Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-05-11
CHAPTER xv-continusd.)


Tony thereupon ordered the women
20 sit down on the ground I'm the shade
and not move under penalty of get
tin a wing clipped" We obeyed In
silence and looked on while the pirates
with wolfsh voracity devoured the
meal which had been meant for us.
They had pocket-fasks with them. and
as they attacked them with frequency
the talk grew louder and wilder. BY
degrees 1t was possible to comprehend
the extra ordinary disaster which had
befalien US. at least In a sketchy out
line of which the detail was filled In
later. Tony. II appeared. was the mas
fer OF a small power schooner which
had beer fitting out In San Francisco
for a flibustering trip to the Mexican
coast, and his three hard companions
were the crew. None was Of the old
hearty breed of sailors. but wharf-rats
pure and simple. city-dregs whom
chance had led to follow the sea.
Tony, In whom one detected a certain
rough force and ability. was an ltal-
Ian, an outlaw specimen OF the breed
which mans the fishing feet putting
forth from the harbor OF San Fran
cisco. When and where he and Mag
nus had been friends | do not know.
But no sooner had the wisdom OF Miss
Browne impaired the great secret TO
her chance acquaintance Of the New
York whnryes. than he had communl-
Gated with his old pal. Tony. The
power-schooner with her unlawful car
go stole out through the gate. made
her delivery In the Mexican port. took
on fresh supplies. and stood away for
Leeward island. The western anchor
age had received and snugly hidden
her. Captain Magnus. meanwhile. by
means of a mirror flashed from Look
out. had maintained communication
with his friends. and even visited them
under cover Of the supposed shooting
expedition. And now. while we had
been striving TO overcome the recall
citrnncy- OF Mr.. Tubbs. Captain Mag
nus had taken a short cut 10 the same
end. You felt that the secret Of Mr..
Tubs would be extracted. II need be,
by no delicate methods.
But Mr.. Tubbs' character possessed
nome of that unreasonable UhstiHHCy
which would make harsh measures
necessary under such. conditions His
%countenance, as the Illuminating con
-x~ersntinn of the pirates had pruceed.i
ed, lost the speckled appearance
which had characterized 1t at the
height of his terrors. Something like
his normal hue returned. He sat up
s~traIgh.er. moistened his dry lips. and
looked around upon us. yes, even upon
Aunt Jane and Miss Higglesby Browne,
with whom he had been so lately and
tenderiy reconciIed, with a side
long, calculating glance. After the
had eaten, the prisoners on the
were covered with a rife and their
hands united, while Cookie, In a lu-
gubrious silence made eloquent by his
eyes. passed around among us
the. remnants OF the food. Yet under
all the terror was O bedrock confidence
that there was, there must be some
how In the essence of things, an eter-
nat rfghtness which would keep ME
from Captain Magnus. And as
i looked across at Dugald Shaw and
met for an instant his steady, watch
full eyes, | managed a swift little smile
n rather wan smile, / dare say. but
still a smile.
Cuthbert vane caught, so to speak,
the tail Of II. and was electrified. /
saw his lips form at Mr.. Shaw's a
The words. Wonderful little sport. by
A curious stiffening had come over
Cuthbert vane. For the first time In my
knowledge of him he showed the o N
sciousness-Instead Of only the sub
consciousness-of the difference be-
tween Norman blood and the ordinary
sanguine fiuld. His shoulders squared
he lost his habitual Easy lounge and
sat erect and tall. Something stern
and aQuiline showed through the
smooth beauty of his face. so that you
thought Of efigies of crusading knights
stretched on their ancient tombs In
High Staunton church. He was their
true descendant. after all. this slow.
calm. gentle hammered Cuthbert. 1t
was . young lion that | had been play
Ing with. and the claws were there.
and terrible in their velvet
sheath.
Captain Tony. having finished his
pipe. knocked the ashes out against
the heel OF his boot and put the pipe
In his pocket.
We'll" he said. stretching, "Td ruth
er have a nap but business Is bust
30 let's get down to II. Which
o. them uys has thel line on the stun
Magnusf"
"Oid Badly, here" returned Mag
nus. with a o at Nr. Tubbs. "Old
Washtubs 1 call him generally ha.
ha I"
Then looky here. washtubs.' = said
Tony. addressing Mfr. Tubbs with sud
dep ~sternness, maybe you could blum
these here soft guys. but we're a DIFF
eerent breed o. cats. we are. What,