The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-05-17

! held more disagreeable face, or one
which so thoroughly revealed the ma
! ture of man. AS l touched his hand.
at Estada's brief introduction, 1t was
as if | fingered snake.
This IS your chair, Gates, and you
will find we live well aboard the Ma
mur-wine, women and song-hey,
Manuel. Why not when all are at
command? Steward, you told the lady
what my orders were. Then bid her
! Join u.s."
We stood in silence, rs Gunsaules
crossed the deck and inserted a key
in the after stateroom door. Manuel
was grinning in full enjoyment, but
the expression on the face of Estada
was that of grim cruelty. l felt my
hands grip like iron on my chair back
and my teeth clinch in restraint. God,
/ but l would have liked to grip the fel-
low where he stood-all the bottled
up hatred in my soul struggling for
action. Yet that would only mean the
death of all hope, and | turned my
eyes away from him and stared with
the others at the opening door.
Out into the full light of the cabin
the woman came and halted barely q
| step in advance of the steward. her
head uplifted proudly, her eyes on US.
Never before had l realized her beau
! ty, her personality, as l did then. Her
posture was not that of defiance nor
Of surrender; she stood as q woman
uf,,LA -
tanned by wonderful courage.
caught her glance, but there was nc
recognition in it; not by the flicker
of an eyelid did she betray surprise
and yet in some mysterious manner a
flash of intelligence passed between
us. 1t was all instantaneous for her
gaze seemed to concentrate on Estada
as though she knew him rs leader.
"You sent for me? For what?" she
asked, her Spanish clear and well
chosen.
ITO join US at meal" he answered
unmoved. ut is better than to remain
alone"
Better! You must have a strange
opinion Of me to believe / would sit
| with murderers and thieves"
Harsh words, senorita," and Estada
grinned grimly. "Yet expected them.
There are many trades in the world
by which men are robbed. We only
work at the one we like best; nor will
discuss that with you. However
senorita, can say that we have taken
no lives in this last affair"
mo lives ~ In sudden, incredulous
surprise. you mean my uncle lives?'
IF you refer to Fairfax-the one in
whose room the chest was hidden,
can only reply truthfully that he lives
One of my men struck him down, but
1t was not a death blow. If that be
the reason of your disdain there is nc
cause. This chair is held for YOU
"But why was l brought away q
prisoner? To be a plaything? A sport
for your pleasure"
THAT was but the orders of our
chief; we await his recovery to learn
his purpose"
Sanchez Was he your chief? A
pirate?"
"a buccaneer; we prey on the enc
mics of Spain. It was at Captain San
chez orders we waited the arrival of
your vessel from England. He loved
you; he would no doubt have dealt
with you honorably; have reason to
believe that to be his purpose now
Nothing will change his purpose. He
is that kind, and he has the power
He determined that if you would not
come to him by choice you should be
made to by force. You are here now
by his orders and will remain until
you consent to His purpose-all that
remains for you to decide is whether
you choose to be prisoner or guest
| aboard"
"And If he should die?"
Estada shrugged his shoulders In.
differently.
"WhO knows"
Her lips frightened as though to hold
back a cry while one hand pressed to
the open door steadied her. There
was look in the searching eyes l did
not like to see. 1t was q moment be-
fore she could control her voice.
II have heard them call you Estada,
OF what rank In this company are
your"
II am Pedro Estada, formerly the
first officer, now, by occasion Of Cap
tain Sanchez wound, in full command.
These are two of my officers-Senor
Gates, one of your own countrymen,
and Manuel Estevan. And now that
I have answered your questions what