Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-tri? - _""*?. I t?f >a**s- .. .. (Coryrlght, 1914, by Louis Joseph Vance.) 8YNOPSIR---Tho ot Heurts \:>. iho "deuth-ulijn" used hy Keneia Trine ia \ . a private war of vengeance which, through lils daughter Judith, ;; wool ah of violent mid criminal temper .' F ' and question ihle amity, he wagon against Alan Law. ?V?IOMP father (TIO-.V dead) Trine held responsible f';r tho accident which made him a helpless cripple. Hose, Judith's twin and don ole, learning of her Bister's campaign, against Alan, loaves her homo to aid the man aho loves. Under dramatic circumstance t Alan saves Judith's Ufo and so wins her love; hut failure to /r ?hake his constancy to thtae settles Judith In her homicidal purpose; she contrives to 'r.vrn a schooner In wliic't li'-'> Alan is making a const?.!.? cruise to New York, ' marooning him tnrfother 'ir w^th llnreus, owner of the sc'; toner, .)W an islnnd south of Capo Cod Head Hcrkoning. On Nuuset Beach, lu thc shank of a fiji midsummer night, two men sprnwled OJ) the Rands, tome di trinei HK?^_ ^Jr?tn 'tho water, and li tened to tho ??ff*"""'''** heavy thumping of their overtaxed heartn, and panted. Now und again one would lift his .Vt' head' and stare out over, the black Taco of tho waters at a little line of reddish flames about n mlle offshore, all that remained tr? witness to thc fact that, an hour since, these two ff >, had been In cr.mninnd of an trim a email schooner as ever vonturcd thc ?\ coastwise trio from Portland to New ?g". ': . s York. Aa far out again, nhone tho riar ?5. hoard light of a becalmed schooner. I whose people hnd been atren-ly re i on?lblo for tho disaster which lint overtaken the (smaller vessel. B:'- In the course of time, beginning t< I reaUte with moro oa3o, ono o' tin two marooned gentlemen said: ' Tell nie, liaren.*, what's the mares nnptom of civilization?" "Chatham village," said Mr. V. ire us Sids miles to tho no'th'ards, and cut of by an Inlet a nillo or so wide ai. that.' . .M,r. Law groaned soulfully. ^^?("Then there's the lighthouse o: Monomoy Point,?' Mr. Harcus pur L^HHftHP0'!' " three miles to the south." W?LWO-?' ?J[ A sllenco commented eloquently o ?is assertion, broken only when Mi Uw volc?d a thought bred of lon and. malignant observation of th .1 schooner's green*eye: . t\ ?Td glvo a deal to know who' : hoard that vessel." ^ ? "You don't niean yog think yot ?..?'t/egular voling woman-?" "H's possible. Judith kidnap? Roae in Portlaed. That'a not co tt from OlouccHtor; r. motor-car cou! -' - h^vc caught that cchooner before al ?R v sailed to waylay us, thia morning. Ar 1;.' what better way to take care of a able-bodied, full-tempered girl you' Kidnaped, than to ship her somewhe: |- by sea, In tho caro of trustwortl Brr ?K-IiiuuK?f* "!*>n't ask me. I've do?i-3' vory ll tlc kidnaping for ono of my years "For tuppence," mU] Mr. Law, 1 risk a swim off to that boat and a for myself." > "For two million dollars-I wou ?iot!" nareiiB affirmed with great i i cisi?n. . V A moment or so later tho line HI?-: ? .-4r*-Ht?o fiantes went out altogether a unexpectedly; and tho owner of t K|SPg'v mle Seaventuro fancied h? could he: evpa ot that dist mee, the hhs charred and cmoldorlng timber? sue SHHaSr"- ----- drowned "Kxlt," he announced plaintive "exit Soavonture, with heroic gCBtu IL I P. a good little ship!" "Oh, let up. can't you!" Mi*. L; ^^^^?taV exclaimed peevishly, "i'm than you are-and aftor all, lt's i P los!; I've got to buy you nr.otl boat- All you've lost is your te "And my susceptibility to Si;. charms ci the well-known arc," ] K ?;; ? Baratta corrected. "Nothing can e rpptore mv lost faith In geptle wc !,V wi gentleness. ' when ' you Krom that young woman nlmnrd I thom butter wouldn't melt In her niov and for a whllo I nctualy eonter.ipl fc'^^WU^-^*. doing her tho kindness of tlpp HE-.