Arizona republican., 1915-10-10

bit her lips till the blood came She knew now whom she had to fight. their cruelty ard their cunning. But she resolved to match
 cruelty and cunning with her beauty and her
 womans wit. This time she would stack tho ! cards. The queen Of hearts would play against her old confederates for the diamonl from the sky!
 At Santa Barbara Esther and Quabba ar rive, and there they learn that the beautiful new yacht belonging to John Powell is still
 ia the harbor. Esther resolves to visit
 Arthur board unannounced, taking witt
 her the diamond and the Stanley document. Ske believed Arthur-would know what coursc :. would be best for them both to take. Esther $ had TO doubt of A-thurs loyalty or his love <; for her. All she had looked forward to was ; to meet him face 10 face. With this in view , she had endured ard adventured with stead fast courage and high resolve. 1 Esther does not know that Blair has r knowledge Of " John Powell and his yacht
 But Blair, having for secrecy when
 he has arrived in Santa Barbara, has not
 remained hidden at a hotel as Esther has
 the discreet Ouabba also keeping from sight
 so Blair has learned Arthur has left the
 yacht and has returned to Los Angeles on
 business.
 Unless Esther has communicated with
 Arthur. which Blair does not deem likely
 Arthur has as yet to suspect him.
 Blair knows. In his daring way Blair is
 indifferent. He telegraphs to Arthur he has arrived in Santa Barbara and is disappointed :. in missing him Arthur realizes that he is n ! usurper. standing In the way of Blairs b;-thright. the Stanley heritage For this, if not for the old assoc!c ticn of their Wild youth in Virginia, Arthur has a generous CCSlre tc make amends for n iu uS+i ha thinks he Goes Blair.
 1t is vivians wish, also to keep Blair
 from Los Angeles The time may come when she may need him. though. when She
 battles against Durand, the king of d.a- nionds, and the rest of the pack" as they call themselves. But just she is not ir open warfare with the pack" She sug.
 gests to Arthur that Blair stay and lock after the yacht in Santa Barbara, and that
 later they join him there for cruise all to- gether. How she is to exert her wiles upon Arthur in the proximity of Blair is a matter that Vivian leaves to the time and the place.
 Blair and the sailing master of the yacht get their teegraphed Instructions from Arthur, and when Blair goes aboard he finds the sailing master and a few of the men OH enc watch aboard. the rest of the crew ha:- ing beer given shore leave in the absence of the
 Make yourself at home. MT. Stanley says the sailug master. You will find things in MT. roweils cabin"
 1T will need a good deal of fixing up,' Blair explains laughingy My man and l got lost in the mountains while hunting" and he indicated Luke, who had come aboard With him.
 Let your man go to the forecastle and will he $ fitted out" said the sailing master. As Tor you, sir, I take it from Mir. Powelrs telegram you to help yourself to what you wish of his things till your own sent for"
 The sailing master led Blair to ArtAurs cabin, and then said he would take tn. launch to the wharf and round up the crew in Santa Barbara. Which he added. won't be hard to do, as Santa Barbara is temperance town It is only question of which of the movie shows the men at."
 As the launch panted to the wharf the sail ing master and the man rupnins the launch were aware Of very pretty girl in a snowy yachting costume being rowed in the direc- tion Of John Powells yacht by q hunchback of foreign aspect. The sailing master ticed the Girl iii the row boat eyed him keenly. but turned as though disappointed and again directed her gaze toward the yacht.
 Arriving by the ccmpaniorway, Esther eau t:oned Quabba to meke explanation if questioned, as she wished to give Arthur the happy surprise oi facing him unan- nounced. But no sailor wctch barred her way nor were any questions shouted the rail to Quabba- The yacht swung idly at anchor and such of the crew as were the boat were In the forecastle with the gypsy fellow who had come aboard with the friend of the owner. Here the bottle of liquor that Luke had brought augmented by. some of the same quality of the hospitable sailors had in his bunk. and jovial drinking bout was in progress
 In Arthur's cabin Blair had refreshed b self with shower and had donned fresh linen and yachting suit of Arthur's. The two young men were of the size, the uniform. coat, and cap fitted Blair to a nicety.
 Esther. crossing the deck. saw no sailor or officer in charge. She heard some dently the owners cabin, she noted a tall and stalwart young man in uniform, his back turned to the open door Esther tip tced forward and. pulling the diamond from the sky out in view upon her neck, her lips had framed the word Arthur" when she found herself gazing mortified into a mirror that reflected the handsome but wicked face Of Blair.
 Esther turned. with cry for help and sped across the deck. There from the doorway to the forecastle, the bulky form of leering, sodden brute creature faced her. It was Luke Lowell! Esther turned and darted to one side, missing the clutchlng grasp of Blair, Stanley by a hairs breadth, Tie sudden +revulsion from hope and happi- ness to fear and despair had driven Esther to a frenzy; of, sudden fright As though upon the wings of fear, she fled. Hardly knowing what she did save that she escaped