The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-03-05
CHAPTER xxxil-contlnusd.

myself to the deck, clinging hards TO
keep my footing on the wet incline. A
light spar had lodged here, and by
making this q species Of bridge, we
crept as far as the companion, the door
Of which was open. and gained a view
Of the scene below. It vas q dismal
hole In the dim light. but presented no
obstacle to entrance, and I 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 It open against the volume of
water, slushing about within. For a
moment my eyes could scarcely recog-
nize the various objects Is I chung 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-
tanned its place, but everything else
TANNED In q 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
oblivious to all else.
there's the chest we want, Haines,"
I cried. pointing 1t 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 q man owe therein
the bunki Good God. sir; look at
him
The white. CHASTITY face stared at us,
looking like nothing human in that
awful twilight. I actually thought it
a ghost, until with desperate effort the
man lifted himself, clinging with gaunt
fingers to the edge of the bunk. Then
/ knew.
Sanchez You'll those towards left
you here to diel"
mo one came for me-" he answered.
choking 20 the words were scarcely in
telligible. "Who are you, and what
brought you heref"
I'll tell you frankly, Captain
Sanchez" and I stepped closer. I'VE
risked coming aboard to save that
chest-Roger Falrfax's chest-before
1t went down. This vessel has It's
back broken, and may slide of into
deep water at any minute. We must
get you out Of here first."
"Get me out I" he laughed hideously.
ITO hell with your help. / want none
Of 1t. ! am q dead man now, and the
easiest way to end all will be to go
down with the ship-twill be a At
coffin for Black Sanchez. BY God. l
know you now-Geoffry CarlyleT
Eyes. 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 escue from you! Damn you. take
your gold and Co."
"But why?" I insisted, shocked at
the mans violence. us 1t because I in
terfered between you and Dorothy
Fairfax?"
THAT chit bah, what do l care for
her but as a plaything. No. my hate
runs deeper than that. How came you
herein the boat stolen from the Ma
mur2"
mo. Captain Sanchez. The day after
we left the ship we 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 Godl" and his eyes fairly
blaxed into mine as he suddenly forced
his body upward In the bunk. 1.-THE
Santa Marie adrift! the crew dead
from chOleraf And the captain-Para.
dilla, Francis Paradilla-what of
him."
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 once more
1t was but q whisper.
"Tell me-" he begged. "there was no
woman with himr"
There was no woman" l said
gravely, ION deck or in the cabin"
"What mean you by saying thata
There was one on boardi Don't lie to
me! In an hour l am dead-but first
tell me the truth. Does the woman
livef"
: "No, she died before. We found her
body in a chest. preserved by some
devilish Indian art, richly dressed and
decked with Jewels"
"English?"
Il judged her SO, but with dark hair
and eyes. You knew herF
I'm 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,
He'll but it Is strange you should be
the one to find her-to bring me this
tale. Geoffry Carlyle!"
"Why? What is 1t to met"
you go back to England and tell the
duke of Bucclough how his precious
sister died."
His sisterl Good God. you canno,
mean that woman was Lady Sara Car
IyleT"
"Who should know better than ~
s~neeringly. "Once I was called in Eng
land Sir John COllinswood."