The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-11

beloved, blessed voice, even when ii
rated me.
"Well. sir?"
The words came to me through the
partition. She was there, then, as
had OWNED. She had been there all
the time, trying me.
II would fain have word with
YOU" I answered, putting everything
else by and speaking most entreating'
ly and with a humility I did not alto
gether feel
II desire no speech with you" was
her cold and measured answer.
could hear her turn as If to move
away.
Think of my long and faithful serv'
ice." I urged, land Of your gracious
friendship for me. often expressed"
you yourself forgot it tonight"
"For Gods sake" cried desperate
ly as heard her 60. lust one word"
can apology? Do you beg forgive
hess?'
"No-yes-anything" finished in
confusion.
Il will not listen. I wish to con-
vince you Of the enormity Of what
you have done, the grossness Of your
presumption. l will give you time for
quiet reflection. SIR"
II am convinced already" l urged
hurriedly.
80 easily?" she Knocked.
Madam. if you love life and honor
l pray you hear me. 1t Is not Of my
self l think, but of you. You are In
grave peril" returned / with the ut
most seriousness.
What peril?"
There was a note Of alarm in her
voice in spite Of her effort to be indiffer-
ent seized upon its promise eagerly.
The men of the ship-they are not
what they should be. Captain Mat
thews is alone Pimball is villain. l
trust no one but
And is this the plea on which you
seek enlargement"
THAT is the only plea"
You did not discover this danger
until I locked you up, did you?"
II tell you that it is not for myself
fear, but for YOU" I persisted.
"And was it for that you insulted
me on the quarterback before the
men? l will hear no more. 1t is a
foolish plea. The men are devoted to
me and
For Gods sake, Mistress Lucy
l cried, but this time she was gone.
| heard the door Of her cabin shut
violently. There was no help for it..
Well, must devise some way unaided,
for I must get out for her sake. The
cabin was lighted by an air port closed
by deadeye. I measured it. drew
back the thick glass and examined the
opening, although | knew it was flu
tile proposition. A slender boy might
have slipped through, but not man
such as l. My mighty thews and sinews
and great bulk required door, and no
small one either.
The wind had ceased blowing hard
outside. and some spray came in
through the port as the waves slapped
the side Of the ship. l closed and Sc
cured it. There was nothing to be gain
ed there l must seek some other way.
was not weaponless. Nobody had
thought to search the cabin, and a
brace Of pistols which ! always kept
loaded and ready for an emergency
were locked securely in my chest.
My hanger hung at the side Of my
berth. The door was a strong one 1t
was locked and barred without |
might have broken it down; l could
have done so if had had space
enough in which to run and hurl my
self against it. might even have
kicked it to pieces with my heavy sea-
mans boot Certainly l could easily
have blown the lock off with my pis-
toll, but any Of these endeavors would
have reused the ship.
l had one other hope. If Captain
Matthews should come to the cabin |
would appeal to him. For the rest
determined not to sleep that night.
Some strange foreboding possessed me.
We were near the latitude and Ion
gitude of the island we were seeking,
if indeed there were such an island as
was thought to be, and I reasoned that
the men would argue now and it would
be a good time for an outbreak. espe-
cially since was removed. Would it
come that night? Would it come at
all? Was mistaken in the men?
have often wondered why women
were made, and since they were made,
why men should be such fools about
them. Here l was helpless just be-
cause l had snatched kiss from one.
And now that am in the mood for
confession. l might as we'll say that |
fully rejoiced in that kiss.
Well, whatever happened, had the
memory Of that kiss. She would never
forgive me- OF course there was alb
solutely no hope that she would return
my suit, even in her poverty. She was
not for such as l. and If there was
anything in this old buccaneers parch-
ment, if there was an island and If she
did get the treasure, why, the world
would be at her feet again. And |.
Iil<a tho fool 7 was was helDinC her to