The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER XVI.
This Mortal Tide.

She was very certain she would
never sleep before her anxiety was
assuaged by word OF Alan's fate; but
she reckoned without her host OF
trials that had bred In her a fatigue
anonymous even to her mental an.
guish.
1t was not true. she told herself, that
people never die OF broken hearts.
She knew that. were he taken from
her. she could no longer live. . . .
And sleep overwhelmed her sud.
denly. like a great. dark cloud .
But It's dominion over her faculties
was not OF long duration. Slowly,
heavily, mutlnously. she was rescued
from It's nirvana-came 20 her senses
with an effect OF one who energies
from some vast place OF blackness and
terror, to find Barcus kneeling over
and %gingerly but persistently shaking
her by the shoulder.
And then she sat up with a cry Of
mystiied compassion; for In the brief
time that he had been absent--it had
not been more than an hour-Mr. Bar.
Gus had most unquestionably been Sc
verely used.
He had acquired a long cut over ono
eye. but shallow. upon which blood
had dried. together with a bruised and
swollen cheek that was badly
scratched to boot. And what simple
articles OF clothing remained TO him.
after his strenuous experiences OF the
last forty-eight hours. had been re-
duced to ven greater simplicity; his
shirt, for example. now lacked a sleeve
that had been altogether torn away
at the shoulder.
mol" he told her. as soon as he saw
her wits were awake once more
don't waste time plying me. I'm all
right-and so is Alan! That's the
main thing for you TO understand; he's
still alive and sound"
But where is he? Take me to
hint" she demanded. rising with a
movement OF such grace and vigor
that II seemed hard 10 believe she had
known an ins'ants WEAKNESS.
That's the rub" Barcus confessed,
squatting on the sands and knuckling
his hair. II dassent take you to him.
Judith might object. Besides you can
for yourself II isn't safe TO mlngle
with the Inhabitants OF this tight
standard you can't get TO
Alan is without mingllng con.
siderably. Sit down. and I'll tell you
all about IL, and Wen try to figure out
best TO be done. Maybe we
manage q rescue under cover OF
And when the girl had settled her.
self beside him he launched into a
report.
Its Katama island, all right" he
announced. but a change has come
over tie place since | visited II some
years ago. Then II was IA community
,f Supplemented villagers and fisher.
men: now. unless all signs fail, It's a
len Of smugglers. noticed a mum.
Der Of Chinese about: and that, taken
connection with the fact that, when
ventured TO introduce myself to the
village ginmill and ask a few limo
tent questions. the en,' q population,
a child. landed on me like a thou.
and brick-the two circumstances
made me think we'd stumbled on n
OF earnest workers at the
Ientle art OF helping poor Cinnamon
wade the exclusion laws"
With n wry smile. he pursued: "As
or ms. | landed out back OF the Joint.
N the nape of my neck. and took the
'ount. surrounded by "A lot OF unsym.
,athetic boxes and barrels that had
cen better days. And when | came 10
md started to crawl unostentatiously
way. ! was just in time to witness the
OF your amiable sister, that
Iang OF c%utthroats she keeps on the
,ay roll. and Alan In company with as
hoice a crew OF scoundrels as you'd
are TO see. ] gathered from n few
words that leaked out OF the back door
Il the barroom. that II was as I had
ho~ught-Judith had stolen a boat
rom the ship that picked her up. and
ahmed II oil Norton's reef; aud after
he gathered Alan In the schooner OF
hese %smugglers happened along, and
he hailed 1t and struck a bargain with
he captain and signed co-partnership
or something like that. Any.
ray. her lot and the islanders we're
DON AZ thick AZ thieves. and tanking
y no sociably that I actually got a
hAA.A A. -hl..Au -