The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-09
By CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY


Copyright. 1912, by e E3gE eContfnusd.1
 Say what ,J Ju nave 10 say and be quick about it, said, but he looked East me and took off his hat with a profound sweep.
 Good morning, Mistress W1Iber- force he cried.
 I turned in a hurry and found that khe had stepped out by my side. The two of us presented. fair mark for .rany weapon. One might have escaped, but hardly two.
 ''Get back cried harshly.
 ''I stay where you are" she answered firmly. See, ], too am armed.'' Her little hand lifted a heavy pistol.
 'I can talk with the two of you just Rs well as with oae.'' said PimbaI1.
 ''TaIk on and be brief,'' I returned, Eeeing that there was no use arguing with my little mistress.
 "You have found the treeSure,'' he began; ''there is no use denying it. We ] have 1t from our savage friends that Rthe things are there. In years gone by they sacrificed here and on the cone wonder; but for generations the island ! has been taboo. The white man has ! broken the ban and we are here to take the treasure"
 "Indeed!'' said I sarcastically, where at he turned pale with anger but still mastered himself.
 "We offer you,'' he continued, +'safe- ty. We cannot takeFyou with us, but we will leave you here on the island after we have taken the treasure, and, ; his eyes turned from me to my com spanfon, +19@ you are willing to give up the woman will enroll you with our following and we will all get away together on the Rose of DevOn.''
 What of the ship?'' I asked
 It was a hard thing to control my temper, but ISwanted the information.
 She was badly stove up but not en- tirely wrecked. We fought the sav- ages, conquered them, made them our friends We can get away in her and you can navigate her or we can do without you for that matter and make shift to get back to the South Amer fcan coast at least.'
 '-So you offer me free passage and my share of the treasure if I will give mp Mistress Wilberfore, do you?"
 That is it." answered Pimball, ''Eh, Inates?7 where4t a deep chorus of ap- proval came from Glibby and the men.
 And this is my answer said furiously, Ieveling my pistol at him. Get back, you villain, or you will have looked your last on life.''
 But the flag of truceT' he cried dropping his weapon.
 "It is not meant to cover such propo- sitions as yours. As for the treasure you shall have it when you can get it."
 As spoke he sprang behind the tree and motioned to his men to fire, but I was too quick for him, and we were safely within the cave when the sound of the reports came to us.
 Now what is to be doner' said my little mistress.
 .'The next move. I. answered, '1s with them.''
 N'Shan we go further back into the cave?''
 '-No,'' I replied. "We will stay here Sor the present.
 We were~not long Left -.iprsuspense, for could hear them breaking through the woods and rushing toward the opening. Missiles in the way of weap- ons there were none in the cave, but Apicked up a skull that lay on the floor and hurled 1t out of the opening into lfhe unseen crowd below. A shriek told me that had hit some one, but I saw at once that the game was one I could not play The white men had some skill at warfare. They had post .sed covering parties to protect the fNvorkmen. I crept cautiously toward the entrance. where I could see them working hard, piling up the stones to enable them to get at US, while back of them stood others with drawn bows and presented weapons
 I didn't come off unsca tled, for as I kprang back after having thrown an- other skull and taken my look an ar row hit me in the heshy part of the arm. My mistress noticed 1t instantly. The stone head had broken off, and 1t was the work of an instant to. draw out the slender wood staft.-ItewaS not a bad wound. but it was painful. The next thing she did amazed me beyond measure, for before I could prevent it she had put her lips to the wound.
 what mean you?" I cried, when l could recover myself.
 Tt might have been poisoned,'' she said, quietly looking at me with luni- nous eyes. +'and I cannot have you Giier'
 was amazed, astounded even, at her hardihood in sucking any possible &oison out of that wound in my arm at go great a risk to her own life, if the weapon had been envenomed. And l was most profoundly touched too. But I had had my lesson. viewed it as done out of common humanity and to