-1 you over into the drink, so's Bho co wt.^ lavish her affections on a regular g . someone ablo to appreciate ho meaning me, of course. And fl ;iV thing I knew, che ups and point! gun nt my head nnd tips mc ov board, and then make? i\ pretty b fl rn out of my sailboat. And all evcusc yon ran produce la that ?> >'".?' .y lp the head! Welt, who B ?ho wasn't? Any woman who wo W? consent to elope with you l.i n flt s jest for a commission do lun?tico qulrondo, ell right." For a moment the two nialntil |K attentive silence. j$ ? 'silken whisper troubled the ?fe* lenee, a little flutter of sound fi Tor fteroal tho water*. Oradua'P WV- l^h*roil volume, became rccognlii ^^^HB&' as tho lisp cf cautious oars. "I'm going away from hero." v \}?~c~- ?;-t^'::.nded guardedly. (tiered bis ?csa under him pro] a;.,..? to rising. "Half A Bcbond." Alan LnW Inrla lng l? turn and grasplnr? the oi i' hy bi? ntm. "They've got tb lor ' ?.n't they?-SS?d leave tho 1 KS? while they look for us. Well, t -at's to prevent our h ld h n in d???es ATi?~?" Ki *n tho next breath, "Look out!' .. . ' With no ?warning whatever. H within fifty feet of them: a ghn flare brokf out In full bloxe or. I WP startled figur?s on th? beach. Before they could Hflr ihn weird liKht glimmered ou a polished weapon in tim bow of ibo boat, and spit' rul longue of?reddish flame spat out, .'" bullet aang between Mes:.!-.-. Law und Harcus, and with a ?ad thud of dis appointment buried itself In the annd9 of wave-eaten bluff behind them. Like twin automatons (stirred to ar-! tion by tho report, the two turned: and pelted off down tho beach, io escape that 'deadly area of illuhilna-l tion. Other allots spul aft? r them, bul none was so well aimed; and pres ently, finding a break lu the bluff, they swung off Into tho grateful ahci ler of the night-wrapped dunes. Meantlmo the dory had grounded on the bench, and ita several occupants - four or five of them, all men, ap parently-Jumping out, Bot off iii pur suit ol' the fugitives, following I ho tra? ks in the pand. Tiie blackness of tho night, how ever, conspired with the savage laby rinth of the dunes io save Alan and tho companion. Within another five minutes-while still tho pursuit floundered und blas phemed nt random a round quurter .ra?o to the south-Mr. Law anti Mr Harcus were noiselessly squirming on llioir bellies, like two great snakes la the lioacb-grass, up thc 1 ark nf a ten-foot bluff- And orcsoutly from its brow they looked down nn tho r-pot where the dory lay only ita 1) nv out of water, its stern afloat, under .irnied guard. Very slowly and stealthily Alan got to his feet and swung back over U?B ?uGUm?r & heavy club o? driftwood. A nu;' eh spluttered beeide the dory, and flamed, th the still ni!', relieving with ita reddh;li glow a bronzed and evil visage. T'j? guard puffed fast and had the tobacco well aglow when tho sky took advantage of hla trustfulness and fell upon him Uko an avalanche Simultaneously, Alan und Harcus descended tho face of thc bluff In two. miniature landslides, dug themselves! out and by the timo tho dazed and I disarmed guard had sufficiently recov ered tc cry cut fer help, thc dory v.T. a hundred yurds off thc beach and making xcellcnt time in the direction . of that lonely green light. The commonest precaution, how ever, made them pauso and rest upon ; their oars while yet a little way from ' their goal. Only an ominous silence rewarded j the utmost offorta of their straining j pennen; no sound was audible other j than the gentle