The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1915-01-06

of than to take her place with the man
loved? knew you'd never know the
difference-at least / was fool enough
for the moment to believe could
stand being loved by you in her name!
1t was only today, when I'd had time
to think, that I realized how impos
sible that was!"
A sudden slap of the mainsail boom
athwartships and a simultaneous cry
from over the stern reused Alan from
/, his CONSERVATION to fresh appreciation
Of the emergency With scant consid
Grafton he hustled the woman to the
companionway and below, slammed its
doors and closed her In with the slid.
ing hatch-all in q breath-then
sprang to the taffrail, just in time to
lend helping hand sorely wanted by
Mr.. Barcus in his efforts to climb
aboard, after he had pulled the dory
up under the stern by it's painter.
He came over thu rail in a towering
temper.
Il hope you'll pardon the apparent
impertinence," he suggested acidly,
as soon as able to articulate coher-
antly-"but may 7 innuire If that
bloody-minded vixen Is your blushing
bride-to-be?"
Alan shook helpless head. The
thing defied reasonable explanation.
He made a feeble stagger at it with
out much satisfaction either to him
self or to the outraged Barcus.
"No-it's all a damnable mistake!
She's her sister, mean, the right
girls sister-and her precise double
fooled me-not quite right in the head,
I'm afraid"
You may well be afraid, you poor
f1at!" Mr.. Barcus snapped. "D'you
know what she did? Threw me over
board! Fact! Came on deck a while
ago, sweet as peaches-and all of
sudden whips out a gun as big as
cannon, points it at my head and or
ders me to huff into the wind. Before
| could make sure / wasn't dreaming,
she had fired twice-in the air-a sig
nal to that blessed fisherman astern
there-at least, they answered with
changed course to run up to us. Look
how she's gained already"
But how did she happen to throw
You overboard?"
Happen nothing!" Barcus snapped,
getting to his feet. "She did it a.
purpose-few at me like a wildcat,
and before knew what was up-I
was slammed backwards over the
rail-
Il can't tell you how sorry an"
Alan responded gravely. There's
more to tell-but one thing to be done
first"
"And that?" Mr.. Barcus inquired
suspiciously.
ITO get rid of the lady," Alan an
nounced firmly. Make that fisher
man present of the woman III the
case. You don't mind parting with
the dory in good cause-if / pay for
it?"
Take it for nothing" Barcus
grumbled. Cheap at the price!"
He took Alans place. watching him
with sardonic eye as he drew the
tender in under the leeward quarter,
made it fast, and reopened the COM
panionway.
AS the girl came on deck with
out other invitation, in sullen rage
that only heightened her wonderful
loneliness. Alan noted that her first
look was for him, of untempered ma
lightly; her second, for Barcus, with
a curling lip; her third, astern, with
a glimmer of satisfaction as she rec
ognized how well the fisherman had
drawn up on the Seaventure
Friends of yours, infer?" Alan
inquired civilly.
Judith nodded
Then it would save US some trouble
yourself included-if you'll be good
enough to step into the dory without
struggle"
Without word, Judith stepped to
the rail and, as Barcus luffed, swung
herself oversize into the dory.
Immediately Alan cast off, and as
the little boat sheered off, Barcus,
with sigh of relief, brought the Sea-
venture once more back upon her
course.
For some few minutes there was ST.
lence between the two men, while the
tender dropped swiftly astern, the
woman plying brisk pair of oars.
Then, suddenly elevating his nose,
Barcus shifted audibly Here" he
said sharply, relieve me for min
ute, will you? / want to go forward
and have look at that motor
In the time that he remained invis-
IDLE between decks the fisherman
luffed, picked up the dory and it's
occupant, and came round again in
open chase Of the Seayenture.
When Barcus reappeared it was
with grave face.
"The devil and the deep She," he OBJ
served obscurely, coming aft, from
all their works, good Lord deliver u.s."
Whats the trouble now?"
Nothing much-only your playful |