, 1926-03-10

carry HtI hill uNIpS the hpilhf uith
then, to cloak a miserable conspiracy,
plunge her INTO the society of such
s%coundrels as Flint and yourself?"
Instead of losing his temper, as l
had expected, my great-uncle stared at
me very earnestly throughout this
tongue-lashing. a speculative look
came into his eyes.
you have seen this maid, / be-
%lleve.'' he said.
II met her by accident. Twas
saved her from walking into the
Whales Head after her father"
"You did very we'll" he approved
Prithee, Robert, what manner Of maid
is she? a LADY,
"Yes."
"She should be an exquisite chit.
Robert. She has good blood in her.
Her mother was a younger sister of
the duke of Leitrlm, II her fathers
father was a younger son of Lore
Donegal. She will be much TO the
fore when King James returns to
WHITEHALL
IF he does - l jeered. 81 marvel
that you should use so hardly a maid
of such birth"
Hardly? Why do you say that?'
ooh, an end to your shabby deceits
and subterfuge" | shouted. ~ hi
told you already l know she is to be
dragged aboard your ship when you
take the Santlssima Trinidad. l could
stomach your treatment of me, Muir
ray. But to expose a slip of a girl,
scarce more than a child, to life on
this floating hell and the attentions
Of Flint and his lambs! :"
My great-uncle pursed his lips.
"Nhat n vehement youth! As to
the maids inclusion in our scheme,
twas manifestly of the chlefest i'm
portance that Colonel O'Donnell's con.
nectlon with me be not suspected
And the best way to cloak that was
to have his daughter accompany him"
But why?' | persisted. why all
this devious deceit? Why mix a young
maid In an %unsavory intrigue? Why
make her father dlsloyal to his mas
ter?"
Murray flushed crimson.
'He is not disloyal to his MASTER"
he replied with his first show of
anger. Colonel O'DonnelIs master.
my master-aye, your master-ls
King Jamesi What doth O'Donnell
care for the pnltry Spaniard who sits
in the palace at Madrid? What do
any Of us care for the Spaniards. who
have not beer men enough 10 live up
to their declarations of support Of the
Stuarts? Boy, are you a fool?"
There was that about his rage
which benumbed my WI and awnk-
ened again the reluctant admiration
which puzzled and embarrassed me.
What was it my father had said OF
him.
"He is sincere in a queer. twisted
way"
Past doubt, he was, ! sensed n
warped nobility of mind which stirred
me to sympathy and pity. | felt of
n sudden as II our places had been
reversed. rs II his white hairs were
mine, and his my unlined face.
perhaps I am a fool" ! said. "Yet
II ! know nothing OF you plan and
so am inclined to m%lsconstrue II,
whose fault is that?"
He dropped knife and fork and
fixed me with his eyes. so mnryelously
alive and bright In their setting Of
crows feet and wrinkles. so luminous
with youth.
Those are the first words You have
spoken which have had any tinge OF
kindness to them" he answered. IT'S
my fault you are so far Ignorant,
Robert. md | will endeavor TO repair
the error. l did moi seek To delude
you when ! told you ! cnrried you
from New York because | needed your
assistance, and that is so far true
that | admit without hesitation |
must have your help before | can
achieve nught Of my future plans for
lettering your station In life. In fine,
Robert. I need you nt this time being
more than you u need me; and your
~hostageship with Flint Is but the least
OF the services I hope from you"
"Thnt Is frank" I replied. And
| viii match II. | have told you IN
not help In piracy nor will |. The
taking Of this treasure ship Is"
"Bide, blde." he interrupted. BE
fore you commit yourself further let
me tell my story"
He left the table and o from n
cupboard In the wall n rolled map
which he spread upon the table be
tween us, showing inside the plates
and glasses 10 make room for II. !
saw NJ n glance 'twns n chart OF the
Caribbean son and the Spanish main
and the Islands which stretched from
the top Of tho Florldns to h Bra
zlls.
'"rhls Il for reference" he re
mnrkod. "Aiy story begins In Europe,
and we require no map for that
Your fnther. Robert. was n stout Jn.
coblte at your nge. He has since