The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-02-04
nd banged him up the steps to the

deck.
81 amt goin' T. hurt ye. I hac {
show ye that no spanner ever bothered
,, Mike Bannock. Now. d. know what
. cooks galley is!"
Il do" said Norton. breathing hard.
Well. hike there an start In with
peelin' spuds. an don't waste 'em
neither. That'n be all fer tn present.
:Ye were due for q wallopin' but ]
kinda like yer spunk."
So Jim stumbled down to the cooks
gallery and grimly set to work at the
potatoes. It might have been far
worse. But here he was. likely to be
on the high seas for months. and no
way Of notifying Jones what had hap
pened. The outlook was anything but
cheerful. But vague hope awoke in
his heart II they were still after him
might 1t not signify that Florence
lived.
Meantime Braine had not been idle.
According to vroon the girls memory
was In bad shape; % he had not the
least doubt Of bringing her back to
New York without mishap. Once he
had her there the game would begin
In earnest. He played his cards ex-
ceedingly well. Steaming up into the
little fishing harbor with handsome
yacht In itself would allay any dis.
trust And he wore q capital disguise,
too. Everything went well till he
laid his hand on Florence's shoulder.
She gave . 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: cant you see that
Il 10 your fAther?" Braine turned to
the captain. "She has been like this
for . year. Heaven knows IL she'll
ever be In her right mind again"
sadly. II 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
thet she's your daughter?"
'Proof?" Braine was taken aback.
Yes; somethin' Z prove that you're
her father. I got skinned out Of Q
sloop once because I took . mans
word 1T its face value. Black an
white, an ON paper, says I. hereafter. !"
But I never thought Of such Q
thing" protested Braine. beginning
to. lose his patience. II can't risk
! sending to New York for documents.
She IL my daughter. and you will ind
It win not pay to take this peculiar
stand"
"In black an white. r y can't have
her."
Braine thereupon rushed forward 70
seize Florence. Barnes swung Flor
ence behind him.
II guess she'll stay here leetle
longer. sir."
+ Time was vital. and this obstinacy
made Brains furious. He reached
again for Florence.
Clear out o. hero. r show your 40
thority," growled Barnes.
"She goes with me, or you'll n.
gret It."
All right. But guess tn law
won't hurt me none. I'm in my rights.
There's the door, mister"
II refuse to 90 without her!"
Barnes sighed. He was on land .
man of peace, but there was . limit
to his patience. He seized Braine By
the shoulders and hustled him out Of
the house.
Bring your proofs. mister. an
nothin' moreu be said; but till y
bring EN-, keep away from this cot
tags"
And. yimpleminded sailor that hs
was, he thought this settled the mat
ter.
That night he kept his ears open for
unusual sounds, but he merely wasted
his nights rest. Quite naturally, he
reckoned that the stranger would
make his attempt at night. Indeed.
he made 1t In broad daylight. with
Barnes not . hundred yards away,
calking . dory whose seams had
sprung aleak. Braine had Florence
upon the chartered yacht before the
old man realised what had happened.
He never saw Florence again; but one
day, months later. he read all about
her n newspaper.
Florence fought; but she Wa weak.
and 90 the conquest was easy. Braine
was kind enough. now that he had
her safe. He talked to her. but she
merely stared ct the feeeding coast
IAN right: don't talk II you don't
want to. Here" to one Of the men.
take her to the cabin and keep hez
there. But don't you touch her. I'll
break you IL you do. Put her in the
cabin and guard the door; 1t least
keep IN eye. on 1t. She may take II
into her head to Jump overheard"
Even the temporarily demented are
not without . species Of cunning.
Florence had never seen Braine till