The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-28
LLOYD OSBOURNE

LAdl you SAOu10 CAOOSS IO gu O<dCk among strangers-back to that ac- cursed civilization where none fares so well as the greedy and unprincipled Is it that you prefer? So, is 1t that for which you will surrender this? r Mort raised his hand to the tropic moon. What a choicev' he mur- mured. ssWhat cholceY'
 sIt is an. Impulse stronger than I am," returned Matt after silence. "After all, am a white man, and those are my people Have you never felt that sudden longing to get back that overpowering, irresistible, unrea- sontng-longing TH
 --No," retorted John Mort savagely. ssHTo, no, no! To me it is hell I have left forever.''
 q wonder at myself" said Matt ssThere is not soul in the world I re- npect more admire mcre-yes. love than do you. Yet I am going
 John Morris eyes glistened, and he put out his hand, which the other grasped-
 .sWeII, so be it,'' essaid
 Then, may sail tonight with land breezeT
 ..Yes, you may saiI''
 ~And my accounts, my vouchers, and all that? You ought to pass them, sir, as well as arrange about the North Stars return. Pardon my inststence, but you have put it off and oG''-
 tsWhat amount have you in the ships safer"
 Nearly fsOo, sir, in French, English and American gold, besides the chest of Chile silver"
 My friend. it is yours. and the schooner also. it is yours It is small
 
 An, indeed, much too small, and will increase it with fhis'- As he spoke he drew from his finger superb ruby ring and forced 1t on Matt whose etammerinG words of thanks were cut brusqueIy short
 There's another matter much more pressing" he exclaimed, "a pledge to be given and by you sacredly kept ana
 'But, sir, how will you manage with out a vessel?'' expostulated Matt, alto gether bewildered. You can not all low yourself to be marooned here-ut- terly cut off from alr'- "Oh, fear not that. We are self sustaining now, and besides in cou- pie of years look forward confidently for your return. Isolation has no ter TOTS for me-rather charm, pictur- sequences and greater sense of se | curity."
 John Mort paused on the fast word, peering strangely at his companion.
 "Do you realize, Broughton," he con tinued at last, s-that during our six years close association, intimacy, you have never asked me a question; that you have never betrayed the least in | quisitiveness; that you have seen me draw forth whole packets of Bank of 1 England notes, often thousands and 1 thousands of pounds, and never once have you disturbed me by even a look kT
 ssYour private affairs were none of my business, sir. have always made 1t a point of honor to keep my curi- osity to myself.''
 "And even now, when you are going away, perhaps forever, with the riddle still unsolved, are you not tempted to ask?''
 Well, suppose it's just this, sir; if you wished me to know you would tell me-
 John Mort unused as though indeed, he were very near to making a conf dant of his companion. The spell of the moon, the beauty and stiffness of 1 the tropfc night, the faint mellow throh of the wooden drum timing a barbaric chant far across the water | all were conducive to an access of | friendship, of affection and trust, that might sweep away the last barriers of reserve. He struck match on the corsair's cannon, lit a cigarette, and, with an appearance of some 1ndecision, took a few whiffs before he spoke.
 cit is enough for you to know that am a ghost" he said oddly. Mort means dead, and the fancy pleased me to take it for my name. Before died was a perwDn of some importance; of sufficient importance, in fact-were my 1 existence here ever to be known-fOr the news of it to shake the world. Broughton, ask no promises, no oaths. I simply tell you that my life, my happiness, all that is dearest and most precious to me, hang on your dis erection. Vaster issues are at stake 1 than you can dream of, and today there are hundreds on my track. A chance remark of yours, an unguarded word, the most innocent of condolences and these bIoodhounds might seize clew that would destroy me. Brough- l ton, rely on you to guard my secret"
 'T shall guard it, sir.
 And you appreciate, even in this half told way. it's supreme. its vital i'm