Evening journal., 1914-09-07


on the sands and knuckling HIS hair. Z dassent
take you to him. Judith might object Besides.
you can see for yourself II isn't safe to mngle
with the inhabitants Of this tight little Island
and you can't get TO where Alan is without ming
ling considerably. SIT down. and I'll tell you all
about It, and well try to figure out what's best to
be done Maybe we can manage a under
cover OF night"
And when the girl had settled herself beside him
he launched into detailed report
IT'S Katama island, all right" he announced
but change has come over the place since I
visited II some years ago. Then Il was a com
munity Of simplohearted villagers and hshermen
now unless all signs fail, it's den Of smugglers.
7 noticed a number OF Chinese about and that,
taken in connection with the fact that when
ventured to introduce myself 20 the village gin.
mill and ask a few innocent questions, the entire
population, to a child, landed on me like thou
sand brick-the two circumstances made me think
we'd stumbled a settlement OF earnest workers
at the gentle art Of helping poor Cinnamon evade
the exclusion laws"
With a wry smile, he pursued: "As for me,
landed out back of the Joint on the nape OF my
neck and took the count. surrounded by lot of
unsvmpathetic boxes and barrels that had
better DAYS And when came to and started to
crawl unostentauousy away. ] Just in time
10 witness the landing Of your amiabe sister, that
gang OF cut-throats she keeps the pay roll and
Alan in company with as choice crew OF scoun.
q
words that leaked out OF the back door OF the bar
ROOM that it was as had thought: Judith had
stolen a boat from the ship that picked her up
and rammed It on Nortons reef; and after she
gathered Alan in, the schooner OF these smugglers
happened along, and she hailed II and struck
bargain with the captain and signed co-partner-
ship articles, something like that Anyway, her
lot and the islanders thick thieves.
and tanking up so socially that actually got a
chance 10 whisper a word to Alan and tell him you
all nd nd
here on the beach, II luck served him with an
escape. That all got chance TO say. for
Judith marched up just then and yanked him on to
his cell. / mean to say, he's locked up now in a
little stone hut the edge OF the cliff with the
door guarded and the window overlooking a sheer
drop Of thirty feet or so TO the beach When I'd
seen that much calculated II about time for
TO get quit OF that neighborhood before NAM
sello Judith nicked me with the evil eye"
You don't think she your" the girl cried.
Il don't think So" Barcus allowed gravely; and
then, lifting his gaze he added as he rose in q
bound Il just know she did-thats ALI"
In another instant he battling might and
main with three willing rufhans who had come
suddenly into view round a shoulder OF rock; but
his efforts we're shortlved foredoomed to failure.
He weakened with suffering and fatigue-and
the three fresh and had the courage at least
of their numbers He was overborne in a twink
ling. and had his face ground brutally into the
sand while his hands made fast with stout
rope behind his back. And when he rose, II was
TO find, as he had anticipated, that Roses resis-
tance had been futile his own she. too. was
captive. her hands bound like his. the huge and
unclean paw of OF Judith's crew cruelty
clamped upon her shoulders.
They were granted time TO exchange no more
than one despairing glance when curt laugh fair
ly chilled the blood In Mr.. Barcus, and he swung
sharply between his two guards TO confront judith
Trine.
He was by no means poor-spirited but he shranl
openly from the look she gave him, and was re
ueved when she. with sneer. passed him by and