The Columbus journal., 1910-03-02

kind 1 replied. striving earnestly t.
initiate her self-pOsseSsiOn. Arrange
definite shape. so that / can make n,
promise concerning your future. l cal
merely assure you present safety, ant
pledge you every comfort the yach
affords while you remain with u.s.
She continued 10 gaze at me
strangely, her eyes filled with ques
tioning
Then you-you refuse 10 tell Us
our fatc?'
Merely because I do not know IL
As l said before I am only one man
nitted against co.
She pressed her hand over her eyes
as though she would hide from me
the sudden horror pictured within the!r
depths.
What are you?" she exclaimed
suddenly. her lips trembling. "IstI
whose hands have we fallen? I neg
| that you answer me honestiy-..hy
| have you stolen this yacht? What
real purpose underlies this terrible
outrage?"
made no effort to disguise the
deep sympathy felt for ncr. yet
there was nothing I could answer but
must have sounded both harsh and
cruel.
Tine motive animating the men in
control is similar to tina. which rem
ders possible most of the desperate
deeds of the world-the search after
treasure
TREASURED" she gasped. thoroughly
bewildered. Where do you propose
going to search"
Far south. into the Antarctic"
The expression on her face was pitt
ful. yet stood helpless to comfort.
"Mercifui God. And you actually
mean to bear us with you into that
forsaken sea of ice? Oh, surely you
jest, yon seek TO brighten: you cannot
be earnest in such act of cruelty.
Whom can l believe? What can
hope? You have told me you were
the captain of this crew of buccaneers,
and yet you say you can accomplish
nothing with them to forward our re-
lease. Then take me to those who
can! Let me beg uron my knees for
mercy Surely. surely We are Of no
value to you in your search after
treasure. We are only weak. helpless
women. Think of what this must
mean to me. and be merciful."
There vas no trace of tears in her
eyes, but it was the white, agOnized
face. the Unconsciously outspread
arms of appeal. that smote me. felt
all my limbs tremble. my lips falter.
as l made swift response.
Lady Darlington. believe me. I
have no desire except honestly to
serve you. The actual truth is. Ihavec con-
scented to retain what is a purely NOM
inal command of this vessel, with no
other purpose except that such out
ward authority yields me some op-
Hortunity to assist and protect you.
Otherwise l would spurn the whole
affair and defy these outlaws to do
their worst 1t was a deplorable &C
cident that brought me here and
placed me in this situation. Prac-
tically l am as much a prisoner on
board as yourself. Later, II the Cd
portunity ever be given, 1 shall relate
YOU my story, and then. perhaps, you
will appreciate how perfectly helpless
l am 10 override the decision of this
vessels crew. They are mad with the
lus. of gold, crazed by the prospect
OF suddenly achieving vast wealth
through single bold stroke. Would
the tears of a woman influence them
now? would the impotent threat of q
single. helpless man? They are armed.
organized. determined. desperate.
The only thing 1 can do is appar-
ertly TO yield TO them. trusting thus
to persu"dH hem into some measure
of mere, AID The only thing you can