The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1904-11-19 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

SUNBEAM.  BY MRS. TOM GODFREY.  CHAPTER IX.—(Continued.)  Half ashamed he turned to her eagerly. "Then stop that blubbering and MY you'll do wot I want. We've wasted enough time over that a'ready. Dan's worn out with your 'ysterics.'" Gentleman Dan laughed. "Not at all," he murmirred softly; "it amuses me, Miss Sunbeam." But, unheeding him, she drew back her hands from her father's arm, waYing in as quiet a voice as idle could command— "I will do anything but that. I shall never change on that point." I Bill's auger returned in full force. He swung round upon her, his hand upraised. But as she cowered before him, her eyes raised in alarm to hie furious face, he drew back with another oath. "Then keep to your pint," he stormed. "An' leave me alone or I'll murder Guru you see the devil's up in me? d out o' my sight or I'll kill you as I stand." She crept to the door, even the wood waa preferable to this. Out in the cool air her ebbing strengt!. would return. But as she laid her band on the knob Gentleman Dan put his upon it. "Not yet, my girl," he said, smiling knowingly. "You forget that you are mine. Your timber has given on to me, and I do not ones:: to let you go.'  She sprang aside vritt a little cry and leaned panting against the anatl. Dan smiled, evidently understanding, and enjoying her horror of him. His eyes gleamed with anything but friendliness, though his coolness was not even ruffed.,  Bill ,lolling across the table, hia eyes stupid and bloodshot, chuckled gleefully. "That's it, tame her, my bO9. Clip her wings and teach her wet I cannot." She glanced at him despairingly. In that moment of terror and loneliness death would have been sweet. "Ail I can trust you away from me, now you're mine, bright Sunbeam, I'm going to keep you here, until to-morrow. After that I'll teach you the ditties of a wife. And if. in a few months you're not the sharpest woman in our profession my name isn't Dan Hubband. As you treat me so will I treat you. That's fair, isn't it?" Her head dropped on her breast. "Kill me," .be murmured; "kill me, and get it over now."  He laughed. "Kill you? Nat I. You're to be my little site to-morrow. You father hue given you to me._ _ .  -Ti;;;,. before she could guess at his intention he had seized her in hie arms and carried her across. the room. .. .  Father, father, help me," blie cried, struggling frantically, as Dan bore her up the steep staircaae. But a low chuckle and a volley of oaths were his sole responee. "He's given you to me," murmured Dan, laughing softly. "I'm not going to give you up now." She Bung out her arms and hit him wildly in the face. With a low exclamation of raga he stopped and covered her face with burning kisses. "There!" he said. "Fell teach you to bhow yorrr tomper. And now YOU can cool yourself in here. This is your cage, good-night. Tomorrow, when you are good I'll let yoti out, my tamed dove. Until then, good-bye. You need fear no harm. No one come near you. You're as safe as death."  Ito phd ii.ii.inTmliiin.7,si;;"sp—oke. She staggered back against a bed. With a laugh he pulled the door to noiaily.  Cowering in the darknesi 0 the unknown room she heard him turn the -key in the lock. Then a sharp metallic sound like the fall of a key fell on her ears. She held her breath as he groped without evidently trying to find it. until with a disaimolated oath, and a muttered "It doesn't matter. She's safe enough." he went slorrly downstairs. .  • Then, indeed, did she realise, as she quivered with fear at the remembrance of the horror that had perhaps taken place in that very spot, that she was forgotten and forsaken by the man whom she called father.