The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-11-07


81" "0pe hundred thousand dollars" replied
Zone hundred thousand dollars. And 1t
is an for the ConfederacyI >, .n,
1T is all for the Contederacy' Win
glance at Rutherford.
II am glad" she said softly. "Ihe Con
federacy needs all that it can get, TO carry Oh
tbe war Bnt shall be happier when we nave
CONQUERED ihp North and the strife is over.
Good night brother. Good night, Mr.. Ruin
eriord"
She left the cabin Both men stood IN 81
lence for some little time after her departure
Then Captain Blondn turned to Rutherford
"She thinks that the money is Tor the Con-
federacy She is a truer patriot than her
brother"
''Women often get those mistaken ideasH
growled Rutherford "And they stick ~
'em. too against all rhyme and reason.
"Aud vet. Mr.. Rutherford | almost rep2
Of NV bargain. To backen can unsulli%d
name; TO give up the aurels which | haY
go fairly and hardly won TO exchange the CON
fidence and friendship of my old associate
for their disgust and scOrn-these are
things to be lightly set aside. No. -
cannot. ] will not, do this, My good y
is worth more TO me than the reward 49,
projected treachery. Take back your gold,
7,
The earnestness with which he spoke
alarmed Rutherford and caused him to fear
for the ultimate success of his project. His
training. however. stood him in good stead
and his cOuntenance showed no trace OF the
disappointment that he inwardly felt as he
replied:
"Ill not insist if your so opposed to it,
Captain. But, once YOU come 10 think things
over Won may see them in different light.
Suppose that You take me and the money
along with YOU, anyway If You decide not
TO carry out your part of the bargain, why,
we have your promise TO return both TO Div-
erpool I'm satisfied to trust both myself
and the money in your hands.
For some minutes, Captain Blondin was
silent
81 will do as YOU suggest, he said at last.
"There is plenty of time to reach final de
cision, and, as you say, / may change my
mind"
After Captain Blondin had left the cabin
Rutherford drank a glass of wine, lit another
cigar and stretched himself comfortably in
his chair.
'That was a narrow squeak, " he muttered
to himself. GAS near to a back-down, with
out being one, as ! ever saw"
When Rutherford came upon deck the next
morning he found the mate, Dalton, in charge.
1t was an ideal morning at sea; the breeze was
fresh and the waves danced brightly in the
clear sunlight The smoke of several steam
ers could be seen and the upper sails Of sew
eral ships, but at such distance that the Ban
shee with her low top hamper was probably
invisible TO them.
Dalton touched his cap respectfully in an
swer TO Rutherford's salutation. The latter
alluded to the Banshee's speed
"Shes a fast boat. sir, replied the mate.
east, but ticklsh. We have to watch her.
She's so narrow nine times her beam in
length-that if she Travelled light good lap
on the broadside from big roller might make
her turn turtle"
A few minutes later Captain Blondin
Joined them Rutherford turned TO him after
he had relieved Dalton of the command Of the
"Well, Captain" he inquired chow do
YOU feel upon the subject after a nights
sleep2'
Hardly like discussing it," replied the
captain, smiling. 81 will let you know my
decision when we have reached the point
where it would be necessary TO change the{
Banshee's course, in case / should decide to :
go on with the matter"
The only thing left for Rutherford to don
was to acquiesce. This he did with a very
good grace After that interview he devoted !
most of his time TO Marie Blondin. They
spent hours together either walking up and
down the deck or talking together in the
great cabin.
lie found her a most agreeable companion.
As they grew better acquainted he gradu- /
ally and unconsciously dropped the mask Of {
sef-restrain which he had imposed upOn \
himself at the beginning Of their acquaint-
ance, and ut times both his manner and
speech were coarse and vulgar. But she did
not appear TO notice the change in him. She
was a good listener and she encouraged him
TO talk Of himself, and vain and bombastic
as he was III proved TO be a theme Of oraot