Arizona state miner., 1926-05-15

compelled in the beginning of our ac-
quaintance to give her wrong i'm
preston Of my character, and 1 am
extremely desirous to have her good
opinion"
But why is Master Ormerod a cap
tive? Why does he say am a cap
tive, If"
"You are not a captive" returned
my great-uncle. "At least, 1 say that
under the impression that as your
fathers daughter and a devout ia
cobite, you would not, whatever your
personal feelings might be- undertake
to interfere with our plans"
II am wondering are you all mad"
she said blankly.
1.-THE truth is this, mistress Master
Murray hath besides his own ships
company a second band Of pirates the
which are restless beneath his thumb.
He desired me to be his lieutenant
to help him hold them in restraint,
and"
"You restrained them bravely aboard
the Santissima Trinidad !" she said.
'That was to save you!" declared.
'"Troth, and I'm saved" she echoed
sarcastically.
Eyes, you and your father" said
Murray gravely. Colonel ODonnell
risked everything on this coup Of ours.
To protect him twas essential it
should never be known he was privy
to it. We had the choice Of two
means to that end. One was to sink
the Santissima Trinidad with all hands
except yourselves. The other was to
arrange to remove the two of you in
such fashion as to establish your inno-
cence. am free to say the first was
the easiest course. The dictates of
humanity. however, prevailed.
How he rolled that last sentence.
"And what do you know of human
ity that soaked the decks Of the San
tissima Trinidad with blood?" she an
swered. "You that the Spaniards cite
as a byword for cruelty and wicked
ness I Will not believe a word that
you say. will not believe any man
here. You are all smirched with the
same badness"
Peter leaned his great bulk forward
upon the table.
Don't talk no more, you," he COM
manded the Irishman. "Neen talk!
Little gal, Bob andt we don't come
wit Murray because we like to. He
makes us. Jal He uses us. He uses
your fat'er. He uses you. But when
we are wit him we do what we can
to take care Of you. It is not goodt
for little gals to be on pirate ships.
| Neen -
He leaned back.
"Dot's all"
Her blue eyes dwelt seriously upon
his vast, fiat face, with its insigniti-
cant features blobbed here and there.
"I believe you," she said.
"Stap me-" jeered Murray. sour
Peter Is discovered a squire o. danes
"a preux chevalier. Peter, you ha'
disguised your talents. We must
know more Of them"
ga" said Peter vacantly.
Mistress O'Donnell rose
"Sir-" she addressed my great
uncle-"you will be excusing me If
I do not linger for more conversation.
What you do hath no concern with
me. I am very distraught, and my
heart is sick with the black sorrow,
and IL" she swayed a little-"I
would lie me down and-and-weep."
| l slipped from my seat and steadied
her.
"Take her to your srateroom, Rob
ert," said my great-uncle. "You must
lodge with Peter"
He rose, himself, bowling with the
fine courtesy which became him
nobly.
| 1 guided her as far as the stateroom
door. She thanked me family as
opened it for her, and / was abruptly
impelled to recover her friendship.
What 1 tried to tell you was the
TRUTH" I murmured, the words spilling
fast from my tongue. Indeed it was
so! Peter Corlaer had the right OF
it. We two are no pirates, and all
that we ha' done has been intended to
make smooth your way"
There was a wistful light in her
eyes as she lifted them under long,
black lashes.
God send you be honest, sir" she
said. "T-I must wait to Judge. The
world Is gone all twirly-round. Even
the padre"
She choked back a sob.
"You will not misunderstood" she
ended with quiet dignity, "if I say
no more that maybe already ha' said
| too much"