The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-12-06
CHAPTER XVI.


Confronted.
At these appalling words the
strength seemd all at once to go out
of the mans arm. Heavily, but not
with purposeful ungentleness, he
slowly set Langford down upon his
feet on the sand.
You brute!" cried the other man,
trembling with impotent anger
There was nothing that he could
do personally. II he had possessed a
weapon be would have killed the is
lander. but he was unarmed and help
less. Therefore he turned toward the
/ beach and called to his men. They
! had seen the sudden attack and were
already running across the sands.
NO" said the woman, that word
belongs to you. You have told the
/ truth, and yet not all" She turned
| to her companion of the island
Man." she said, you have loved me-
You must hear what I have to say"
you have said that it was true"
he muttered, hoarsely. And the man
who has said it lives Liyes!"
His voice rose to a cry. He turned
toward Langford again. But by this
1 time the six blue jackets who made
up the gigs crew we're close at hand
Haley" cried Langford to the cox
swain, seize that brute yonder
and"
| The woman was still wearing the
I - ~ = til
used it often and kept the blade bright
and of keen edge. She whipped it out
/ on the instant, her civilization falling
from her like a discarded garment
when the man she loved was threat
ened.
! LET no one lay hand upon him.
she cried, ahame to defend him. Il
swear that I will drive it into my own
heart If he be touched"
Give me the knife" said her CON-
panion. suddenly.
Before she could prevent him, h
whipped It out Of her hand.
And now" he said. springing to-
ward the huddled group of sailors, the
bright blade lifted, which of you
will todch me?'
II The men shrank back There was
something so furious in the aspect OF
the man, his power was Sc evident
and his temper as well that none
wished to precipitate rho 49,
Il appeal to you" said the woman.
turning to Langford, send back the
men. moment since / saved your
life. At word from me he would have
thrown you from him and broken your
back. Be generous. You must. And
this man shall give me a hearing.
You are safe from him, l promise
you"
What might have been the result of
this appeal can never be determined,
for at that moment a new factor en-
tered upon the scene, a factor whose
presence was as surprising and unex-
pected as it was determinative. From
out to sea, yet near at hand, came a
muffied defamation, the roar of a
heavy gun. Around one of the head
lands that rose on that side of the is
land there swept the white sides of
another great ship beside which the
yacht, imposing though she was. was
toy. It was the woman who saw it
first
'Look!" she cried. "a ship of war,
a cruiser. See, from her staff the flag
of the United States. This land is
American. l claim It by right of dis
covery. Lay but a hand upon this
man, and l will have you hanged for
murder Langford. They see us there.
Their glasses have searched the shore
They have seen this encounter. That
gun was a warning. boat puts of.
Thank God, we are saved from you!"
Things had transpired even as she
said. What the cruiser was doing in
those seas, how happened she to be
there were things as yet unknown.
but that she was there was apparent.
She had approached the island from
the other side, and had sailed around
it. Her men had observed the encOun-
ter on the shore, which seemed to
be between natives and persons from
the yacht, which was in plain view a
little farther out to sea, and the gun
had been fired to call attention to the
power of the United States.
This put an entirely new face on
the whole affair Matters we're taken
out of the hands of the parties to the
quarrel The law had come to the is
land The islander did not. could not
know it, but his baffied antagonist
realized it Immediately. So did the
woman. At Langford's command. his
men. much bewildered at the scene
they had witnessed, went back to
their boat. He himself presently fol
lowed after. and stood upon the
strand awaiting the approach Of the
heavy man-of-war cutter which had
been put away from the white cruis-
er's side.
Man." she said. softly, this Is
what had to tell you"
He nodded. A hollow groan burst
from his lips.
His Mistress" he muttered. bro
kenly.
Il would not have had you learn
In this way. and now that you have
heard so much. you must hear more,
she went on, not sparing herself,
though she might have justly resent
ed the word. She was dealing with
more serious things than words now.
bitter though they might be. That
ship which is the ship Of our country.
stands for law as his for license.
was more sinned against than sin
ming. When you have heard all. then
you shall judge. This Is the test"
Would God that it had never been
laid upon me. said the man. hoarse-
ly. Would God that the beacon had
not been lighted on the hill."
Nay returned the woman. gently.
that's past praying for Decision
rests with you. but you must not pass
ii until you have heard the whole
story The world holds me stained.
polluted. it may be said. but
an not the sinner that II thinks me OF