Connecticut western news., 1920-08-19

expected to be put aboard a passing vessel. But no! The Sea Wolf had other plans. She was added to the crew as Humphrey was, and likewise "for the good of her soul"
 Maude received the news In wonder ment. What kind of a man was this mocking master of the Ghost? She was soon to find out
 The cook had offended Larsen. A rope was coiled around the offender and he was cast overheard in the wake of the ship. A shark rushed for him and Larsen ordered him pulled in. Despite the maddened haste, the shark in the final rush tore away the foot of the victim.
 "The shark was not in the reckoning, Miss Brewster" said the Sea Wolf, smilingly. Tt was-shal we say-an act of Providence"
 This scene convinced Humphrey that he must kill Wolf Larsen. His cour- age 1areG ur so brightly that he actu- ally threatened to murder him.
 The Sea Wolf parked a whimsical guffaw: Bravo, Hump, you do me proud. like you the better for it."
 Humphrey winced. He conf1ded his resolution to Maude, with whom he had fallen in love. She counseled against 1t, protesting that moral cour- age always defeats sbrute force, but she failed to convince him. He knew the Sea Wolf too we'll.
 The dancing lights in Wolf Larsen's eyes when he looked into Maude's warned Humphrey that some day the storm would break. And 1t did. In the midst of the night, he rushed into Maude's cabin to find her in the crush ing embrace of Wolf Larsen.
 Humphrey flung himself on the monster to be tossed aside like chip. He rushed again, drawing his knife. plunging the blade into the Sea Wolf's shoulder. Larsen staggered back and Maude seized Humphrey, begging him not to kill. Suddenly the Wolfe col lapsed not from his wound, but as if from some uncanny spell that para lyzed him. The giant was helpless. Humphrey carried him to his berth and realized that opportunity for es- cape was at hand.
 Maude and he put off in small boat, hoping that they might make Japan, 800 miles away. But the winds and creeping drift of the Pacific inter- vened and finally the grim adventure ended for a time on a little Arctic island. Here they prepared to remain for the winter.
 Suddenly one morning, weeks after, Humphrey saw on the beach the wreck of vessel, and it was strangely familiar. It could not be-yes it was the Ghost The blood chilled in his veins. Wild thoughts of flight or the sudden ending of both their lives en- tered his mind. Then a wondering cunning succeeded such fears. He would kill Wolf Larsen, kill him as he slept, for all on board were doubtless sleeping With knife and gun he climbed to the deck. He saw no one. Was the ship deserted after all?
 But as he rounded the poop there burst on his gaze the Sea Wolf. Hum phrey raised his gun; the trigger clicked sharply. Thez: silence.
 "Why don't you shootf" eooiiy Fe- marked the Welf.
 Humphrey could not speak.
 Hump" said the Sea Wolf. slowly, ~YOu can't do It And after all have taught you. You know that I would kill an unarmed man as readily as I would smoke cigar. Bah! had ex- pected the better things of you, Hump
 Humphrey slowly lowered the gun.
 The Ghosts presence was explained calmly by the Sea Wolf. He was caught tn a net he had set for his hated Reoth@, "Death" Larsen, his crew wese tahen away and he was left alone. Pacific storms did the rest
 A strange wearfnass in the Sea Wdfs bearing, a hesftant, preoccupied air about him puzzled Humphrey. A few days later he again summoned courage to put him out of the way. But this time he Eaw Wolf Larsen slowly making bis wuy down the deck, his Qufver1ng finger tips groping for the hand rails.
 Wolf Larsen was blind! No need to k1u him
 Mnude and Humphrey determined to escape by repairing the Ghost but the Sea Wolf w11led otherwise. Blind and helpless as he was he craftily con- trived to ruin Humphreys work, de termined they should die together, so his grim revenge would be complete. Fiendish cunning and instinct to kill still remained.
 A final reckoning was to come. Scorning precaution because he felt the Sea Wolf physically Howerless from the suspected presenceFof a tu- nor on the brain, Humphrey ventured too near one day. Suddenly the Sea Wolf's stupor passed. The steel-like fingers gripped Humphreys throat. The trap had sprung.