The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-12-17

short, barking laugh, "I want the
papers and | want you"
He leaped forward, clasping her
about the waist with his great arms
the right hand moving toward bel
mouth. closing over the delicate lips
and smothering her cry of wild alarm
He sprang back with a low toned
oath of surprised incredulity even as
her brittle laugh echoed through the
cabin. Slowly. step at time. inch
by inch, Lucille forced the man to
ward the door. In smothering bel
screams he had freed her right arm
and her tiny fist. fighting against his
beating at bis body, had encountered
bis revolver, which she deftly alb
stracted and had pressed against bis
chest
1.-The papers. are quite safe where
they are" she murmured sweetly. the
CLINT in her eyes belying the tones
Come. captain; let's see how the men
you have bullied like the sight of you
now"
Wethereli opened his lips to curse,
but there was an expression Of icy de.
termination on the girls face, In the
tense lines of her figure, in the tremor.
less feel Of the gun against him that
made him do her bidding. Only when
be felt the cabin threshold beneath his
feet and knew another step would
bring him in sight of the crew did he
halt.
1t was scant fifteen seconds the
man and girl stood there. their eyes
challenging. But the eyes OF Lucille
the captain were truculent, defiant
Wetherell flinched and dropped his
nurderous expression. Then he march
ed across the threshold and upon the
deck before his men, while Lucille felt
the joy Of such a triumph as she had
never known before
AS the sailors looked up and saw
Captain Wetherell suleniy marching
under the impetus Of the revolver in
Lucille's hand they Strengthened and
stared, open mouthcd. unable to be
lieve the evidence OF their own eyes
Gradually it dawned upon them that
the tyrant. the brutaiizer, the man they
all hated and feared. had been sub
jugated. cowed by this slip Of Il girl
Whispers grew louder. louder, and she
caught the approval in the eyes that
constantly drew closer to her own un
ii! she was surrounded By a Gordon ct
sailors
Only through winning the crew to
her side could she maintain her posi-
ton Backing away, but still holding
the revolver level upon the captain, she
cast an appealing glance about upon
the men
Friends" she whispered. then. sur
prised at finding how low her voice
was, swallowed the lump in her throat
md continued bravely: Friends. an.
just weak girl, aud | need your help
nave two enemies upon this Silil,
0ne Of them | WAS more afraid Of than
or anybody in the world until
a short half hour ago He will do any
Thing to steal from me some papers |
have rescued from him after he stole.
chem from my father. My sweetheart.
The man to whom ! am engaged, was
accused of the theft isn,i .srt.-~s..u And
have fought So hard 10 L-s, Them
Her voice broke IL irfir. irut Sue
hraveIy, tears still 2iisten-
Ing on her iashes. I'm So tired SO
tired of tightins.'
The murmur Of sympathy from the
men died down before a still NOR.
menacins silence, a silence that bruke
pelofe shout from one on the out
skirts Of the CROWD All eyes were
turned IN the direction of his poi.t!n.
finger. and from out two great smoke
spirals that seemed to come from the
other side of the ocean rose slowly.
naJestically, the thin outlines of q
huge boat. The gitl, seeming disaster
from that sight, read it on the sheer
ing face of her victim
but am more afraid Of your cap
tain. men, she cried. her voice thrill
inGly vibrant. He came to me in my
cabin and demanded the papers. He
threatened me. seized me in his arms
and tried to make love to me. He did
this to weak girl. men lie would
treat me as be has treated YOU. ask
you all to protect NE and yourselves
from this mans brutality. You see
what coward he is. You see how he
does not dare
Her voice was drowned in the Choir.
US OF shouts that rose at the welcome
announcement Wetherelrs shoulders
sloped still more, while his eyes darted
from face to face. triumphant. cum.
ming. ferocious. A faint booming sound
reached out to them across the waters.
dlstracting their attention Something
dark and round described u parabota
from the speck OF Il ship and ieaped
through the air toward them; came a
splash of water not 100 yards away, a
splash followed by a cry Of alarm
They're firing on US"
Wetherell, Eeedless of the pointing
revolver in the hands OF the girl.
sprang forward, facing the puzzled,
frightened men.
"Alutiny." his great voice rose in
derision. "Alutiny now when you hear