in
tight hole, and we're like to keep COM
pany fer whiie-probably long as we
last
"Whs.-ah-may l ask, do you mean
by that?"
Blake laughed harshly, and pointed
from the reef-strewn sea to the vast
stretches Of desolate marsh. Far in.
land, across miles of brackish lagcons
and reedy nrd-fats, could be seen
groups of scrubby, half-leafless trees;
ten or twelve miles to the southwark
a rocky headland jutted out into the
water; otherwise there was nothing in
sight but sea and swamp. If 1t could
not properly be termed sea-view, it
was at least a very wet landscape.
Fine prospect" remarked Blake.
dryly. We'll be in luck If the fever
don't get the last of US inside
month; and as for you two, you'd have
as much show of lasting a month as
a toad with rattlesnake, if it wasn't
for Tom Blake-that's my name-Tom
Biake-and as long as this shindy
lasts, you're welcome to call me Tom
or Blake, whichever suits. But IN
derstand, we're not going to have
any more of your bloody, bloomin'
English condescension. Aboard ship
you had the drop on me, and could
pile on dog till the cows came home.
Here I'm Blake and you're Win
thrope." . -
Believe NE, Mr.. Blake, l quite ap-
preciate Decentralization. And now.
fancy that, instead of wasting
time"
It's about time you introduced me
to the lady," interrupted Blake, and
he stared at them half defiantly, yet
with twinkle in his eyes.
Miss Leslie flushed. WINTHROP
Syore softly, and bit his lip. Aboard
ship, backed by Lady Bayrose and the
captain, he had goaded the American
at pleasure. Now, however, the sit
uation was reversed. Both title and
authority had been swept away by
the storm, and he was left to shift for
himself against the man who had
every reason to hate him for his over.
bearing insolence. Worse still, both
he and Miss Leslie we're now depen-
dent upon the American, in all prob
ability for life itself. 1t was q bitter
pill and hard to swallow.
Blake was not slow to observe the
EDglfshman's hesitancy. He grinned.
Every dog has his day, and guess
this is mine," he said. Take your
time. II 1t comes hard. I can imagine
it's pretty sti6 dose for your ludship
But why in-why in frozen hades> an
American lady should object to an in
PRODUCTION to countryman who's 60
ing to do his level best to save her
pretty little self from the hyenas-
we'll. IT beats me-"
Winthrope flushed redder than the
girl.
Miss Leslie. Mr.. Blake" he muir
INJURED, hoping to put an end to the
situation.
But yet Blake persisted. He bowed,
openly exultent.
You see, miss" he said, Il know the
correct thing quite as much as your
swells. knew all along you were
Jenny Leslie. ran a survey for your
the @. T. railroad, and he did me out
Of my pay"
(To BE coNTINUED.)