The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-14

ana stunned ruH OF apparata OF various
kinds. There was a big gas-motor
singing away at one end, running q
dynamo. Right near the window was
a heavy table with all the parapher-
MALTA Of a wireless station.
There was a young man standing
right by the table. evidently Just out
Of his chair. He was taking on the
telephone headpiece when / first saw
him. He looked to be under thirty,
and wore red hair and a good coat Of
sunburn; and he was mad clean
through-mad at another man who
was standing Just inside doorway
leading to another room. That door
/ was closed The second mau was
evidently Just out Of bed; he had q
crash bathrobe belted round him. with
his pyjamas showing underneath. and
beefy, naked ankles running into bed
room slippers. They were having 1t
hot and heavy, ripping out at each
other straight from the shoulder.
II don't know-didn't hear-what
started the row, and It ended Just aft
er came within hearing. The young
g. chap was saying-be had q bit OF a
brogue: Don't let that trouble you,
Mister Black. I'll have you know
wired for q relief last night, while
you were at dinner, and the minute
he sets foot on this damned island,
leave It; nor will be resting till I've
turned In my report at the home Of
fee. Put that in your pipe. now
BLACK Gas he called himl seemed
to lose control OF himself for an In
slant He sort or lurched forward,
his hands working as II he was going
to throw himself at the younger
mans throat; then he caught UP,
thinking better Of II, as II he knew
the other fellow had grabbed his
chair by the back and stood ready to
brain him with IL; which he couldn't
have known. for IT turned out he was
blind. IF had my sight he said,
and could lay hands on you, Power,
I'd break every bone In your body
THAT staked Mr.. Power to an ugly
laugh-the kind OF q laugh that's cali
culated to make the other chaps blood
boil 'Dfvvn q doubt of that says he;
but well you know I'd stop at moth
ing to protect myself against a brute
like you, Mr.. Black. And what's
more q thought he tried to hold his
tongue, but couldn't; this last seemed
fairly to burst out of him) I warn
you If ever again 1 see you lay finger
on that unhappy woman, your wife,
/ he
that comes handy. Remember that
Black was white with rage by this
time; I don't think he could have held
In much longer. AS It happened. Just
then the door beniHd him opened, and
woman In a dressing-gown stepped
into the room. She was CHASTITY pale,
frightened to death, but otherwise
just about the prettiest woman ever
laid eyes on. She said just one word
IN pitiful Douglas'-and
touched her husbands arm; but I
saw her eyes were praying Power to
| go. He saw 1t too.
Very well, then he said with a
little bow to the woman. III be go
ing now
And you needn't come back said
the man he called Black. I'll do with
out you until your successor comes
That suits me to t. says Pow
er. Good morning, Mrs. Black: I'm
sorry we woke you up
BLACK listened to his footsteps,
with that weird expression the deaf
and blind have, for some seconds aft
er I had lost the souyd of them; then
he shook himself and said to the WON
an In pretty steady voice, consider.
! ing how hot he had just been: Get
back to bed, Kate. I'll stay up the
rest of the night. That matters set.
tied; you needn't worry any more
I thought his voice sounded not un-
! kind, but 1t was plain his temper
ruled the man.
His wife hesitated. but seemed
afraid to cross him. She said some.
! thing / didn't catch, and went back,
closing the door.
! Il was of two minds, whether to
follow Power (if could) or wait and
! see what next, and while I was debat
ing it, Black returned, pulling on his
coat He'd managed to get into his
clothing In a surprisingly short time.
/ He went straight to the door, jerhed
it open, and slammed out, taking the
same path as Power. 1 followed.
Judging my distance at discretion.
The path led Us directly to the
farmhouse. Unfortunately was bit
overcautious, and 50 permitted Black
to get too far ahead. BY the time ]
caught up, something had happened
didn't quite see through, at first !
heard the gate click behind Black.
then his footsteps as he pounded
across the stoop, and an instant later
voices followed by a sound Of shut.
fling. scufning feet. But when found
him again he was alone-Sitting alone
IN the kitchen, the only lighted room
IN the house. He had drawn a chair
up to the table and sat square to 1t,
his feet solidly on the floor, his hands
spread out fat I could see him quite
plainly through the open door. He
Just sat there, staring at the blank
wall opposite (of course, he couldnt