The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-11-27
Copyright. 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

beach, IL luck served him witL an es-
cape. That was all / got chance to
say, for Judith marched up just then
and yanked him off to his cell. l mean
to say, he's locked up now in little
stone hut on the edge of the cliff, with
the door guarded and the window over
looking a sheer drop Of thirty feet or
so to the beach. When I'd seen that
much l calculated it was about time
for me to get quit of that neighbor-
hood. before Mam'selle judith nicked
me with the evil eye."
You don't think she saw your" the
girl cried.
II don't think so," Barcus allowed
gravely; and then, lifting his gaze. he
added as he rose in a bound: II just
know she did-that's all.
In another instant he was battling
might and main with three willing ruff
fans, who had come suddenly into
view round a shoulder of rock; but his
efforts were shortlived, foredoomed to
failure. He was weakened with suffer
Ing and fatigue-and the three were
fresh and had the courage at least Of
their numbers. He was overborne IN
a twinkling, and had his face ground
brutally into the sand while his hands
were made fast with stout rope behind
his back. And when he rose, 1t was
to find, as he had anticipated, that
Roses resistance had been as futile
as his own; she, too, was captive, her
hands bound like his, the huge and un-
clean paw Of one Of Judith's crew cru
ely clamped upon her shoulders.
They were granted time to exchange
no more than one despairing glance
when a curt laugh fairly chilled the
blood in Mr.. Barcus. and he swung
sharply between his two guards to
confront Judith Trine.
The woman he saw at first glance,
was In one of her most dangerous
moods-if, Barcus mentally qualified,
there was pin to choose between her
moods. But now, beyond dispute, she
exhibited a countenance new I'm his
experience with her, and one we'll cal
culated to appall.
Her face was bloodless, even as her
lips were white with the curb she put
upon her passion. Her eyes were lurid
with the glare OF rage approaching
mania. Her hands trembled, her lips
quivered, all her actions were abrupt
with nervousness.
He was by no means poor-spirited,
but he shrank openly from the look
she gave him, and was relieved when
she, with sneer, passed him by and
nIonfad hnrca1f
sister.
"Well?" she demanded brusquely.
"How much longer do you think I'm
going to tolerate your Interference
you poor little fool! How many more
lessons will you require before realiz-
Ing that / mean to have my way, and
that you'll cross me only to suffer
for it?"
The courage Of the other girl won
the unstinted admiration of Mr.. Bar
Gus. Far from cringing, she seemed
to find fresh heart in her sisters chal-
lenge. Her head was high, her glance
level with illimitable contempt as she
replied:
$50 you've tried again?" she in
quired obliquely. with tone of pity.
you've offered him your love yet an
other time, have you?'
"Silence!" Judith cried in fury.
"Only to learn once more that he
would rather death than your Rose
persisted, unflinching. "And 30 you
come to take your spite out on me,
do you? You pitiful thing! Do you
think I mind-knowing as l do now
that he could never hold you in any
thing but compassion and contempt?"
For an instant there was silence; by
the scorn of her sister the heat of
Judith's fury had been transformed
into a cold and malignant rage. She
controlled herself and her voice mar
velously.
"You will see," she said in even and
frigid accents. And the light Of her
mania leaped ana leaped again In her
eyes like living flame. II have pre-
pared a way to make you understand
what opposition to me means :"
She waved hand toward the nearer
point OF rocks. Take them along"
she commanded.
The understanding between her and
her men was apparently complete; for
these last, without hesitation or fur
ther instructions. marched Rose and
Barcus down to the end Of the spit
and on, into the water.
1t was nearly knee.deep before Bar
Gus was halted with a savage jerk.
backed up to rock, forced despite his
frenzied resistance to sit down In the
water and swiftly. with half dozen
deft bitches OF rope and a stanch