The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-30

garden to the house where Arabella waited anxiously. The sight of her uncle brought her infinite relief, not only on his own account, but on ac- count also of Captain Blood.
 You took great risk, sir" she gravely told Lord Julian after the or dinary greetings had been exchanged.
 But Lord Julian answered her as he had answered Major Mallard. There was no risk, ma'am. So that Blood's ship were allowed to pass the fort, no no harm could come to Colonel Bishop. Blood pledged me his word for that"
 Very early next morning, before the heat of the day came to render the open intolerable to his lordship, he espied her from his window moving amid the azalaes in the garden. He hurried forth to join her. He explained himself by the announcement that he bore her a message from Captain Blood.
 He desired me-" he said at last. "to give you message that should prove to you that there is still something left in him of the unfortunate gentleman that that for which once you knew him. It is not easy. Stab me, it is not. He was man who deserved well. And amongst us we have marred his chances; your uncle, because he could not forget his cancour you be- cause because having told him that in the kings service he would find his redemption of what was past, you would not afterwards admit to him that he was so redeemed. And this, all though concern to rescue you was the chief motive of his embracing that same service"
 She had turned her shoulder to him so that he could not see her face. His lordship's unusual nervousness, was steadily increasing. ''He thought, then so he told me-that my presence here had contributed to his inability to re- deem himself in your sight; and unless he was so redeemed, then was redemp- tion."
 He thought that you had contri- butedY she echoed. .
 Aye, and he said so in terms which told me something that hope above all things, and yet dare not believe, for God knows, am no coxcomb, Ara bella. He said 1 had gone aboard his ship to demand the instant surrender of your uncle. He laughed at me. Colonel Bishop should be hos tage for his safety. By rashly ventur- ing aboard his ship, afforded him in my person yet another hostage as valu- able at least as Colonel Bishop. Yet he bade me depart; not from the fear of consequences, for he is above fear, nor from any personal esteem for me whom he confessed that he had come to find detestable; and this for the very req son that made him concerned for my safety"
 II do not understand" she said, as he paused. "1s not that contradiction in itself:"
 1t seems so only. The fact is, Ara bella, this unfortunate man has the
 the temerity to love you"
 She cried out at that, and clutched her breast whose calm was suddenly disturbed. Go on," she bade him.
 Well, then; he saw in me one who made it impossible that he should win you-soAh he said. Therefore he could with satisfaction have killed me. But because my death might cause you pain, because your happiness was the thing that above all things he desired, he sur rendered that part of his guarantee of safety which my person afforded him. If his departure should be hindered and I should lose my life in what might fol- low, there was the risk that . that you might mourn me. Because of that he bade me leave his ship, and put me ashore" She looked at him with eyes that were aswim with tears. "Was he right, Arabella? My life's happiness hangs upon your answer"
 Continued tomorrow.)