The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-09-04
CONTINUED From Previous Issue.)
CHAPTER XVIII.
A New Plan of Escape.
oopyrisht By 4. Q. Mcolurg = 90.


It was really dark the entire sky was
overcast, but the sea remained COM
paratively calm and the wind steaxy.
IT was a pleasant night in spite of
the darkness, the air soft and refresh
ing. The locker was filled with flags,
representing almost every nation on
earth. dragged these out and spread
them on the deck abaft the cabin, thus
forming a very comfortable bed, and
at last induced the girl to lie down,
wrapping her In blanket. Finally /
found a seat beside her on a coil of
rope, and we fell into conversation.
This was the first opportunity we
had enjoyed to actually talk with each
other alone.
Dorothy" said humbly, you were
frightened last night. / cannot hold
you to what you said to me then"
"You mean you do not wish to? But
] was not frightened
"And you still repeat what you said
then? You said, 4 love you"
Eyes, can repeat that love YOU"
''Those are dear, dear words but I
ought not to listen to them, or believe.
l am not free to ask a pledge of you, or
to beg you to trust me in marriage"
as not that rather for me to de-
cider she questioned archly. 81 make
a confession now. You remember the
night l met you on deck, when you
we're prisoner, and told you that you
had become the property of Roger
Fairfax / loved you then, although
scarcely acknowledged the truth even
to myself. We are all alike, we Fair
faxes; we choose for ourselves, and
laugh at the world That is my an
swer, Geoffry Carlyle; 1 give you love
for love-"
Il would ask an opportunity denied
me-to stand once more in honor
among men. / would not be ashamed
before Dorothy Fairfax"
"Nor need you be-" she exclaimed
impetuously, her hands pressing mine.
You wrong yourself, even as you have
been wronged You have already done
that which shall win you freedom, if
it be properly presented to those in
power. l mean that it shall be, once
/ am safely back in Virginia. Tell me,
what are your plans with-with this
schooner
ITO beach il somewhere along shore,
and leave it there wreck, while we
escape. The men insist on 1t with good
reason. They have been pirates, and
might be hung If caught"
"And yet to my mind" she insisted
earnestly, that choice is most dan
gerous. am girl, but If command.
ed here, do you know what would dc?
! would sail this vessel straight to the
Chesapeake and surrender II to the
authorities. The men have nothing to
fear with me aboard and ready to testi-
fly in their behalf. The governor will
accept my word without a question.
These men are not pirates, but honest
seamen compelled to serve In order to
save their lives; they mutinied and
captured the bark, but were later over
come. and compelled to take the boats.
The same plea can be made for you.
Geoffry, only you were there In an eff
fort to save me. II is a service which
ought TO win you freedom. Ii the gov
ernor fail me, / will bear my story to
the feet of the king. l am a Fairfax.
and we have friends in England, strong,
powerful friends"
II am convinced" / admitted, after
a pause, that this course is the wiser
one, but fear the opposition Of the
men. They will never go willingly"
There is an argument which will
overcome their fear. / mean cupidity.
Each sailor aboard has an interest In
the salvage of this vessel under the
English law Also there must be gold
aboard-perhaps treasure also. Let
the crew dream that dream and you
will need no whip TO drive them into
an English port"
Full pardon, and possibly wealth
with it,~ / laughed. "A beautiful
scheme, Dorothy, yet it might work.
Still, If | know sailormen. they would
doubt the truth. if 1t came direct from
me. for am not really one of them"
But Watkins is. Explain it all to
him; tell him who | am, the influence
can WELD in the colony, and then let
him whisper the news to the others.
VIII you not do this-for my sake?"
YES" | answered; II believe you
have found the right course. If you
Will promise to lie down and sleep }
VIII talk with Watkins now. | may
catch some catnaps before morning.
but most of the time shall be prowling
about deck. Good night, dear girl"
She extended her arms, and drew me
down untN our lips met
You are actually afraid of me STILL"
she said "Why should you be?"
Somehow, Dorothy, you have al
ways seemed so far away from me
have never been able to forget. But
now the touch of your lips has"
Broken down the last barrier?"
Yes, forever"
Are you sure? Would you not feel
stiil less doubt if you kissed me
againT'
held her closely. gazing down into
the dimly revealed outline of her face,
and this time felt myself the master.
left her there and CROPPED my own
way forward. found Watkins awake.
lie listened graveiy to what had to
say, with little comment, and was evil
IDENTIFY weighing every argument in his