The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-11-22

holding EN- FOR a good many thou
sands of years and you can't change
EN-. You belong to me now. To hell
with your equality! You are nothing
more nor less than my property, and
mark YOU" he reached out a trem-
bling finger and shook it at her, your
salvation is with me. If I cast you off,
you go into the gutter"
She wondered vaguely how much
more of this she could stand and live.
But don't be afraid" he went on
with a drunken attempt at reassur-
ance, you are too fine and too hand
some, even if you are cracked, for
that-yet. I'm glad to see you've come
to your senses"
He rose heavily as he spoke and
felt his way around the table hand
over hand. He approached her. She
let him do it. She shrank a little
closer together, every muscle tense for
action. She was no longer a woman;
she was a human tigress and her phil
osophy was gone. He was too drunk
to see it, too incapacitated to take
warning
That's right" he continued as he
lurched nearer to her. stay right
there. I'm coming to you as fast as
can and when l get close to you,
Wen kiss, and"
He was by her side now. He
Strengthened himself up with a spas
modic effort, released his hold on the
table and stretched out his arms to-
ward her. And then she sprang at
him. How she did it, she could never
tell, but in some way her outstretched
arms, grasping for his throat, struck
him in the breast. Unsteady on his
feet, he went down as if he had been
shot Such was the violence of his fall
that the momentum carried her with
him. She fell upon him with all her
force. His head went back and struck
the deck with a frightful- crash. She
herself was almost stunned by the
| violence of her own fall, although his
| body broke it.
She arose and stood over him for
a minute and then she lifted her foot
and brought it down upon him. He
| had said she was a mad woman and
| it was true. She was crazed by what
she had heard, by the horror of the
situation. She had not changed her
dress for dinner that afternoon. She
was wearing a pair of light boating
shoes. 1t was lucky for him. If she
had worn evening slippers with high,
rigid heels. she would have mashed
his face beyond recognition. AS ii
was, she left horrible marks upon it.
He lay absolutely motiOnless. She
could see that he was still breathing
and was not dead. If she had had
a weapon she might have killed him
in the fury and transport of her rage
| This wretched philosopher! AS no re-
sistance came from him, she pres
emily stopped, the feminine in heI
slowly rising to the fore.
She realized now that the irrevoc
able had happened; that there was nc
longer room for two Of them on that
ship. AS the mists of passion cleared
away, although the fire of rage still
burned in her heart, her mind cleared
also. She thought with such rapidly
as she had never thought before.
First she picked up a cloak, threw
it about her and went on deck. A cabiI
attendant was standing at the compan
ionway, as was always the case, wait
ing a possible summons. She told hin
that his master was i'll and did no
] a. - tets
even want the dinner things cleared
away. He wanted to be left entirely
alone until morning. The servan
smiled slightly, she thought. in thu
light from the cabin skylight. Sh'
noticed that it was a mOonless night
cloudy, overcast, for she could see NJ
stars. She knew what that smill
meant; that the man realized wha
sort of sickness his owner and maste
was liable to- She babe him tell tn
officer of the deck her message an
then dismissed him.
Then she returned to the cabin an
carefully locked the door. She glance
at the man as she did so. He lay jus
as he had lain before. She bent owe
him. He was still breathing, she note
with-was it regret? But she waste
, no time over him. Time was the mos
precious of all things to her at tia
moment.
She had a clear and definite pla
of action. She knew exactly what sh
intended to do and how she intende
, to do it. Fortunately the means OF e
cape were at hand. They had passe
: one or two tiny islands during tn
day. mere treeless spots Of sand {
coral in the vast of the ocean, b
prospects that others more invitin
y might be raised had caused the ma
!, to order the power tender to be g
= overheard. This was a good, su
Il stantial boat, 10 feet in length. broa
beamed and built for heavy seas, y
: powerfully engineG and capable
good speed. BY his direction the tanl
had been filled and everything owe
hauled so that II would be in readine
for use. The sea was very calm al
II the gentle air scarcely raised ripp
= on its surface. To save the troub
= Of hosting it aboard again. the tend
i had been left trailing astern at q
i end Of long line. Il would be rea'
= for instant use. She would escape
that. She knew how to run the mot
~ and how to steer the boat. She h
done 1t many time.
= Carrying her heavy boat cloak s
Il entered her cabin. hastily packed b
= bag with what things she fancied s
n would need. returned to the tab