Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1915-07-23

obtaining IT. He stood up, his hand be~
hind his back.
IAN right, me buckle! I'll come
down an git YEP
A pair of enormous boots began
to appear down the companionway,.
and there gradually rose up from
them man as wide as church door
and as deep as well
"Wait a moment" said Norton, grip
ping the spanner, let us have a per-,
feet understanding right off the bat"
We're going t have it, matey.
Don't ye worry none"
Norton raised the spanner, and,
dizzy as he was, faced this seafaring
Hercules courageously.
''I've been shanghaied, and you
know it. Where are we bound?"
Copenhagen"
well, for a month or more you'll
beat me up whenever the opportunity
offers But merely wish to warn you
that if you do you'll find heap of trou-
BILE waiting for you the next time you
drop your mudhook in North Amer
lea"
SIS that so?" said the giant, eying
the spanner and the shaking hand that
held it aloft.
1T is. I'll take your orders and do
the best can, because you've got the
upper hand But, God is witness,
you'll pay for every needless blow you
strike. Now what do you want me to
do?"
Lay down that spanner an come
on deck, I'll tell We what t. do. was
goin' t. whale tn daylights out O. ye;
ye're somethin' av a man. Drop
the spanner first"
Norton hesitated. AS 1.-THE as a til
ger the bulk of man sprang at him
and crushed him to the floor, wrench
ing away the spanner. Then the giant
took Norton by the scruff Of his neck
and banged him up the steps to the
deck
II amt goin' t. hurt We. l haG tt
show We that no spanner ever bothered
Mike Bannock. Now, d. know what
q cooks galley is7''
Il do" said Norton, breathing hard.
Well, hike there an start in wlrn
peelin' spuds, an don't waste EN-
neither. That'H be all fer tn present.
Re were due for wallopin but ]
kinda like yer spunk."
So Jim stumbled down to the cooks
gallery and grimly set to work at the
potatoes 1t might have been far
worse. But here he was, likely to be
on the high seas for months, and Eo
way of notifying Jones what had hap
pened 1he outlook was anything but
cheerful. But vague hope awoke in
his heart. If they were still after him
might it not signify that Florence
lived.
Meantime Braine had not been idle.
According to Vroon the girls memoir,
was in bad shape; SO he had not the
least doubt of bringing her back to
New York without mishap. Once he
had her there the game would begin
III earnest. He played his cards ex-
ceedsngly WELL Steaming up into the
little fishing harbor with a handsome
yacht in itself would allay any dis
trust. And he wore a. capital disguise,
too Everything went we'll till he
laid his hand on Florences shoulder
She gave a startled cry and ran over
to Barnes, clinging to him wildly.
mo, mol" she cried.
Nov what, my child?" asked the
sailor.
She shook her head. Her aversion
was inexplicable.
Come, my dear; can't you see that
it is your father?" Braine turned to
the captain. "She has been like this
for a year. Heaven knows if she'll
ever be in her right mind again."
sadly Il was giving her an ocean
voyage, with the kindest nurses pos.
sible, and yet she jumped overheard.
Come, Florence"
The girl wrapped her arms all the
tighter around Barnes neck.
An idea came into the old sailors
head. "Of course, sir, we got proof
tibet she's your daughter?"
PROOF" Braine was taken aback.
Eyes; somethin' t. prove that you're
her father. | got skinned out of
sloop once because l took mans
word at its face value. Black an
white, an on paper, says l, hereafter"
"But I never thought of such
thing" protested Braine, beginning
to lose his patience. Il can't risk
sending to New York for documents.
She is my daughter, and you will find
it will not pay to take this peculiar
stand"
I'm black an white, r y can't have.
her."
Braine thereupon rushed forward to
seize Florence. Barnes swung Flor
ence behind him.,
Il guess she'll stay here leetle
longer, sir"
Time was vital, and this obstinacy
made Braine furious, He reached
again for Florence.
Clear out O. here, r show your aus
thority,' growled Barnes.
"She goes with me, or you'll re-
greet it,"
"All right. But I guess tn law
won't hurt me none. I'm in my rights
There's the door, mister"
81 refuse to go without herl"