Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-07-22


an instant to stare into the east with
yomber eyes. he shipped the tiller and
bent to the halyards. As the sail rat
tied up, tapping wildly, Kirkwood
marked with relief, for 1t meant so
4 much time saved. that 1t was already
I close reefed.
But when at last the boom was
thrashing overhead and the halyards
had been made fast to their cleats the
fisherman again stood erect, peering
distrustfully at the distant wall Of
cloud.
Then, in two breaths. Cant do it."
he decided-..not at the price,
"Whyg' 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. con-
sidering
Not at the price," the sullen voice
iterated. and he looked up to find the
cunning gaze upon him.
How much, then?'
Five pun I'll have, no less. for
riskin' my life this day" IS
impossible. l haven't got It,"
In silence the man unshipped the till
er and moved toward lie cleats.
Hold on minuta.
Kirkwood unbut,c lis coat and.
freeing the chain Hon his waistcoat
buttonholes. removed his watch. AS
well abandon them altogether. He had
designed to leave them as security
for the f2 and had delayed stating the
terms only for fear lest they be re-
fused. Now. too late, as ever, he rec
ognized his error But surely. he
thought, it should be apparent even to
that low intelligence that the time
piece alone was worth more than the
boat itself
Twill 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
palm, eyes narrowing to mere Sits in
his bronzed mask.
"How much?' he asked slowly.
Eighty pounds together. The chain
alone cost me twenty"
The shifty. coyetous 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 l know objected the
, skipper.
I'm telling you. II you've eyes you
can see," retorted Kirkwood savagely.
seeing that he had erred in telling the
!, truth. The amount he lad named was
too great to be grasped at once by this
crude cupidinous brain.
, How do l known" the man repeat
ed. Nevertheless he dropped watch
and chain into his pocket. then. with a
meaning grimace. extended again his
horny. greedy palm.
what
Hand over tn two pun and we'll CO.
. .I'll see you hanged irst!'
ashore We co. He pronounced his
ultimatum. motioning Kirkwood to en-
i ter the boat.
Lie AIDeTlcdH tuTueu, ibohlIg Iol
!. the Alethea or for the vessel that he
4 believed bore that name. She was
. nearing the lightship when he founG
her. and as he looked a squall blurred
J the air between them. blotting thu
brigantine out with a smudge of rain
The effect was as II she had vanished
! as IL she were forever snatched from
= his grasp, and with Dorothy ABOARD
her-heaven alone knew In what neet
! Of him!
q 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. The.
= were unevenly matched, Kirkwood ia
= the slighter. but strength came to hin
: In the crisis. physical strength and ad
- dress such as he had not drea med wer
at his command. And the surprise o
u his onslaught proved an ally Of TN
guessed potency. Before he himsel
y knew It he was standing on the over
a. hang and had shifted his hold to seiz
e. the fellow about the waist; then. lifi
ing him clear Of the deck and aide
by the lurch Of the catboat. he cas-
him bodily into the dory. The mar
IT falling. struck his head against one O
the thwarts-a glancing blow tina
n stunned him temporarily. Kirkwoo
&c himself dropped as II shot. trailin
OF reef point Shaping his cheek until
IL stung as the boom thrashed overhead
ne 1t was as close a call as he had known
The knowledge sickened him little.
ST Without rising he worked the pain
n er loose and cast the dory adrift, the
OF crawled back into the cockpit. N
pang Of compassion disturbed him q
&c he abandoned the fisherman to til
10 mercy Of the sea. Though the fello'
as lay stin, uncouthly distorted. in tn
en- bottom Of the dory. he was in no dal
at ger. The wind and waves togethe
40 would carry the boat ashore. For ths
10 matter. the man was even then r,