whine of an ungron*ed block; nothing was visible beyond the? clnlater glare of that almost station- J ory green lantern. "What think?" Harcus inquired In a dubious undertone. "No tolling." Alan replied In tho same manner. "All a change." "Yqu've- got that gun handy?" with reference to tho rifle of which they had despoiled the .vlcthn of- the Rky'a ill faith.. j "lleve." - - ? "Then-lrt'r. go to lt! OK'e way!" A do7.5n tue ty strokes brought them ' p'angsldc tho schooner, nnd as tho dory escaped tho waist of the larger waael. the two young men dropped oaW. rone, ami getting, tho low tcun waloft, lifted themselves to tho deck. Nothing reposed them: the deck waa iK'.iorar.t of other footsteps than their own. tho schooner as alight as only a l-.or.nimed ?hip can be. Wljhout further consultation. Alan led oulckly aft and down tho COT? nanio?way to the cabin, where n dim light burned-a rmoky lamp swinging In gin?ba?s above a ejufortd tnhlo. Of the two *'t?teroom doors, ono dis closed an empty cabin, thc other was looVed. ing -ibo handlo roughly, Alan iWMjW he beard a sound within- Pana 2EY< "Hello .bi there!" The response waa a cry of Inercdu ous delight: "Alan!" By way of answer Alan !iurl<*il him self bodily against tho door. .A? the second impact of sbouldora backed by i hundred and eighty pounds of solid ? lesli and determination, tin- lock! splintered away fruin its socket, the j loor flew open with ?: bang- and Alan j nil? tuc room willi a cry: 'TORC!" lilis sweetheart mot him half-way, lier amis uplifted, her countenance transfigured. And Mr- Harcus turned and slow ly ascended the companionway, his nose wrinkled with misgivings. Some ten minutes later a hail from Ibo deck broke the embrace of the lovers: "Below there! I say-Law!-wind a coming!" "Rlght-o! Half a minute!" hut tli.u stipulai? cl delay was sev eral times multiplied before Alan showed up on deck, lo find harcus j bending a laborious hack to Hie cap- ! stan. "h'-ii 1 a band, can't rou?" Bart ua complained, blowing heavily, "i didn't] interrupt your amour'- just lo got an audience. The sooner wo gol this an chor in-" Alan chocked li fm with a hind on j ills arni. "What's that?' he demand-: ed in a lone tense with apprehension. I The muffled nimming of a aienvy duty marine motor drifted down cn the winga of the sluggish wind. "Dont ask me: i'm afraid to guess!" 'Rut they couldn't possibly!" "Since when did you set up to bo a judgo of possibilities? Nothing prob able ?v?r h.i|>|j-..[icM lu yuu in UM your young life-'s far's I can make out. As for me-I know there are at least two lifo-3avlng stations on Nauset, both with modero equipment-motor lifeboats and all; and. nothing will ever poraundc mc that pack of wolves would stick at breaking In and con- j fiscating one of the same. It's aa like- j ly as not-only more so. Our prosont ] businesses to get the hell out of here -and not advertise our exit, cither- < Tako thaL port light in and dowse it, ! while I do tho same by the cia.rnoa.rd | Then duck below, warn your Dulcinea, ) and put out the cabin lamp. That j way-if thia blackness and our bull luck only holds-we may manage an evasion!" There followed an exceedingly busy] quarter of an hour for two constrain- j od in pitch darkies:-, to grope their I way about tho decks and famlllarUe themselves with the Idlosyntranles efl n strange two-master. Nevertheless,] the end of thad period four.d Ute schoon ti* with canvas tall and sheets taut, a ^ood easterly b.