The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-03-12


Its impossiblei can'ti"
why? If you're still going to let
John Colt"
Don't you see what position I'm
put in? Do you think I've so little
pride that I'd try to seize your is
land, and fail, and then edge in by
marrying the very man l tried to
bankrupt
II wish I'd never heard of it-but
it's with us yet. If it weren't for
Alakoa I'd go with you anywhere,
any time-rich or penniless, mar
ried or not married-it wouldn't
matter. But to seem to get the is
land by marrying you-after every
other trick failed"
II don't believe you care any
more about the island than I do"
You don't now. But some day
you'd remember, and perhaps begin
to doubt; and nothing could ever
be-"
"But you don't know that you've
lost the island. Nobody will know
until Garrett Waterson shows his
hand"
"Dick-if my grandfather takes
the island, I'll marry you then, if
you want me to-"
NO." he said. He released his
hold, and she moved a few inches
away from him. NO." he repeated.
I'm not going to marry an island
either, Karen"
Then you see - it's hopeless,
Dick"
"In another hour or so it will be-
completely. This is the last time
We'll ever have any choice. Because
now we don't know. Right now
one of us is as good as broke-but
we don't know which. Perhaps nei-
ther one of us will ever have any,
thing in the world again."
Maybe" Karen said, that would
be best of all. Only-we can't make
that choice either, Dick. Neither
one of us has any choice whatever,
in anything, it seems"
Dick said gravely, "The choice is
yours, Karen; and you have to make
it now, tonight-before ! leave this
boat"
What is it you want me to dor"
II want you to come with me, now,
on the Holokai. III throw the Holo-
kai over the bar, and run to sea-"
IF only" Karen said, II had a
little time"
'Time? Good Lord, Karen!"
Even few hours"
He saw that she was frightened; !;
and he was pleased, because it told
him that she wanted to come with
him.
*You have a few hours" he said; !;
"you have days, if you want. I'll
stay at sea as long as you want me
to. Or, when we've talked it over,
I'll put back. Or I'll take you any
place you want to go. But now we've
got to get out of here-quickly-if
there's ever going to be any hope
at ALL"
She turned away from him and
her hands gripped the rail hard
her eyes were on the Holokai, a
dark tall shape, with her trucks
showing against the stars. The mo-
ments ticked by, and the outrigger
| glided past twice, standing on and
off, and it seemed to Dick that she
was never going to speak. He was
about to break the silence himself
when a padding of rope-soled shoes
along the deck told him that it was
already perhaps too late.
Captain Ramey had popped out OF
the galley; he now came trotting
nervously along the rail. THAT you,
Mr.. Colt?"
"Not exactly" Dick said.
"Oh-why, it's Captain Wayne,
isn't it?"
The one-eyed skipper of the Seal
came to an abrupt halt five or six
PAGES away, and stood uncertainty
"Mr. Colt isn't here right now," he
offered
Tonga Dick Wayne ignored him.
| He sent a whistle across the wa
ter, and once more the outrigger
sheered in, hght-moving and silent.
"Karen, are you coming?"
Karen Waterson cast a swift
| glance at the grasshoppery figure OF
Captain Ramey. Dick could hardly
hear her words, hushed and breath
less with an unexpected emotion,
"Oh, gladly" Karen said; much
more than gladly :"
Ramey hurried forward, buster.
| ing. what goes on here? You can't
get away with"
Tonga Dick lapsed into language
which Ramey would be apt to un.
derstand. Get back in your gal.
ley," he snarled, before I have
your gizzard out"
He picked Karen up lightly and
lowered her over the rail into the
moving outrigger; then himself
vaulted the rail in time to light upor
the canoes stern as it swept past
The little craft reeled, and the ca
noes whole outrigger lifted out Of
the water; then she steadied, and hel
sail tapped lazily as she came about
and pointed for the Holokai.
(To be continued)