Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-27
!, THE WHITE BLACKBIRD
By
HUDSON DOUGLAS.
Copyright by Brown Co.
Copyright. 1912. BY Little. Brown co.,

1
:. I'd even have waited here and fixed
| II all up, but" He wagged his shame
less white head sorrowfully. 1T wouldn't
be wise, said he. You've been preju-
II $ too late to think of that now. So 1
must be off. for my own sake.
/ but, maybe, Well meet again" he con-
| cuded. with cheerful complacence. lin
! some safer spot for me. And if Salle' S
7 still on my hands when YOU show up
! So be it. then" carthew agreed seeing
clearly that further appeal would be flu
/ tlie' all eagerness to get above ground
/ again and begin the chase. He could
! have the whole fishing fleet of the village
| armed and afoat within half an hour.
! and might even yet succeed in boarding
the Olive Branch at: her anchorage. But.
| manlike. he had counted without the
woman in the case
| I'm going away of my own free will
! Mr.. Carthew.' said Salie. suddenly. with
| the same strange expression of face that
ne had observed when she had looked
pack at him In the banquet hall and
| don't want you to follow me. You have
| heen far more than generous. but-1
! couldn't marry youth any case
Don't say that, Sallie.'' he beseeched,
| Dove cried a Very wrathful voice in
| the distance Well be off without you
| ii YOU don't come down at once
me oid man s Snug, blinking smile in
simultaneously changed to furious scowl.
| lie pulled big, solden-necked bottle
| from one of his pockets removed the
cork and. having poured its remaining
contents hastily down his throat tip
toed OH down the tunnel with it in one
hand, making motions if to hurl it
with accurate aim, leaving Salle alone
there.
Carthew glared across the black gulf
at his feet, his free hand clenched. i'm
helpless despair. He would gladly have
given his earldom then in exchange for
a pair of wings.
Il III bolt up and get ladder brought
down. groaned Lord Ingoldsby. And he
would have made off without more ado
but that Carthew had seized him by the
sleeve.
Here, Hold this commanded Car
. thew. and thrust the smoking lamp into
ms hands. Sallie had turned to follow
Capt. Dove. with dragging steps He
couid not believe that she meant what
she had said. He would not let her go
without making sure. Parish M'Kis-
socks contemptuous words had required
TO his mind-'1f you're man enough to
master her.. Instinct told him that she
would not turn back now and--a mans
last stake was all he had left to venture
Stop. stop, It's sheer suicide" the
marquis cried. shriily, as Carthew ran
limping up the tunnel as far as tho
straight extended. and faced about
throwing off his coat and balanced there
for a GREATNESS instant and then came
racing down past him to launch himself
bodily into space
No human being could have leaped the
distance. and Carthew had been further
handicapped by his lameness. He shot
as If from a catapult. nearly as high as
the arched rock-rOOf. his elbows close.
chin on chest. head between his Shout
ders, knees at his temples and heels
tucked back, and. on the downward curve
reached the lower lip Of the chasm land
ing on one shoulder. to hang there for
the space of a couple Of heart beats. as
If poised for the inevitable rebound.
Lord Ingoldsby heard the dull thud of
his fall and Sallie's stified. heart-broken
cry. He opened his eyes and saw the
girl desperately striving to pull hunch-
ed-up, relaxing body back from the brink
over which. but for her. it would already
have toppled. He thought they must
both have slipped over before. at the fin
ish. Salie succeeded in drawing Carthew
into safety, and sat down beside him,
swayins from sifissto side, as Il her own
back We're broken.
But. presently. Carthew looked up. and
then he scrambled on to his knees with
a suppressed grunt of agony. For time
the whole world swan redly about him.
but he clenched his teeth. not to be
overcome. And when Sailie in turn. got
on to her feet again. white and shaking,
lie had recovered the use of his voice.
Il won't let YOU go-dear'' he said.
daZedly, and started. in renewed alarm
for her. as they heard Capt. Dove calling
her harshly from below.
Coming she- called back. since she
could not help herself. =
You must1stay here. or-heIl kill youy'
she whispered. in an agony or entreaty
I'll go now; it will be best so. And if.
by and by YOU still care to follow
You go on" he said. gently. I'm go
ing to follow you now.
She had no option but to obey him,
since to have remained there would mere
~ have meant that Capt. Dove. coming
back for her, would have him at a
greater disadvantage. And as she led the
way in the dark. with slow steps. he fol-
lowed quietly, while Lord Ingoldsby. left
to his own devices as they disappeared,
was brilliantly inspired to bolt back for
help.
\ little further thick twilight made
progress more easily possible. and they
could feel the salt breath OF the sea on
their fevered faces Then, at last. they
drew hearth oblong opening in the cliff
face, at which Capt. Dove had for sew
eral minutes been busy abusing the men
in the boat below. But he was i'm no
better temper by then. since the empty
bottle he had hurled at Slyne had knock
ed the steersnan insensble.
rs that you, Sallie?" he snapped,
looking round.
Below there YOU Iubbers. Stand in
again. We're coming down now.
Hurry up, girl!' he barked. impatient
". Its high time we were away"
He was leaning out over the ledge,
great water gate. so thick that his
stubby fingers did not meet round it. Car
thew creeping after Sallie, set her sud
denly aside and at him.
Capt. Dove heard him coming, but too
late TO save himself. He felt as if a bull
lock had kicked him in the small of the
back, and. as his hold broke. he fell head
long, bowling like evil spirit. into the
smothering. yeaSty surge. through which
his boat was already hastily backing to
pick him up.
Carthew set his back to the heavy
gate and it swung slowly shut. But
Slyne had not left behind the key he had
for It's modern lock, and It's Old-fashioned
| draw bolts We're rusted fast. He could
| only hope that Lord 1ngoldsby would
| bring back some means of bridging the
! drowning hole before Capt. Dove and his
| helpers could storm the position again.
He laughed. little light headed by
| then, as he stumbled up the long. dark
| slope. with Sallie close at his shoulder.
| Il told you | wouldn't let you 60
| dear" he declared. triumphantly. and his
! laugh changed To low, choked groan as
she would have taken his arm to help
| him. for he was walking unsteadily.
| Don't touch that one he begged. 1T s
| a bit sore; | came down on ii when !
| jumped"
| do you think it's broken" she whis-
| pered. and her eyes grew dim as she
| thought of all he had suffered through
| her. She had stopped There were lights
| coming down the tunnel, and hurrying
| feet on the farther side ofFthe drowning
| hole
| He slipped his sound arm about her
There's nothing broken that can't be