Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-01-28

cloth that has been dipped in oil.
have pushed that cloth. Tonight
when they get thler torches out
will get one and get he sore room
afire II will burn and the cloth
der Will blow up before they can
put the fire out You? What
viii become of you? You cannot
die So" he said. Bessie sadly nod
ded her head. yes. can die. Life
has always been a misery to me. |
can die because l know l have not
died In vain. Why did | not jump
overheard many. many times?
have had the opportunity? Be
caue could die in vain. Then op-
ening the door she lead him through
a dark narrow passage into a small
room in which there was strong
iron ladder, They climbed up
then opened a small window which
was level with the water. Before
the window were several strong row
1oats with oars. This" she said.
lis where the pirates escape If cap
tured. They climb up this ladder
into the boats" IF you have
known this. why haven't you es-
caped?" rs it not too late now?
Come, will row-there is freedom
where the land rises
Bessie shook her head, 1T is too
late who will warn the colonies?
Who will save the little settlement?
II could only see land again. but
the mist hides it,. THANK God.
1t will hide you CO. Go, hear
someone coming. The captain was
asleep, | drugged his wine so 1 could
get the keys. l must put them
back before he awakes. Goodbye,
row fast go the fog will hide you"
And stepping down the ladder.she
| closed the door and climbed back
up the deck.
Tired and weary she sat down
and waited till evening. The pi-
rates were all busy preparing for
the nights plunder. SO they new
5r bothered about the Englishman,
until evening when one of the sail
ors went to take his food to him.
Bessie saw him go and taking one
of the torches in her hand she ran
down the staircase to the store
room Lighting the torch she
touched the luggage in the room
with the light Then closing the
Ioor she ran back up the stairway
and seated herself trembling on the
leck. The sailor came back his
face purple with rage. Rushing up
to Bessie, he shook his fist in her
face and cried in broken English,
You did it, you set him free. I'll
kill YOU Don't you dare touch
me! You had better repent Instead
Of wanting to KILL" she hissed. The
captain came up the stair and the,
snilor told him OF the news. Grip
ping his hard cruel hands around
her slender throat he bent her back
10 HcT huees iiSs ohe b"9Psu'
1.-THE ship in on fire. look!" The
captain turned, smoke was rushing
up through the crack in the floor.
his face was white and he stood as
though paralized.
The sailors were frightened; their
races were as pale as chalk. They
were to frightened to know what to
do The captain took out his knife
and drew 1t toward Bessie when
suddenly loud explosion was heard
A fame shot up. cit had reached
| the powder room and the ship was
blown to atoms. The young Eng
lishman had reached land just as the
flame shot up, then loud explosion
was heard The people on land
were watching for a small schooner
that had gone several days before and
was to return that eening. AS
they were waiting anxiously they
saw flame of light shoot up and
heard u faint explosion. In their
anxiety they feared 1t was the fish
schooner but toward morning the
Englishman told fhem of the pirate
So when daylight came they went
to the shore to see II they could
find any ruins of the wreck. There
ON the shore all alone lay the body Of
Bessie Randell. the wind was blow
ing her long golden hair over her
sholders and face, but she was
dead. She had given up her life tc
save the settlement
The End.
Tho ynung nennle of Diatrlct 4