The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-12-04
CHAPTER xxxIl-continued.

sailor enough to follow as I lowered
myself to the deck. cllnging 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 us far as the companion, the door
OF which was open. and gained a view
Of the scene below. II wal 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 It open against the volume OF
water, slushlng about within. For a
moment my eyes could scarcely recog.
nize the various objects as I chung to
the frame OF the door md stared blind
ly about In the gloom. Then slowly
they assumed shape and substance.
Screwed to the deck, the furniture re-
tanned Its place, but everything else
was jammed In a mass of wreckage, or
else floating about in a foot Of water,
deepening toward the stern. There
were two chests In the room, one Of
which I instantly recognized as that OF
Roger Fairfax. The sight Of this made
me obllvlous to all else.
There's the chest we want. Haines."
I cried, pointing II out. "Have the lads
back the boat up to this port: then
come down and help me handle t."
Yes, sir" hi. voice trembling. "but
- hrt laa't that . =. n,,a~ tha-in
the bunkf Good God. sir; look at
him !"
The white. CHASTITY face stared nj US,
looking like nothing human In that
awful twilight. l actually thought II
a ghost. until with desperate effort the
man lifted himself, clinging with gaunt
fingers to the edge Of the bunk. Then
l 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 herer
"TW tell you frankly. Captain
Sanchez" and l stepped closer. 1--WE
risked coming aboard to save that
chest-Roger Fairfax's chest-before
II e down. This vessel has Its
back broken. and may slide OF 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. l want nom
Of Il. am a dead mar now, and the
easiest way to end all will be to 60
down with the ship-'twill be a at
cofiin for Black Sanchez. BY God! l
know you now-Geofrry CarlyleT
"Yes. but an enemy no longer"
THAT Is for me to say. I hate your
race, your breed. The very sound Of
your name drives me mad. ! accept
no rescue from youl Damn you. take
your gold and 60"
But whyf" / insisted, shocked at
the mans violence. rs II because / In
terfered between you and Dorothy
Fairfax"
THAT chit bah. what do I care for
her but as q plaything. No. my hate
runs deeper than that. How came you
herein the boat stolen from the Ma.
murf"
mo. Captain Sanchez. The day after
we left the ship W. boarded a schooner
found adrift. the crew stricken with
cholera. with not a 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 a. SHE suddenly forced
his body upward In the bunk. "The
Santa Marie adriftl the crew dead
from cholera? And the captain-Para-
dilia, Francis Paradilla-what OF
hlm7"
HE lay alone on q dIvan In the
cabin-dead also"
He tried to speak. but failed, his
fingers clawing at his throat. When
he finally gained utterance ono more
n was but a whisper.
! Tell me-" he begged, there was nc
woman with himf
Z There was no woman" I sale
gravely. "on deck or In the cabin"
2 What near you by saying that
There was one on board Don't lie e
: mel In an hour | am dead-but frs
: tell me the truth. Does the woman
Z liver
o mo, she died before. We found he
X body In a chest, preserved by SOM
3 devilish Indian art, richly dressed ant
n decked with Jewels"
a "Engllshr'
~ judged her 80. but with darn hal
and eyes. You knew herr"
'In the name OF oil the iends. yes
And ! know her end. He killed her
Paradilla killed her-because she wa
as false to him rs she had been to mC
Hell but II 10 strange you should b
the one to nnd her-to bring me thi
tale. Geoffry Carlyle"
Z "whyi What is II 20 mer
"You 20 back to England and tell IN
9 duke Of Bucclough how his preciou
!. !. sister died"
"His sister, Good God. you cannc
mean hat woman was Lady Sara ca
lyief"
- l--.- 49,. 49, A.