The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1919-10-02
CHAPTER xxXli-Continuod.

AiuiueS WIS eNiueuliy TeluCtuht, pue
sailor enough to follow as l lowered
myself to the deck, clinging hard to
keep my footing on the wet incline. A
light spar had lodged here, and by
making this a species of bridge, we
crept MS far as the companion, the door
Of which was open. and gained view
Of the scene below. 1t 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 it required our combined efforts to
press 1t open against the volume Of
water, slushing about within. For a
moment my eyes could scarcely recog-
nize the various objects as l chung to
the frame OF the door and stared blind
ly 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 a 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 eblivious to all else.
There's the chest we want, Haines,"
l cried. pointing It out slave the lads
back the boat up to this port; then
come down and help me handle it.
eyes, sir" his voice trembling, "but
but isn't that man over therein
the bunk? Good God. sir; look at
him."
The white, CHASTITY face stared Mt Us,
looking like nothing human in that
awful twilight. I actually thought II
a ghost, until with desperate effort the
man lifted himself, clinging with gaunt
fingers to the edge Of the bunk. Then
! knew.
sanchez! You those towards left
you here to die!"
"No one came for me-" he answered,
choking so the words were scarcely in
telligible. "Who are you, and what
brought you here?"
"I'll tell you frankly, Captain
Sanchez" and stepped closer. 1--WE
risked coming aboard to save that
chest-Roger Fairfax's chest-before
1t went down. This vessel has its
back broken, and may 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. want none
of II. l am dead man now, and the
easiest way to end all will be to go
down with the ship-'twill be fit
coffin for Black Sanchez. BY God! I
know you now-Geoffry Carlyle?"
"Yes, but an enemy no longer"
''That Is for me to say. hate your
race, your breed. The very sound Of
your name drives me mad. I accept
no rescue from you! Damn you, take
your gold and CO."
"But why?" I insisted, shocked at
the mans violence. us 1t because In
terfered between you and Dorothy
Fairfax"
"That chit; bah, what do 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 SLAYER"
"Merciful God !" and his eyes fairly
blaZed into mine as he suddenly forced
his body upward In the bunk. 1.-THE
Santa Marie adrift! the crew dead
from cholera? And the captain-Para-
dilla, Francis Paradilla-what of
HIM"
"Hc 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
II was but a whisper.
Tell me-" he begged, "there was no
woman with him?"
"There was no woman" I said
gravely, "on 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 rne the truth. Does the woman
Mve2'
"No, she died before. We found her
body in a chest, preserved by some
devillsh Indian art. richly dressed and
decked with jewels"
"Epgllsh"
IL 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
Paradila killed her-because she was
Rs false to him as she had been to me.
Hell bpt II Is strange you should be
the one to find her-to bring me this
tale. 0eoffry Carlylew
"why? What is 1t to meT
"You go back to England and tell the
duke Of Bucclough how his precious
sister died"