Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-31

ueT uuuSThS loi tuS SiShs "a w
mans figure. When he had first seel
the ship rounding the point he hat
uttered n cry, then fallen silent watch
ing her as she drew near. needless o
his surroundings. His heart was leap
ing; his breath was choking him. l
seemed rs If he must shout Mndredi
name aloud and stretch his arms on
to her. or course she would see hin
as the Grande Dame passed. She woult
be looking for him. he knew. Sh'
would be standing there. wet with TIT
dew, searching with all her eyes
Doubtless she had waited patiently a
her post from the instant land cam'
into sight. Seized by a sudden panic
lest she pass him unnoticed. he order
ed his launch near the yachts course
His eyes roved over the craft. but al
he saw were n uniformed officer upol
the bridge and the bronzed faces O
the watch staring over the rail. HI
saw close drawn curtains over the cab
In windows. indicating that the passen
gers were still asleep. Then as h'
stood there heavy hearted. droopin,
with fatigue. his wet body chilled b!
the mornings breath. the Grand'
Dame glided past. and he found th'
shell beneath his feet rocking In heI
wake.
George Balt hailed him and brought
his own launch alongside.
What craft is thatY' he inquired.
"She Is the company's yacht witt
the \. A. p. A. officers aboard"
Some OF our boys Is hurt prett!
bad" he observed. 1--WE told them Il
take in their nets and 20 back to tht
plant"
I'VE ull need breakfast"
"I don't want nothing. I'm gOlni
over TO the trap"
Emerson shrugged his shoulders list
!essly: he was very tired. What IL
the use? II won't pay us TO lit It."
"I've watched that point Of land fol
five years. and never seen fish act
this way before" Bait growled stub
Eornlv. III they don't strike in 1"
,lay we better close down. Marsh's mer
cut half our nets and crippled more
than ha:f our crew last night" He be-
;s.an To rurlble curses. Say. we made
mistake the other day. didn't we:
We'd ought to have put that fellei
away. II ain't too late yet"
wait. Wayne Wayland is aboard
that yacht. know him. He's a hard
man. and I've heard strange stories
about him. but don't believe he
knows all that Marsh has been doing
I'm going to see him and tell him
everything"
"S'pose he turns you down"
"Then there will he time enough to-
to consider what you suggest don't
like to think about It."
"You don't have to-" said Bait. low.
ering bis voice so that the helmsmer
could not hear. 1--we been thinking !,
over all night. and 1t looks like Ia
ought to do 1t myself. Marsh is com
Ing to Inc anyhow. und-l'm older thar
you he. II ain't right for young fel
Ter like you to take a chance. II they
get me you can run the business
alone"
Boyd laid his hand on his compan
ions shoulder.
NO" he said. Perhaps wouldn't
stick AT murder-I don't know. But
won't profit by another mans crime
and II 1t comes to that I'll take my
share Of the risk and the guilt. What
ever you do. stand with you. But
we'll hope for better things. It's ne
easy thing for me to go to Mr.. Way
land asking q favor You see. hi'
daughter is Well. IL want to SEE
her very badly"
Bait eyed him shrewdly.
"I see. And that makes II dead
wrong for you to take hand. II its
necessary to get Marsh I'll do It alone
With him out Of the way ! think you
can make a 20 Of 1t. He's like a rat
tler-somebody's got to stomp on him
Now I'm of for the trap. Let me-
know what the old man says"
Boyd returned to the cannery will
the old mood Of self disgust and bitter
ness heavy upon him. He realized thai
Georges offer to commit murder hat
not shocked him as much as upon 1T
first mention. He knew that he hat
thought Of shedding human blood witt
as little compunction as II the intend
ed victim had been some noxious ami
NAL. He felt. indeed. that II his low
for Mildred made him criminal she
too, would be soiled by his dishonor
and for her sake he shrank from th'
idea of violence. yet he lacked th'
energy at that time to put It from him
Well, he would 60 to her father. hum
BILE himself and beg for protection. i
be failed then Marsh must look out TO
himself. He could not find 1t In hi
heart to spare his enemy.
At the plant he found Alton Clyd'
tremendously excited at the arrival o
the yacht and eager tovisit his friends
BE sent him to the launch and afte
hasty breakfast Joined him.
On their way out Boyd felt a return
Of that misgiving which had mastered
him on his first meeting with Mildret
In Chicago. For the second time b.
was bringing her failure instead OF tn
promised victory.
Willis Marsh was ahead OF MIN
standing with Mr.. Wayland at the rail
Some one else was with them. Boyd
heart leaped wildly as he recognizes
her. He would have known that slin
figure anywhere And Mildred sa'
him, too. pointing him out to her con-
panions.
With knees shaking under him b
came stumbling up the landing ladder
a tall. gaunt figure Of man In roug
clothing and boots stained with tn
sea salt. he looked older by Ave year
than when the girl had last seen hin
His cheeks were followed and his LIP
cracked by the wind, but bis eyes wer
afiame with the old light Fills smil
was for her alone.
he never remembered the spoke
} greetings nor the looks the others CAV
him, for her soft. cool hands lay In b
hard, feverish palms, and she was smi