The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-04-04

nara, ana that was all there was 70 IL
Agatha, lovely but ineXplicable maid
was not for him. She nad been re
oeptive--yes, that was the word; and
he had been fool-that was the plain
truth. He might as well face It at
once. He had been idiot enough Ia
think he might win the girl, just be-
cause they had been tossed together
in mid-ocean and she had clung TO
him. The world wasn't an ocean; II
was a spiritual stock-exchange, where
he who would win must bid very high
indeed for the prizes of life. And he
had so little to bld
Communing thus with his unhappi-
ness, Jim utterly lost the sense OF
time. The shameless vermilion sun
set went into second mourning and
thence to nuns gray, before the figure
on the sail-cloth moved Then, through
senses only half awake, Jim heard a
light sound, like scratch-scratch Qn
the hull of the yacht Chamberlain.
no doubt, Just rubbing the nose Of his
tender against the Sea Gull. Jim was
In no hurry 10 see Chamberlain, and
remained where he was. The Eng
!ishman would heaye ii sight soon
enough
But though Jim waited several min
utes, with half an eye cooked on the
stairway, nobody appeared. The wind
was still, the sea like glass; not
sound anywhere. Struck by some
thing of strangeness in the uncanny
silence, jim sat up and called Alloy,
Chamberlain! There was no answer.
But in the tense stiffness there was a
sound, and 1t came from below-the
sound Of mans stealthy tread.
Jim sprang to his feet and made
the companlonway at a bound. He
listened an instant to make sure that
he heard true, cleared the steps, and
landed in the darkness of the ships
saloon. As he groped along, reach
ing for the door Of the principal
cabin. the blackness suddenly lighted
a little, and a dim shadow shot out
and up the stairway Jims physical
senses were scarcely cognizant Of the
soft, quick passing, but his thumbs
pricked. lie dashed after the shadow,
up the stairs, out on deck, and aft
There he was-Chatelard. armed, fac
ing his enemy once more, cool but not
desperately at bay. Below
him, riding just under the stern of the
yacht, was the tender whose scratch
scratch had awakened jim A man,
oars in hand, was holding the boat
close to the Sea Gull.
Jim saw all this during the seconds
between his turning at the stair-top
md his throwing himself plump
against the figure by the railing. He |
was quick enough to pass the range |
If the weapon, whose shot rang out |
n the clear air, but he was not quick |
'nough to get under the mans guard /
Jhatelard was ready for him, holding
lis weapon high.
As he pressed forward, Jim felt
under his foot He ducked
quickly, as if to dodge Chatelards
,and, and on the downward swing he
licked up the rusty marlinspike. It
vas weapon of might. indeed. Jims
,low caused Chatelard's arm to drop,
imp and neryeless. But in gaining
lis enemys weapon, Jim was forced
0 drop his own. He put firm foot
pom the spike, however, while he
eld Chatelard at arms length and
ooked into his face.
so we meet once more, after ALL"
&c cried. And once more [ have the
lstol' Even as Jim spoke, his adj
ersary made a spring that almost en-
bled him to seize the weapon again.
i'm eluded his clutch and quick as
bought threw the gun overheard. 1t
truck far out on the smooth water.
1t was sorry thing to DO. as it
royed, for Chatelard, watching his
hance, stopped, wrenched the spike
rom under Jim's foot, and once more
TODD deiantly at bay. And at this
oint. he opened his thin lips for one
emark.
You'll 90 to hell now, you pig Of an
morican!"
But after you, Monsieur!" Jim
ried, and with the words, his arms
ere about the other in paralyzlng
rip.
Had Jim been as strong as when
le two men measured forces weeks
afore, in the fo'casle of the Jeanne
Arc, the result might have been diff
rent. But the struggle was too long,
I'D Jim's strength insufficient. Chate-
I'd freed himself from his antagonist
Efficiently to WELD the spike some
here about Jim's head, and there
lme over him a sickeming conscious
ess that he was going down. He
'opped, hanging like a bulldog to q
latelard's knees, but he knew he
Id lost the game. He gathered him
If momentarily, determined to get
/ his feet once more, and had al u
ost done it. when sounds Of ap.
oaching voices mingled with the q
ufie Of their feet and their quick
eathing. Before Jim could see what p
Nv thing was happening, Chatelard s
ID turned for one alert instant to- \
ard the port side, whence the invad- p
z voices came. He was cut off from Il
e stairway, caught in the stern of "
e yacht, his weapon gone. He gave il
quick call in low voice to the boat "
low, stepped over the taffrail and t.
en- leaped overheard. h
Propped UP on an elbow, dazed and &c,
If blinded, blood flowing down his @,
eek, Jim stretched forward dizzily. Il
If to follow his disappearing enemy. rt
, heard the splash of the water, and cl