Arizona state miner., 1926-03-06

puIl0u alter us, q OOX0n DfdWnY tol-
lows tugging at the oars. A single
cloaked figure sat in the stern sheets
beside the officer in command. The
two boats made the Broad street slip
almost together, and l leaped ashore,
tossed several coins to the sailors who
had rOwed me and started to walk off,
bent upon reporting to my father, who,
/ knew, would be provoked by the
length of time my errand had con-
sumed. But I had not walked far
when a man called after me from the
wharf head
"SenOr Sirr-rr-rah -
| turned to face the cOXswain of the
frigate's barge and a farrago of Span
iSh gibberish of which I understood
not word. And upon my saying as
much second person stepped for
ward into the yellow glow Of an oil
lanthorn which hung from a bracket
upon a warehouse wall hard by. Twas
the clOaked figure of the barge, and
instead Of a midshipman or under
officer the scanty light revealed a
young woman whose Iissome grace
was vibrant through the cumbersome
folds of her wrap. A single ejacula-
tion of sibilant Spanish, and the cox
swain was hushed
"Sir," said she In English as good
as my own. "can you direct me to the
Whales Head tavern?'
I could bring forth no better than a
stammer in answer. She was the sec
Ond stranger that day to ask for the
Whales Head, which my father had
remarked the previous evening for a
noted resort of bad characters; and
certes, she appeared to be the last
sort of woman who might be expected
to have anything to do with the kind
of roistering wickedness which went
on there. Also, l could not forbear
asking myself how came so fair
maid aboard a Spanish frigate
In the soft lanthOrn light she was
anything but Spanish in her looks
Dark, yes, with hair that shone
misty black, but her eyes were as blue
as Darby McGraw's, and her nose had
the least suspicion Of a tilt to it. Her
mouth was wide. with a kind of twist
at the ends that quirked up oddly
when she laughed and dropped with a
sorrow fit to crack open your heart
if she wept. And she was little more
than child in years, with manifest
innocence which went oddly with the
question she had asked me.
A slim foot tapped impatiently upon
the cobbles as I stared
"Well, SIR" she said coldly, "does it
happen you do not know English bet
ter than Spanish?"
"N-nO," 1 managed to get out. "But
the truth is, the Whales Head is no
place for such as you, mistress"
Her eyes narrowed.
81 do not catch your meaning, per-
haps," she answered "It Is my father
l go to meet there"
"But he would never favor your
coming there at this hour" I pro-
tested. Indeed, you should never
think of it."
ST will be the judge of that" she
retorted instantly naughty. "And if
my father is there l can come to no
HARM"
eff he is" said 'T doubt you have
mistaken his ordinary"
"No, no. she said decidedly. 81
heard him speaking with them of it.
But it may be you are right, sir. and
l will not be so Ungrateful as to flout
a kindly strangers well-meant advice.
Juan can go into the tavern when we
come to it, and 1 will bide outside.
But somewhere | must walk, for my
feet are all dancey with the way of
the sea, and we shall be away again
with the tide in the morning. This is
the last dry land I shall tread in many
a week"
IF you will allow me, I'll put you
on your way for the Whales Head"
| offered. II must walk in that direc-
tion'
'Sure, sir, it is a great favor you
offer" she answered. "I cannot but
thank you"
And she gave an order in Spanish
which fetched the underofficer she
called Juan and one Of his men out
from the SllduOWS. 1H0y Tell IN be-
hind us as we walked off along the
line Of the warehouses;
you are upon long voyage?" l
ventured
you may we'll say So" she cried.
From here to the Floridas, and after
that on to Havana and the cities Of
the Main
"But you are never Spanish !" said.
Il ask not in idle curiosity, though"
Her laughter was like chime Of
bells.
"Sure, they say I am Irish as the
pigs in the Wicklow hills where l was
born
And all of a sudden she was grave
again.
Pm not knowing your politics, sir.
but there's maybe no harm in just tell
ing you my father was of those who
opposed the Hanoverian and fought
for King James and Bonnie Charlie.
And because his own king cannot en-
plOy him. he serves Snain"