The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-18


| back and forth. 1t was easy enough.
A baby in my hands would not have
| been more helpless silence, you
foolsw l cried as the men began to
| laugh again. and then to her: you
belong to me, woman Do you hear?
I've bought you. l am your master.
Get back into your cabin. l will have
speech with you later" Helpless, she
could do nothing thrust her into
the bin, shut the door and faced the
men. Twill you gentlemen leave me
alone to tame this she devil for lit
tie while, and will be on deck pres
emily" painted out
Every WELL" said Pimball "but be-
fore we go'-he pointed to heavy
bottle in the rack-I propose that we
and his lady"
! "Right-o!' said l.
reached for the glasses that were
in the rack and poured out a stiff
dram for each man and added mighty
little water to it. The room was soon
filled with hooking, jeering toasts to
my health and happiness. drank
with the rest, although l would rather
have swallowed poison. They went
out one by one. Pimball last
81 wish you Joy Of your woman" he
snccred.
| you will see how tame she is to-
morrow" l laughed as he climbed up
the ladder and soon disappeared.
To throw open the door of the cab
in was the work Of a minute. There
she stood She had twisted some kind
of rope out of the sheets which she
had hastily torn up. Her purpose was
plain. She had intended to end her
life by hanging herself from the hook
in the deck beam above to which one
end Of her rope was secured, and she
would have done it, too, If l had not
come in in the nick Of time.
| stared at her for moment and
then reached forward and tore the
plated strands out Of her hand and
from around her neck and threw them
to the deck. 1t was evidence to me-
Of the deepness Of her despair that
she had attempted such thing 1t
showed me for one thing the excel
Ience Of my acting. l had convinced
even her of my villainy, realized
with a sudden pang.
| Hard as | stared at her, the glance
| that she shot back at me in intensity.
| if not expression, matched my own.
| | never want to see such lOathlnS,
such contempt. such scOrn on human
countenance again. 1t cut me to the
heart.
"A moment" she said wildly, land
| had done it, traitor"
May, nay" l protested. II am a
true man."
You bargained for me; you bought
mer'
Il was not in earnest" | cried, but
she interrupted me in perfect tenn
pest Of outraged feeling.
my God!' she burst out. "Why
didn't you stay away little longer?
You dog! You vile, low
| But at that l found voice again, for
was getting angry myself, my tenn
per naturally being none the sweet
est, save ordinarily when she was con-
cerned.
Hear me-" interrupted in turn.
mot word"
but indeed you must" l persisted,
stepping within her cabin and careful
" closing the door after me. 1T 10
your welfare alone that l seek. l
think you should have known that"
AFTER the insult on the quarterback
last evenine?" she asked cuttingly.
MADAM" said l, controlling myself
again, but with added difficulty, "our
concern is not with kisses. but with
"What?
life and
hesitated.
"What else? Speak on!"
"Your honor" said slowly, whereat
she stared at my face. doubtless stern
enough In all conscience.
What | had to say concerned us both
% deeply that l cared not what sS'
said. and perhaps that closed cabin
into which l had penetrated was the
likeliest place for privacy in the whole
ship. l could by no means be over
heard, so l determined to speak freely
IN a way not to be misunderstood.
II mean you no harm. Can you not
see IT." l burst out ut was all Z
play"
"a play" she painted. THE murder
bf the captain. the mutiny of the men,
le seizure OF The ship, the giving up
The chart. your purchase'-she drew
herself up-God, she was brave little
|lhing-"of me-" she continued, with
your share Of the treasure-was that
play"
Part Of it, madam" said l, stung
by her scorn and stunned again by
HE thought that she could ever have
believed me capable Of such baseness,
who had loved her, worshiped her and
but for that feeting moment when
! had kissed her-had ever treated her
with such humble consideration. Il
bought not you."
what then?"