Evening journal., 1914-09-07

planted herself squareiy before her sister
"Well7" she demanded brusquey. How much
longer do you think I'm going to tolerate your in
terference-you poor little fooll How many more
lessons will you require before realizing that
mean to have my way, and that you'll cross me
only to suffer for t7"
80 you've tried againY" she inquired obliQuely
with a tone of pity. you've offered him your
love yet another time. have your"
"sencel" Judith cried in fury.
"Only 10 learn once more that he would rather
death than your Rose persisted, unhnchns
"And so you come TO take your spite out on me,
do you? You ptifu thingl Do you think mind
knowing as do know that he could never hold
you IN anything but compassion and contempt?"
you viii see" she said in even and frigid 40
cents. And the light Of her mania leaped and
leaped again in her eyes like a living fame. Il
have prepared way to make you understand what
opposition TO me means :"
She waved a hand toward the point Of
rocks Take them along" she commanded
The understanding between her and her men
was apparently complete; for these last. without
hesitation or further instructions marched Rose
and Barcus down TO the end OF the spit and on.
into the water.
II was nearly knee-deep before Barcus was halt
ed 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 staunch knot, made fast in that posi-
ton-submerged to his chest
This accomplished the men turned attention to
Rose, aahing her IN similar wise at Barcus' side-
Standing Just above the waterline with every
sign Of complete calm and sanity other than that
ominous hckering in her eyes. Judith svperintend
ed the business TIL its conclusion. then waved the
men away
Quietly, like welltrained servants, they turned
their backs and marched on
And again, after brief wait the woman laughed
her short and mirthless laugh
THE tide WIN be high" she sald precisely at
sunset. You may time your lives by that When
the sun dips into the sea, then will your lives go
down with It."
She turned on her heel and strobe swiftly away.
with not so much as a backward glance overlook
her men. and passed quickly from sight around the
further point OF rocks.
Barcus noted that already the~waters had risen
more than an inch
Humbed even in his terror by that radiant calm
that dwelt upon her, he ventured difndently; Rose
Miss Trlne-"
She turned her head and found the heart to
smile. Rose" she corrected gently
I'm sorry" he said-which was not at all what
he had meant to say, I've done my best. ! sup
pose it's wrong 70 give up-but they've made It too
much for me. this time"
Il know" she said gently.
"You"-he stammered-"youre not afrad."
There is nothing to fear" she said but
death"
'Then." he said more bravely after time-the
water near HIS "good-bye-good
luckl"
Not yet dear friend" she returned, mot yet"
The water was now almost level with his lips:
II seemed strange that his throat could be so dry
so parched
He opened his eyes, shuddering
IT'S goodbye now" he faltered
mot yeti" her voice rang beside him, vibrant
Lookup there-along the clif"
He lifted his gaze
Two men were running along the cn-and the
IN the lead was Alan But his lead was very
scant and the who pursued was one OF
Judith's. and stuck to the trail like a bloodhound
fresh from the leash
And now the water was at HIS lips Barcus
could no speak without strangIing.
OF a sudden he groaned in his heart; though
there no possible way down the cliff. still the
sight Of his friend alive and unharmed had brought
with It a thrill OF hope; that hope died as
he Alan stumble and go to his knees.
Before he could rise the other was upon him
with the fury Of a wolf seeking the throat OF
stag.
For an instant they fought like madmen: then,
in a trice, the skyline Of the cliff was empty
OF the other had tripped and fallen the brink
and falling had retained hold OF his enemy and
carried him down as well.
BY no chance, Barcus told himself, could either
escape uninjured.
Yet TO his amazement he saw one man break
from the others embrace and rise. And he who
lay still. a crumpled inhuman heap upon the
sands, Judith's
With violent effort Barcus lifted his mouth
above water and shrieked
"Alanl Aanl Helpl Here-at the end Of the
point-ln the water-hepl"
A precious minute was lost before Alan dlscov-
cred their two heads so barely above that swiftly
rising food
Then he toward them as he had never run
before, and whipped out jack-knfe
and freed its blade
Even so-since It was OF course. Rose whom
Alan freed the lrst-Barcus half-drowned be
fore Alan helped him in turn up to the beach
And this happened the last bloodred rim OF
the sun was washed under by the
Two minutes later the hfeboat was afoat and
Mr.. Barcus, already recovered. laboring with
the hywheel Of the motor, stimulated to supreme
exertion by the sight OF a party, led by Judith
racing madly down the beach
But it not until well out from shore and on
the way TO the safety promised by the mainland
readily discernibe the horizon-that any
one OF them found time for speech
Then Mr. Barcus Strengthened up from his
siduous attentions to the motor. and observed:
You bear a charmed life. my adventurous
friend. ! want to tell you that when saw you
go over that cin I made up my mind your useful
ness would be at least permanently impaired. AS
It is / don't mind telling you that II ever get
out OF this affair alive. I'm going to have try Al