The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-24
VIRGINIA. Fl E : ;A Mr. :: g.
$3.50: =: -: -. saz :; LANES es.''


ness of his well-known In circles
in which his affaires du occur
were known. Mr.. Shayne saw
real danger of a breach to which
no obligation to Carson could have
forced him, and grasped Silber-
berg's hand warmly. He made his
decision without much real diff
Guilty. though he hated being bull
lied by Silberberg. Yielding, he
yielded completely. as a diplomat
should.
MAX. old man." said he,
you're quite right! We can't go
down in this wind to let him land;
but we can settle with him, and
send him aft. Come with me-"
Theodore was examining his
parachute. AS the pair entered
the cabin, he had loosened the
lashings, and was closing and
spreading pair of light, collapse
BILE Gossett deflectors. He slung
the case over his shoulder, and
stood with black brows frowing,
the slim parachute in his hand.
ST have decided" said Shayne,
chat your aeronef doesn't inter-
est me-"
Every WE'LL" replied Theodore.
l"You are the sole judge of that,
of course"
"And you may consider the ne
gotiations off," went on Shayne.
81 adopted that theory some
time ago." replied Carson.
Shayne took out his purse and
ostentatiously removed from 1t
number of bills. n
81 think 1 ought to pay you for
your time" said he, land your
service to my niece. Please take
these, and be good enough to go
aft with the crew."
If Silberberg had not seen fit
to indulge in a sardonic laugh at
this exigency, the explosion WOULD
not have occurred; but that sneer7
ing chuckle acted as a detonator
for Carson's temper. He struck
Shayne's extended hand, scatter
ing the bills over the floor. One
of them slid slithering across TO
the door and was Just blowing out
when Silberberg caught it. The
lothers lodged in corners like green
snow. Shayne stood with flaring
nostrils and white with rage. Sill
berberg, the money rustling in his
fear-shaken hand, appealed to
Shayne not to be rash.
Don't notice the fellow.
Shayne," said he. "He wants to
keep his hold on the girl, and"
The speech was cut short by a
blow from Carson's flat hand, de-
liyered with lightning quickness,
and with singing force. AS calm
ly as though bidding Silberberg
good morning Carson spoke to
him.
BE careful how you speak of
her." said he, "or I'll throw you
over the side. Mr.. Shayne, per-
NIT me to say that you are a cur.
shall leave this craft at once!''
He started to go on deck, but
as If reconsidering. he turned and
trapped on the door through
which Virginia had disappeared.
The girl opened it and looked
breathlessly into Theodore's face,
read the story of passion and
strife and insult. Shayne still
stood as If fixed; Silberberg was
stanching a bleeding nose with his
handkerchief. Virginia gasped.
and looked at Theodore question
lingiy.
st am about to leave the Roc,
lsaid he. 81 could not leave with
out bidding you good-by."
4 "Going?" said she, clinging to
J lbanalities because she could think
lof nothing else. Have we de-
lscended
l Keep away from that mani"
screamed .Silberberg. "He struck
me! And he knocked your uncle's
money all over the Ship"
i The girl looked at the fugitive
bills which Silberberg had begun
laboriously to pick up, and shot a
glance of comprehension at Theo-
dore.
you are a mani" said she
''Let me see you safe aground"
! Carson stood aside for her, and
they went out upon the mile-high
deck. She halted, aghast to note
that they were still high among
THE clouds of the storm, blowing
on through a wild waste of toss-
ling vapor, while the hoarse groWl
from the earth was so distant ats
to admonish her of the giddy
J, height from the ground. Beyond
J, the illumination of the lights, II
was absolutely dark.
i you must be going aft?" said
lshe interrogatively. sI'll go with
you"
j NO" said he. ''I shall never
,lsee you again; but I shall never
forget you! Good-by. Psyche,
'lgood-by!"
i That instantaneous leave-tak-
ling the trembling girl never for
lgot. Pressing her hands. he start
ed forward as IL to clasp her in
HIS arms, while she made no ges-
ilture OF either yielding or resist
ling. He turned from the embrace
Ialready half begun, stepped upon
the rail, and dropped off into that
Iblack abyss OF night and tempest.
Like q stone he fell. lost in the
'lmists.
j The parachute, so far as she
could see. had not opened in the