Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-04-03

L
that she was not at the promontory.
Estelle had odd ways of wandering
alone about the country. PATHWAY
was glad of this temporary respite.
Going to the stables, shanty with
| two stalls close by, where he kept
two horses and fodder for use In I'M
expected emergency, he saw that one
Of the animals was missing. No doubt
Estelle had gone out riding.
| Estelle's personality was stronger
one than Railways. He could never
COW her by violence, as he cowed his
men; on the contrary, he feared her
flashing tongue when she was aroused.
He had seen Pierre, Shorty, and
Kramer gloating over the gold. and
he knew that he would have short
shrift If once his men suspected that
he was unable to keep 1t against
them, or If they trusted each other
sufficiently to combine against him.
That was why he had removed 1t
to the hut in the swamp, approachable
only by single narrow track.
There were six other men st the
promontory, one of them, the man
whom Lee had shot through the hand,
being still disabled Railway set the
whole lot on various jobs, to keep them
busy during the remainder of the day.
He knew that they would be talking
about the gold at night, but he was
making his own plans. And, left alone,
he paced the track, now gloating over
the gold, now over Joyce who still
| lay silent on the bed her lips COM
pressed. and that awful look in her
eyes.
He went to her side and cut the
bonds that bound her. There was no
need to guard her; she could not es-
cape him. Joyce sat up slowly, still
looking at him in that terrible way.
He could not face her eyes. He felt
helpless before her. He needed two
allies might and whisky.
"Come, dearie," he began, in voice
that was meant to be placable, "you
know everything I've done has been
out of love for you"
Murderer !" Railway trembled be-
fore her outstretched finger. He had
thought to have her at his mercy !;
she seemed to have him at hers.
"Come, now, my dear, If 1 had to
treat you rough"
Murderer p
HE was pulling a gun on me. He
fell into the stream himself. / didn't
hit him."
| "You-murderer
Railway beat a retreat. Her eyes
were blazing like a panther's. He
/ couldn't understand his fear of her.
He crossed the neck, went into his
hut, and began drinking. His mind
was muddled, and worse, his will was
wavering. That girl was bad enough
then there would be Estelle to face.
Curse those women! The mental
picture Of Joyce rose up before his
eyes. She had never seemed so de-
slrable. He saw her unconscious in
the mine again. with her short, fair
hair hanging about her neck, her eyes
closed, helpless. Curse her! Why
had he only been thinking of the gold?
He had had her at his mercy then.
He looked cautiously into the hut
again. Joyce was still sitting on the
bed, still as carven statue. Rath-
way was beginning to be afraid that
she was going mad. If she would
only give him the chance, he wanted
to tell her that he would share the
gold with her. Why couldn't she be
| reasonable? 1t was that id Ander-
son! How long would she be thinking
of him? Weeks, perhaps.
His suspicious of Joyce and Ander-
son dashed him, and he ragged all the
afternoon, abusing his men, and Civ
ing them unheard of tasks. He had
| the boats cleaned, the engine over
| hauled, drum of gasoline placed in
the motor boat. He sent some food
| to Joyce. The men grumbled and
went about their work sullenly.
! Railway fancied he saw looks pass
ing between them, as if they had
| some secret understanding. He be-
lieved they were conspiring against
him. And where the devil was Els
telle?
In spite of the hate that he now felt
for her, he turned to her in his
thoughts in time of difficulty. Curse
the woman! She was getting too
strong hold on him! He must send
her packing.
His desire for Joyce was constant
| goad to him. But he was still afraid
of her. He must give her time to
| weaken. 1T was not dark enough.
| And he had not drunk enough
| At nightfall the men began ca
rousal, gathering in hollow between
| the huts, protected by skin roof and
sides, but open in front, where huge
/ fire was kindled. Usually Railway
kept liquor from them, except when on
long journeys and for the weekly de-
bauch which he permitted, but now
they were openly defying his rigid
rule The possession of the gold had
| disintegrated everything.