Judsonia weekly advance., 1919-10-16
CHAPTER xxxII-continued.


 myself to the deck, clinging hard to keep my footing on the wet incline. light spar had lodged here, and by making this species of bridge, we crept as far as the companion, the door of which was open, and gained view of the scene below. It was a dismal hole in the dim light, but presented no obstacle to our entrance and led the way down the stairs, gripping the rail to keep from falling.
 The door of the captains room gave, but 1t required our combined efforts to press 1t open against the volume of water, slushing about within. For a moment my eyes could scarcely recog- nlze the various objects as I clung to the frame of the door and stared blind- " about in the gloom. Then slowly they assumed shape and substance. Screwed to the deck the furniture re- tained its place. but everything else was damned in 2 mass of wreckage, or else floating about in foot of water, deepening toward the stern. There were two chests in the room one of which instantly recognized as that of Roger Fairfax. The sight of this made me oblivious to all else.
 There's the chest we want, Haines," cried pointing it out. Have the lads , back the boat up to this port; then come down and help me handle it."
 Yes, sir" his voice trembling, "but but isn't that a man over therein the bunk? Good God, sir; look at him !"
 The white, ghastly face stared at us, looking like nothing human in that awful twilight. I actually thought it ghost, until with desperate effort the man lifted himself clinging with gaunt fingers to the edge of the bunk. Then I knew.
 Sanchez! You! those towards left you here to diel"
 No one came for me-" he answered. choking so the words were scarcely in- telligible. 'sWho are you, and what brought you here?"
 sIll tell you frankly, Captain Sanchez" and stepped closer. I've risked coming aboard to save that chest-Roger Fairfaxs chest-before it went down. This vessel has it's back broken, and msy slide off into deep water at any minute. We must get you out of here first"
 "Get me out !" he laughed hideously ITO hell with your help. I want none of 1t. am dead man now, and the easiest way to end all will be to go down with the ship-'twill be tit coffin for Black Sanchez. By Godl 1 know you now-Geoffry Carlye?"
 "Yes, but an enemy no longer"
 'That Is for me to say. 1 hate your race, your breed. The very sound of your name drives me mad. 1 accept no rescue from you! Damn you. take your gold and go."
 But why?" 1 insisted, shocked at the mans violence. "Is 1t because in. terfered between you and Dorothy Fairfax"
 That chit; bah, what do 1 care for her but as a plaything. No, my hate runs deeper than that. How came you herein the boat stolen from the Ma mur?"
 No. Captain Sanchez. The day after we left the ship we boarded schooner found adrift. the crew stricken with cholera, with not man left alive on deck, or below. She lies yonder now, the Santa Marie-a shaver"
 "Nierciful God!" and lis eyes fairly blazed into mine as he suddenly forced his body upward in the bunk. ''rhe Santa Marie adrift the crew dead from cholera? And the captain-Para- dilia. Francis Paradilla-what of him?"
 "He lay alone on a divan in the cabin-dead also."
 He tried to speak, but failed, his fingers clawing at his throat. When he finally gained utterance once more it was but whisper
 .sTell me-" he begged, "there was no woman with him?"
 aThere was no wOmaT,,' said grayely, lon deck or in the cabin"
 "What mean you by saying that? There was one on board Don't lie to mel In an hour I am dead-but first tell me the truth Does the woman live?"
 "No. she died before. We found her body in a chest, preserved by some deyilish Indian art, richly dressed and decked with jewels"
 "Dnglish?"
 q judged her so, but with dark hair and eyes You knew herr
 "In the name of all the fiends, yes And know her end. He killed her Paradilla killed her-because she was as false to him as she had been to me.