The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-10-07
CHAPTER viii.
n Which Is Astounding Trout


n LOOKED at Helena Emory,
glad that she did not at first
sight recognize the intruder
- who had elected her wrath.
for she seemed almost more angry
than perturbed. such being her nature.
I thought she had never been half so
beautiful as now, never more alive.
more vibrantly and dramatically fem
inine than now. She had not even
scarf about her head. so that all it's
Greek clarity Of line. all its tight curl
ing dark hair, almost breaking into
four ringlets, two at each white tenn
pie. were distinct to me as l looked at
her, even in the half light. Her face,
with it's wondrous dark eyes, was full
toward me. meeting this danger for
such as it might be. so that again l
saw the sweet. full oval of her brow
and cheek and chin. with just these
two dark. incipient curls above.
could not see the twin dark tendrils
at the white nape of her neck, but |
knew they We're there, us beautiful as
ever. Her mouth was always the
sweetest God ever gave any woman.
and repeat have seen and studied
all the great portraits and found none
so wholly good as that of Helena done
by Sargent in his happiest vein.
If absence had made my heart more
fond the presence of her made it more
poignantly. more imperiously, fonder
than before. My whole body. my
whole soul, unified. arose | stretched
out my arms, craving, demanding.
"Hclena," cried
My voice was hoarse. Perhaps she
did not know me even yet. Her an
swer was a long, clear call for help.
Alloy" she sang. ION Shore there
help"
Her call was signal for present
trouble. Partial, my dog. abandoned
in the longboat, began barking furi-
ously. There came an answering hail
which assured me that yon varlet.
Davidson. had heard. was conscious
of the sound of a scuftle somewhere
forward. Below, at my side, Aunt Lu-
cinda gave voice to "A long, shrill wall
of terror. John, my Chinaman. his cue
still held fast in the damned edges of
the door, chimed in dismaly. Mid
ships l heard a muflled knocking at
Williams, the engineers, hatch
l forgot ! was standing masked, with
naked weapon in my hand. ! drop
ped my mask, dropped my weapon
and turned quickly toward Helena.
She stood for one instant, her hands
at her cheeks. Then "Ahoyr' rang out
her voice once more in sheer disobedi-
ence, and YOU" she said to me. furi-
Gus.
Yes, IT, was my answer. and my
own fury was now as cold as hers.
go below l ordered her. 81 am in
command of this boat. Quick"
had never spoken thus to her in all
my life. but almost to my surprise she
changed now. AS though half in doubt,
she turned toward the stair leading
down to the ladies' cabin, where Aunt
Lucinda was shrieking in terror.
Guard the door, called to LOlon-
nois as turned away. heard it slam
shut. and the click of the lock told me
my prisoners were safe, so l fastened
forward
Good Lord. Mr.. Harry" cried my
skipper Peterson, when he saw me-
"Come here. Take this little devil
away! I'm afraid he'll knife me-"
hurried to him, for he struggled in
the dark with Jean LATTE.
ITO the rescue, Black Bart" called
Jean LATTE. Catch his other arm!
I've got this one. and if he moves, by
heavens, III run him through"
run me through, you varmint-
what do you mean?" roared Peterson.
"Ain't it enough you pull gun on me
and try to poke out my eye and twist
on my arm without sticking me with