Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-17
CopV1foht, 10a1 6v Charles Scribnc,,s Sous

no, one. If any of her men had not
followed Ioraida, they were lounging
under cover. The maids would be about
the evening meal and table setting, in
the patio or in the house
Straight across the valley they drove
the ponies and there. in the first foot e
hills scattered and left them Then
they settled down to hard riding. both
praying mutcly that when they came to
the gulf and the beach they would find
the Half Moon waiting them.
The stars were out when they came
to the beach where only few days ago
kendric and Barlow had landed. And
there, at anchor. rode the Half Moon.
They saw her lights and they made out
the hulk of her. kcndric shouted and
came an answering hail, the mclodious
voice of Niger Ben. They saw
lantern 70 down over the side. they
watched it bob and dance and made out
presently that it was coming toward
them. They heard Niger Bcn's voice,
chanting monotOnOusly. as he pulled at
the oars of the small boat.
"Howdy Cap'n; howdy!" cried Ben
joyously. He took in the small figure
which had dismounted at Kcndric's side
and ducked his head and included her
in his greetings with "Howdy, Miss"
And then, looking in vain for another
member of the party: where's Cap'n
Iiarlow?"
Let's get on board, Ben" an
swered Kendric. "1'll tell you there. "
So they stepped into the dingey and
pushed off and rowed back to the Half
Moon.
"There's a gent here says he's n
fricn' of your'n, Cap" said Ben. "Ah
dunno. Anyhows, he's been here all
day an we re watchin' he don't make
no mischief"
They went up over the side and
Kcndric showed Betty straightway to
the cabin that was to be hers. Then
he turned wonderingly to Ben. He
could only think of Bruce, since it
wasn't Barlow
And Bruce it was. The boy came
forth from the shadows. standing be-
fore Kendric, looking at once detected
and defiant and shame faced.
II was damn fool, JIM" he said
bluntly. Forget it, if you can, and
take n passenger back to the States
with you. Or tell me to go to hell
and ] guess I'll tuck my tail between
my legs and 90"
Kendric's hand went out impulsively
and he cried with great heartiness:
lowF''
"Barlow's like crazy man." said
Bruce. He spoke quickly as though
eager to get through with what he had
to say. After that cursed game of
cards he got the same sort of message
| got; we were to wait, each in his
own room, for--for her" He hesi-
tated Kendric understood that it hurt
him even to refer to Ioraida. 1--WE
waited Ing time. Then something
happened which l know little about
l guess you know all Of it. At any
rate, when she burst In on us--we had
got tired of waiting and were in the
too, was like one gone mad
We had heard the shooting outside, but
when we started to run out some of her
men threw guns on US and held us
back. She came running in, terribly
excited. When tried to speak she
cursed me, called me fool, told me
that she had never loved any but one
man and that that man was-was you.
Then she sworc that she was going to
SEQ you dead and Betty Gordon dead |
with you. guess came to my senses
n little at that"
"And Rariow?" insisted Kendric. |
Bruce had paused, was staring of into
the night, seemed to have forgotten to
go on.
II had two words with Barlow when
she left us. He looked ready for mur-
icr and just snapped out that he was |
going TO stay until he lined his pockets. .
Rios came in. He told us you were on !
The run. trying to make it down here.
lie offered to get me and Barlow clear
hp seemed anxious TO have MS both gone
He promised us we'd be dead in .
twenty four hours if we stayed he
tipped his hand enough to say that
here was loot to be had and he meant
10 have his half and didn't care what
to us as long MS We got out
II the way. | came, hoping that you'd
freak through and get here. / told
Barlow l was coming. He just shrug-