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

do without you? | am she heSitat-
ed: it was hard for her proud spirit
II am sorry" she finished
Say no MORE" | answered, looking
down at the little hand on my sleeve,
my soul thrilling to her words and
touch. "No harm shall come to you
save over my dead body, and that is
not enough for me to promise. l mean
to extricate you from this peril"
But is it possible"
81 think so; pray 500
"You are one against so many"
II have one ally in the ship. you
forget" said I, smiling at her, relieved
and thankful to see her in her right
mind again and awake to the truth
and my real feeling toward her.
And that is
| yourself"
"A feeble helper" she rejoined
smiling in turn.
I'VE shall see"
And will you forgive me for hav-
Ing misjudgcd you?" she asked plead
in"ly.
"Gladly."
My hand on it, then" she said.
holding out her little palm which l
swallowed up in my large one on the
instant, standing silent as usual. hold
ing it the while.
land are you not sorry that you
you-kissed me?" she faltered at last
NO" | answered bluntly enough
| bo; LOT al
compelled to tell the truth-except,
perhaps. when her interests were at
stake-'I am not sorry" But as she
swiftly tried to draw her hand away
I added, II promise you won't do it
again, and you will forgive me, |
know Meanwhile we have much to
plan. We may be interrupted any
time and we had best get at it,
released her hand and she faced me
calmly enough.
"You don't know how much safer l
feel when have you to depend upon"
she said.
How my heart leaped at that assur-
ance and I saw that she had indeed
forgiven me.
IT shall leave everything to you, Mas
ter Hampton she continued. DO you
tell me what to do, and will do it"
Il know you will. l could not ask a
Drawer, better second" ! answered
heartily.
At that moment heard a step on the
ladder Somebody was coming. Quick
as a fash | realized the part we had
to play in public. l balled my fist and
struck the bulkhead sayagely. 1 sup
pose l must have changed my express
sion as we'll, for in her surprise she
screamed family.
THAT'S it," l whispered. scream
again, louder, louder
what do you mean?" she asked in
incomprehensible amazement, in this
crisis my wits working quicker than
hers.
There is somebody outside. We have
part to play. am abusing you and
YOU are fighting" l whispered swiftly.
Then louder. fairly shouting at her in
deed. cried. Down on your knees.
wench. You will find that you have
met your master now"
made some sound Of scuff1e and she
did indeed scream loudly. In the midst
of the commotion the door was tried.
but fortunately had turned the key.
who's there?" shouted. and to my
lady whispered. BEG for help!'
Entering into the spirit Of the game
and smiling at me. since there was
none but to see. albeit she infused
strange terror In her voice. so that l
was amazed myself. she cried ut the
top Of her voice:
Help. Help!"
in turn called louder yet:
"S1Ience, woman" and struck the
bulkhead again.
+ Finally turning to the door opened
it bit, and there stood one Of the
younger seamen.
What want you?" l began sternly
and stormily. II don't care to be dis
turbed just now.'
"You are wanted on deck. 1t IS just
dawn. Land has been sighted, and
there's a heavy sea runnin'. Plmball
an Glibby want your counsel and ad-
vice what's to be DONE"
Good! said l. Il will be with you
in a moment Tell them have yet a
word or two to say to this woman
here"
The man turned on his heel, passed
through the cabin and climbed the lad
der to the deck.
"Now," l said quickly, thrusting one
of my pistols into my little mistress
hand, I'VE can talk no longer this time.
l am going to do my best for you, and
If l fail here is a weapon. You know
what to do with it."
"Shall use it on them?"
mo, lass" I answered grimly, ION
yourself If it comes to the worst"
Il understand" she said, paling q
little. .'..-
Lock the door when I go out, and
on no account open to any voice but
mine"
II shall remember"
"And keep up the acting" said.