The Tupelo journal., 1912-11-08

CHAPTER XVIII.

Evening was advancing In utter
calm when Coast regained the beach
before the deserted village. The wind
had died away to mere vagrant
breaths, barely strong enough to
darken that duly polished. unauiet
floor of water. widening in loneliness
from those desolate, fog-bound shores.
Pausfng beside the beached catboat
Coast stared hungrily at the little YES
sci of shore. gently swinging at its
mooring. How to reach her. how
make use of her If needs must? !.
= He shook his head in doubt, strong
1y assured now that he would set foot
upon her decks only through exercise
of force.
His hopes reverted now to Apple
yard as the last resort. Without the
little man and the Echo-or some 9TH
er boat-he was powerless, q figure
for the mirth of his enemies.
At his feet the blind dog c%rouched,
motionless as stone, seeming to search
the infinite with the unwinking stare
OF it's dead, colorless eyes.
Abruptly a sound of pelting feet
transformed the scene. The blind dog
lifted up with a jump and faced round,
growls, rumbfing In It's throat. Coast
turned, startled and apprehensive.
Down the way to the beach Chang
WAS running at q curious. outlandish
jog-trot, head low between his broad.
gaunt shoulders. Apparently he was
heading directly for Coast.
With q little thrill Of fear the Amer
fcan glanced round for some means OF
defending himself. He had no doubt
that the Chinaman had been commits
stoned to dispose of him even as poor
Power had been done away with. In
n sudden flush of anger he laid hold
of the first thing that caught his eye
which happened to be the half rotted
tiller of the catboat, a heavy and
formidable club If 1t did not break
with the initial blow-and moved a
pace or two forward, holding himself
In a position of defence.
But within a hundred yards the Chi
naman swerved widely, then held on
steadily toward the northern sand
spit. A moment or two later he ar
rived at the waters edge, and while
Coast stared half ~ssupeied, stopped
and stripped to his linen drawers, then
took to the water, wading out until he
lost footing. then swimming with long,
powerful, overland strokes. straight
II for the catboat.
: Watching the round, shaver poll
with it's coiled pigtail cut swiftly
drought the ~glimmering silvery sheet
of water, Coast lost himself In anxious
speculation until recalled by a quick
movement Of the dog at his side, &C
companied by a deep-throated growl.
He wheeled then to discover Black
stock close upon them, his burly body
swaying heavily Is he came on at q
moderate pace.
, A second growl, that more resem-
to a standstill, with a hand moving
%nervously toward the side pocket OF
his coat, in which a firearm sagged
visibly.
''If you're on speaking terms with
that brute" said the man brusquely,
"call him on before l take a pot-shot
at him"
Keep your hand clear of that peck
ct" said Coast Sharply, advancing. "or
I'll take a chance at you myself"
Your" Blackstock's thick lips
curved, contemptuous. Take your
chance, by all means, with that silly,
worm-eaten tiller, If you've got the
nerve; but call off that dog, or I'll
shoot him dead. l want a little talk
with you"
Coast, without ceasing to watch the
man, for fear of ~treachery, had
stepped to the dogs side and caught
his fingers in an aged and weather
worn strap round It's throat. before he
appreciated the full significance OF
Blackstock's words. Then his jaw
dropped and his eyes widened.
What" he crieds astounded. His
british face that leered at him; he
saw its small eyes no longer dull and
fixed, but twinkling with an evil, imp
ash glitter. The dim suspicion that
more than once he had rejected from
his thoughts as e~xtravagant and idle,
was suddenly resolved into conviction.
80" he said slowly. you do see. aft
or ALL"
The discovery" said Blackstock
with q ponderous afectation of NOR
dant wit, does credit to your perspi-
Guilty. I congratulate you on making
Ht-when l chose to let you"
For a moment occupied with re
straining the dog. which seemed half
mad with desire to fly at Blackstock's
throat. Coast made M reply. In the
light of this revelation the situation
was taking on a new and fairly terri
flying complexion.
'Of the two of us. I must say you've
been the blindest," Blackstock con-
tinued in a manner Of biting irony
that seemed to amuse him. Il on
dered from the first how long you'd
take to find me out. Kate, Of course
I'm accustomed to; I've had her hyp-
L---A