Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-27


'Ah. you think So ] cried. deter.
mining to carry out the deception to
the bitter end and to leave no chance
for the least suspicion TO arise. / seiz-
ed her by the shoulders, secretly pray
ing God to forgive me for what l was
about to do, and shook her violently
back and forth. 1t was easy enough.
A baby in my hands would not have
been more helpless. Silence, you
fools!' 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. an your master.
Get back into your cabin. will have
speech with you later" Helpless. she
could do nothing. ] thrust her into
the cabin. shut the door and faced the
men. will you gentlemen leave ne
alone to tame this she devil for lit
tie while. and will be on deck pres
emily" painted out
Very we'll" said Pimball, "but be-
fore we go"-he pointed to a heavy
bottle in the rack--''I propose that we
drink the health of the new navigator
and his lady"
"Right-o.' said l.
reached for the glasses that were
IN the rack and poured out stiff
dram for each man and added mighty
little water TO it. The room was soon
filed with hooking, jeerins toasts to
my health and happiness. drank
with the rest. although would rather
have swallowed poison. They went
out one by one. Pimball last.
II wish you Joy of your woman" he
sneered.
You will see how tame she is to-
morrow" I laughed as he climbed up
the ladder and soon disappeared.
To throw open the door OF the cab
in was the work of minute. There
she stood. She had twisted some kind
OF a 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 a moment and
I 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
I OF the deepness of her despair that
/ she had attempted such thing 1t
showed me for one thing the excel
lence of my acting ! had convinced
even her of my villainy, realized
with 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 Ioathing,
such contempt, such scorn on Il human
countenance again. 1t cut me to the
heart
a moment" she said wildly. "and
I'had done 1t. traitor"
"Nay, nay" / protested. 81 am a
true man"
You bargained for me: you bought
me-"
81 was not in earnest" I cried. but
she interrupted me iD n 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 found voice again. fol
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.
Not word"
But indeed you must" I persisted
stepping within her cabin and careful
~ closing the door after me. 1T /:
your welfare alone that ! seek.
think you should have known that
After the insult on the quarterback
last EVENING"" she asked cuttingly.
Madam" said |. controlling mysel
again. bur with added difficulty. "ou
concern is not with kisses. but with
WHAT
life and
! hcsitated.
what else? SPEAK o."
"Your honor" said slowly. wherea
she stared az my face. doubtless sterI
enough In all conscience.
w nat DHu I'D say concerned us Doll
so deeply that cared not what sh'
said. and perhaps that closed cabiI
into which ] had penetrated was tn,
Iikeliest place for privacy in the who'll
ship. couId by no means he over
3 heard. 80 determined 10 speak freel.
e In way not to be misunderstood.
81 mean ron no harm. Can you no
] see it," I burst ont at was all
e play"
"a play" she painted "The uurde
2 Of The captain. the mutinY of the men
: the seizure OF the ship, the giving u
the chart. your purchase"-she dre7
! herself up-God, she was brave lltti
r thing-"of me- she continued. wit
: your share of the treasure-was that
). play"
e Part Of It, madam" said l. stun
/ by her scorn and stunned again b.
the thought that she could ever hav
believed me capable of such baseness
who had loved her, worshiped her an
but for that feeting moment whe
. had kissed her-had ever treated he
with such humble consideration. -
: bought not you"
. What them
. 'The right to live and serve yor
: the right for you TO live ulharme