The Red Cloud chief., 1913-02-20

iase which was a model OF neatness md on
up winding path for nearly mile. when a
snarp turn around flank of the mountain
the queen "o p"'"e' ''
Wn'ie breakfast was being prepared she
80 ne'seh more beautiful by changing her
oress OF European style for a native costume
oi moving silk so becoming that I wondered ~
ner ever wearing anything else After break.
iast she looked down at the little town and far
OUT 10 sea In silence for n long time and then
tod me the story of her life
Her name, she said was Katherine Crofton:
e' ,a'aer one or the younger branches OF
iainy y headed by baron. Her father was a
neutentcommander in the British navy and
10 prevent an accident no dsoboyed tbe order
VI an incompetent and arrogant superior officer
IN quarrel that followed, her father knocked
MS superior down and otherwise abused him.
LOT which he was court-martaed and dis.
missed. ' "''
MY father was a hgh-spirited man." she
continued, "and his disgrace embittered him
against England and everything English He
soon lett home, and when we next heard from
MN ne was In Hong Kong. When was about
Hi'een, ne wrote mother and ME to take p
". snip Tor Singapore. where we would find
iurther instructions When we got there father
was waiting for us on handsome yacht, the
queen. am still using her. He brought ia In
10 tnis Island, where he had established small
settlement and built a warehouse and n ma.
chlne shop for repairs. He had taken great
pains to make his rendezvous secure from dis
covery. N''
When was not much older than nineteen
iatner ana mother were taken desperately III
ana he called me into his room and made a
confession lie said that In his hatred of the
brltish ne had turned pirate and had been for
all those years preying on ships flying the flag
ne despised. He had also. occasionally, waged
war on the native pirates and taken their loot
from them, which explained why he had fire..
quenliy come In with wounded men on board.
and he made me swear that II he died I would
continue the work he had begun He told me
could rely on Frank Deverell his chief officer
whom he said he hoped l would some day mar.
ry.-this last with just trace of sarcasm.
MY father died the next week and my mother
three months later
That was four years ago. ! have kent the
oath, but the fulfllment has brought me I'm.
creasing misery. My attacks on the British
nag nave been iew-in fact have given timely
assistance to many more English ships than I
nave robbed. and hundreds of their passengers
ana crews owe their lives to me. but | have
preyed on the natural pirates of these waters
as ardently, perhaps. as did my father"
After luncheon the queen and set of toward
the mountain-top, nearly one thousand feet
above us, but we did not reach IT, for the heat
was intense. -
wei, what do you think of us now?" she
asked on our way down. after had told her
now had spent the forenoon.
Il think enough of you to devote my whole
lie to your service!" quickly replied.
When came back to dinner she was waiting
Tor me IN her bower, AS she came to meet me
and extended her hand she said earnestly and
almost sadly: II believe you We're honest and
sincere In what you said this afternoon. but
can only say Thank you What you suggested
is impossible"
In the three weeks that followed I urged nv
love upon her with all of my determination. but
she refused to change her decision and ap.
parently was firm in It as she was at first
IL was agreed that We should both give up
piracy, but all of our arguments ended there
until finally, one afternoon, as We sat looking
out over the sea and talking OF the ordinary
anairs OF life, she said. slowly and emphatic.
ally, "Deverel was my fathers right.hand
man. ! am going to take the next ship for
England lay my case before the home secretary
and ask him for full pardon. will confess to
MIN that have taken from the pirates what
[hey had stolen frop others. To Offset that
onense have hundreds Of written statements
rom people whose lives have saved from the
pirates. l believe l can secure pardon, and
II DO will meet you with clear conscience
and become your wife!"