The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-29

Every well,'' said PimbaIl. t'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-oP' said I.
 I reached for the glasses that were in the rack and poured out a stiff dram for each man and added mighty httletwater to it. The room was soon filled with mocking, jeering toasts to my health and happiness. I drank with the rest, although would rather have swallowed poison. They went out one by one, Pfmbar last
 T wish you joy of your woman,' he sneered.
 ''You will see how tame she is to- morrow laughed as he climbed up the ladder and soon disappeared.
 To throw open the door of the cab in was the work of a minute. There she stood. She had twisted some kind of 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 1t, too, if had not come in in the nick of time.
 I stared at sher for a moment and then reached forward and tore the plaited strands out of her hand and from around her neck and threw them to the deck It was evidence to me of the deepness- of her despair that she had attempted such a thing. It showed me for one thing the excel lence of my acting I had convinced even her of my vil1ainy, I realized with sudden pang.
 Hard as I stared at her, the glance that she shot back at me in intensity, if not expression, matched my own. I never want to see such loath1ng, such contempt, such scorn on human countenance again. It cut me to the heart.
 "A moment" she said wildly, '.and had done it, traitor!''
 May, nay," I protested, "I am a true man.
 "You bargained for me; you bought mel"
 'Iw was not in earnest" cried, but she interrupted me in a perfect tenn pest of outraged feeling.
 My GodY' she burst out. 'FWhy didn't you stay away a little longer? You dog! You vile, low But at that found voice again, for 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.
 'fNot word"
 "'But indeed you must" persisted, stepping within her cabin and careful Iy closing the door after me. tIt is your welfare alone that I seek. think you should have known that"
 ':After the insult on the quarterback last evening?' she asked cuttingly.
 f'NGadam,' said I, controlling myself again, but with added difficulty, tour concern is not with kisses, but with''-
 "What?''
 'Life and''- E4zAs
 hesitated. tgE9
 ''What else? Speak on!"
 ''Your honor," I said slowly, whereat she stared at my face, doubtless stern enough in all conscience.
 What had to say concerned us both so deeply that cared not what she said, and perhaps that closed cabin into which had penetrated was the Iikeliest place for privacy in the whole ship. I could by no means be over heard, so determined to speak freely in a~way not to be misunderstood
 q mean you no harm. Can you not see it-2" I burst out. "It was all 8 play"
 GA pIayI" she panted. ''The murder of the captain, the muttny of the men, the seizure of the ship, the giving up the chart, your purchase"-she drew herself up-God, she was brave little shing-"of me-" she continued, with your share of the treasure-was that a play?''
 Part of it, madam,'' said I, stung by her scorn and stunned again by the thought that she could ever have believed me capable of such tbaseness, l who had loved her, worshiped her and but for that feetng moment when had kissed her-had ever treated her l with such humble consideration. "1 bought not you.' What thenT'
 "The right to live and serve you; the right for you to live unharmed and''-
 And what?"
 "And be served by me with no thought but for your safety and hap piness.''
 She stared at me in deep consterna- ton, her brow furrowed. I had wit enough to be silent and let the speech