The Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1919-current, 1920-03-12

0ckeu, l suppose'
A quick attempt to open 1t showed
him that 1t was. But he had
chance, II he could break down the
door, for the sound might pass I'M
heard in the gale. with the crashing
of the ice against the sides Of the
schooner, enabling him to pass into
the hold unseen in the darkness.
He hurled himself against the cabin
door. fists, shoulders, body. with every
muscle set tense. II broke upon Its
hinges. and Hilary fell, sprawlng into
the passage between the piles Of
stacked lumber. which rose to II height
of twenty feet on either side Of him.
running to within few feet Of the
cabin and the deck ladder.
He crouched there for few sec
0nds, hearing Madeleine behind him.
and looked upward. The wind was
roaring through the rigging with a
noise far louder than that made by the
falling door. No one had heard the
crash. Above him swung the great
mninsail. Obscuring the gibbOus moon
that scurred like II pale ghost among the
drifting clouds, haloed in the fog. Hill
airy could Just discern the hazy fig
ures Of three men. hard at work to
gain the middle channel. and the Ian
tern that hung from the mast above,
family Illuminating them.
He had seen, but had not conscious
~ observed. till the remembrance
came TO him then. that pile OF lum-
her, placed In the ship but not yet Sc
cured, lay about the center Of the
open space In front Of the cabin. Il
could not shift with the rolling Of
the schooner. so as to destroy her equl'
librluln, on account Of the stacks on
either side. II consisted Of the last
load Of logs, which had been dropped
! tbete from the end Of the flume. Hi
ary raised two In his arms and car.
! ried them In front OF the broken door.
1t was impossible to make his voice
HeHTu, lul tiIc ohip was S'"stS'h-
through the clashing ice foes with u
noise like that Of artillery, but Made
leine saw his purpose. and in an In
slant was at work helping him. They
began swiftly building. n barricade
and, as Madeleine deposited her logs
by the side of Hilary's. Hilary wedget
the ends against the chained stacks or
either side. so that the whole woulf
form an immovable barrier. He tOilet
furiously, for their scanty time wn'
precious beyond value. Soon Made
lelne was behind the barrlcade. nd
justlng the logs that Hilary brought
and II stood the height Of his waist.
1t was improbable that either Du
pont. Pierre or Leblanc carried re
volver; but, even II they did. the bar
ricade was bullet-proof. Hilary for
got his aching head. the retchlng nnu
sea. The barrier was shoulder-high
He clambered behind II and took hi
station there just us the grinding o
the foes ceased. and the schoOne
caught the clear water.
A ray OF moonlight. struggling
through the fog. disclosed old Dupon
at the wheel above the poop, and tn
great mainsall sweeping over it--nn'
two forms that crept along the pas
sage between the lumber piles. The
started hack In sudden Consideration
At the sight Of the unexpected barr
cade, aud Hilary's club. aimed a
Pierre's head descended upon the ouI
laws arm, which dropped limp AT hi
side.
With yell Pierre started back. hu
: Leblanc leaped forward. knife In hant
So sudden was the attack that
drove within an inch Of Hilary
throat Madeleine screamed rushe
forward, and pulled Hilary back. A
Leblanc caught sight Of her he uttere
an exclamation and followed Pierr
bnck Into the darkness Of the lumbe
Plies.
silence followed. That walt wa
tense and nerve.gripping. Hilary trle
10 get Madeleine to return into IN
cabin. hut she kept her place Ut hi
side. Then. to Illlary's utter surpris'
! he heard Brousscau's voice, and dis
. cerned him moving out OF the dart
ness of the lumber.
: Monsieur Askcw, I want to speak I
YOU" he called 81 am coming
. you. | can trust you"
! Hilary returned no answer. bu
; Brousscnu, apparently confident q
, Hilary's honor. pushed forward nm
came up to the hnrricade.
"Ah, mademolsellc. you have done
, foolish thing" he said quietly 10 Ma,
, eleInc. mo harm was meant to Moi
, Sieur Askew. I want those papers
that's all. heard he was comm
. aboard and adopted this ruSc to e,
| them. They are lies, written by I'LL
: charged employee. and can't afford |
; be lied about want to clear m
1 honor In your eyes, mndrmoiSellr."
But us neither answered him b
dropped his pose Of blundness and u,
dressed Hilary.
r "Tvc got more nj stake thnn III
D scIgnlory and the asbestos mime" i
( cried. THAT'S only II drop N N
. bucket. admit It's been fair hgl
:. between us and you've won. dldn
: wunt the scigniory wanted the hrh
I'm willing to drop II now and ri,
. you best Hut want those papers.
"Thcy amt yours, Monsieur Aske'
;. Morris forged them. hut you krl
I them. md that's why ! trapped W
r here. II was me- stopped Dupont frol
. killing YOU. because of his daughter
! Madeleine laughed cunlrmpiunuSl
| ut the lie, und Rousseau snnrtcd III
!. n lnshcd horse