-ecze abeam, swiftly weaving a wako southwards tho liant on Monomoy Point watch ing her curiously from over the star board beam "Hear anything more of that power! boat*" Alan asked, joining harcus by I th?' vrhcel. "Nothing-wind too frosh. Make] yourself easy on thc aoft aldo of a ; plank hew?. I'll land you a kick In.tlnr slate when eo minded-or when lt's j your trick at the wheel." With a chuckle. Alan obediently aliened himself out on tho.deck. Al say-Law!'" "Well:" "You seem pretty eaay in your mind I young woman below. '-To that tried to send! J ff Dio to Davy Jones' locker. How docs sin* explain her pretence aboard?" f "Much as I tUrmised." Ahm replied. ? "I fancy they chloroformed lier while l sue sb-;,t in that holel In Portland. <? Whether or no, ilose woke up "in a " closed motor-car-? bound fnM xaggeu. f of course-and was brought aboar.I at c Gloucester about mi-JnlgliL" ' i* "Simple when you know ;iow,-' Tar- v eua commented. "Of colimo, I always did say that truth was n itt rancor to ? fiction. <'uddb> down, now, and I'll ? talk you insensible " 1 nis accents already merging i.*i with * the swish of th" 'longsiib: waves, the ' bubbling of the wake, and the many-j* iuic:d composite voice ??f tue ship In j1 b?lng, unconsclounue.i! :iko a ?:)ouJ ? descended huon Alan's overwoariod facuities. 1 Ile woke mutinously wiMi a yawn 1 and a shiver, in thc .^ra.v of a tar nished daybreak, tc find that fog pressed heavily upon tin face it( the wati-rs. a mil: BO thtca that fiom tho stern tho waist of tho ve ssel was al mos! Invisible, the bows completely j so. Harcus stood over him, at the wheel, < fairly roeling with weariness. hi3 ? eyes blood-shot, swollen, and half- ] cloned In a face like a mask of fa- > tlgue. "Can't keep up mindi lonsc.*." ho ? apologized thickly; "stood it about a? : long, an I can. Take your trick and Riva nie forty winks." Grateful solicitude brought Alan In stantly to his side, though he himself Two Men' Lay Sprawled on tho [was sluggish and stiff and sore in all his limbs. "You're a brick!" ho protested. I ?. _1 I I V. ny i.miit tuu util Ult' nimin-v. "No good: I knew tho way-you ! didn't. That is,. I did until'this ac-j cursed fo?? closed Ipwn a couple ?5t ' hours ago. Now- rtod knows whdro ? wo arc-by my reckoning somewhere} in Nantucket Sound'west of 'Mono-j ?moy." Grasping a small brass handle af-j fixed to the wheel box, he jerked lt sharply three times; and thc auto-j I untie horn blared raucously a threc ? fold rosponse np forward. j I "Kcop that going." ho beS??od, "three ? I bleats in a row and a minute interval | i-and if tho devil takes care of his j own we may possibly escape being run I down." . . j With a sigh, relinquishing the ? w. tel, ho collapsed, upon tb? deck.l and was almost Instantly asleep. The wind had fallen until- barely j enough ai? 'stirred io .heep way on the vetFol; she moved in fiiee.ee. n apcctral ship upon a spectral cea o: long, olly swells abd.the complexi?n of lead. Hither and yon th tho'o-jscur Ity, fog signals of other shipping sounded a contort ot. discordance ?the man-power horn of a cat-bout crying the warning back to the deop t h rooted whistle ot a eoattwUo steam, chip end ' the impertinent drumming of a motor-boa Va-exhaust 'with .the muffler cut out : This last boxed the cpmp?sa. pound ing haw near, now far; thoush the complaints cf other shipping dimin ished in volume and died away in the distance, giving place to others still, the plutter-plritter of that motor waa never altogether lost; if. at times it faded, lt seemed . certain always to return in even loader, volume. . Vftlnlv straining his Vision against the blank pallor of the encompassing >fO&'Als?vW.md dreaded! At irregular intervals, starting n rom preoccupation, he would maulp- h ?late lin* brass pail on the wheel box, A irovoklug tho horn's stuttering blastr-^ if protest. Hut the need for unre J i Hitting vigilance and