The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1913-03-26

runueu In the darkness or the snlps
saloon. AS he CROPPED along, reach
ing for the door of the principal
cabin, the blackness suddenly lighted
little, and a dim shadow shot out
and up the stairway. Jim's physical
senses were scarcely cognizant of the
soft, quick passing, but his thumbs
pricked. He dashed after the shadow,
up the stairs, out on deck, and aft.
There he was-Chatelard, armed, fac
ing his enemy once more, cool but not
smiling, desperately at bay. Below
him, riding just under the stern of the
yacht, was the tender whose scratch
scratch had awakened Jim. A man,
oars in hand, was holding the boat
close to the Sea Gull.
Jim saw all this during the seconds
between his turning at the stair-top
and his throwing himself plump
against the figure by the railing. He
was quick enough to pass the range
of the weapon, whose shot rang out
in the clear air, but he was not quick
enough to get under the mans guard.
SudltIdIu was Icduy lOI MIN,
his weapon high.
AS he pressed forward Jim felt
something under his foot. He ducked
quickly, as if to dodge Chatelard's
hand, and on the downward swing he
picked up the rusty marlinspike. 1t
was a weapon of might, indeed. Jim's
blow caused Chatelard's arm to drop,
limp and nerveless. But in gaining
his enemy's weapon, Jim was forced
to drop his own. He put a firm foot
upon the spike, however, while he
held Chatelard at arms length and
looked into his face.
$50 we meet once more, after ALL"
he cried. "And once more / have the
pistol" Even as Jim spoke, his ad-
versary made a spring that almost en-
abled him to seize the weapon again.
Jim elu6ed his clutch, and quick as
thought threw the gun overheard. 1t
struck far out on the smooth water.
1t was sorry thing to do, as it
proved, for Chatelard, watching his
chance, stopped, wrenched the spike
from under Jim's foot, and once more
stood defiantly at bay. And at this
point. he opened his thin lips for one
remark.
You'll 60 to hell now. you pig of an
Americana"
"But after you, Monsieur!" Jim
cried, and with the words, his arms
were about the other in a paralyzlng
grip.
Had Jim been as strong as when
the two men measured forces weeks
before, in the fo'cas'le of the Jeanne
D'Arc, the result might have been diff
ferent But the struggle was too long,
and Jim's strength insufficient. Chate-
lard freed himself from his antagonist
sufficiently to WELD the spike some
where about Jim's head, and there
came over him a sickening conscious
ness that he was going down. He
dropped. hanging like a bulldog to
Chatelard's knees, but he knew he
had lost the game. He gathered him
self momentarily, determined to get
on his feet once more, and had al
most done it, when sounds of APP
preaching voices mingled with the
scuffie of their feet and their quick
breathing. Before Jim could see what
new thing was happening, Chatelard
had turned for one alert instant to-
ward the port side. whence the invad-
ing voices came. He was cut off from
the stairway, caught in the stern of
the yacht, his weapon gone. He gave
a quick call in low voice to the boat
below, stepped over the taffrail and
then leaped overheard.
Propped up on an elbow, dazed and
half blinded. blood flowing down his
cheek. Jim stretched forward dizzily.
as II to follow his disappearing enemy.
He heard the splash of the water. and
saw the rowboat move out from un-
der the stern. but he saw no more. He
thought 1t must have grown very
dark.
When Jimsy regained sight and con-
seriousness, which happened not more
than three minutes after he lost them.
he found himself supported affections
ately against somebody's shoulder
and a voice-the Voice Of all voices
= lost loved-was In his ears