exercise of thi Og-slgnal, failed none the less toree tildie Alan to that blatant clainoi vliich so widely and so hideously ad -crtised their whereabouts. If there wero anything still to Ut J eared from .Judith and her crew-1( : pr instance, as Harcus had Eugguated \ hey had sought out one of the life ; ?ving stations on N'anset Heach, ap i irepriated itu power-driven llfe-bpa1. md renewed the pursuit, if ever the} leard that horn lhere would bayonc lUestion he thc devil to pay! , The loneliness of his vigil was even nally relieved by the appearance or lack of the woman Alan loved. The tabl.eau that greeted her visioi ta she emerged from tho companion way, of Hie haggard, unshaven wretel lt tho wheel and the oilier who la it hip feet, where he had fallen, li stupor of fatigue, instantly wran; from lioso a little cry of solicitude And she was quick to do what lltth mo could to alleviate their discomfort j Por Harcus she fetched a pillow an? j blanket from the cabin; and this on? suffered her ministrations wlthou once rousing from lils slumbers. Thei ? hastening forward, she goL thc galle> i fire going and prepared p. make3hif. breakfast for her half famished lover t Warm food and. hot coffee-such a: ( they were-lending a little tone ti Alan's spirits, he was presently abie ] i3oi;J. to discuss their situation with some 'optimism. Yet nothing could, gloss tho fact that the problem confronting i*m m wa? one whose soiuiion ?a?nec their utmost ingenuity-one the sim ple contemplation of which taxed thalr courage and- intelligence to tho ex treme. He summed up: "I can't soe any thing for lt but fafher and Judith are. determined to havo my scalp, and I'm hanged If I'can See how to protect myself without taxing a leaf out o; their books. What I'm most afraid ci Is that saino time I may forget it's fa woman i'm ueienuing myself against Whea a fellow's fighting for his very life he can't always stop to calculate thc weight of his blows." The young man sighed, shook? his head, laughed. uncertainly, and held her closer to him: "Don't tear; I'll find some way out without Injuring either of them. I promise you that!" He sealed th-* pledge noon her Hps And In that moment of their oblivion to the world, from some point foi yard a muffled crash sounded simultane ously with the dull Shock, of a collis ion with a smaller . vessel; and a strange voice cried out with an ac cent of high exultation. . Before either Alan or thc girl could disengage, the decks rang loud with a rush of hoted feet pounding aft. The figures of the boarding party were already taking shape through the fog as Alan sprang toward the com panionway to fetch tho rifle. Add' in this action, his feet slipped on planks greasy with moisture deposited by faa. surcharged atmosphere. Ke wea? down with a stunning thump ?nd an instant later two men fell bodily upon hun active, strong fellows In the dress of fishermen, he waa suffered to rise only as a prisoner, helpless in the grasp of two pa+r of powerful hands. He saw Barona, rudely roused an?1 still dumb with sl?epy contusion? ina : \ o bettor caBC-jerked to his feet and eld captive by two more fishermen. , fifth hud taken charge of l ose, lamping her wrists in thc vise of one ig hand. The sixth and sole other member of he boarding party, likewise in the ough-and-ready garb of a fisherman, /as Judith Trine. Down the side a heavy life-boat ;round its way astern, the loose end .f its painter slipping over the rail ven as Alan caught sight of it- (So t seemed BarcuB bad guessed shrewd y!) Observing this, one of the men in :harge of Alan made as if to leave him o the other, addressing Judith tor j! icrmlssion to prevent \he loss of Uie 11 Ife-hoat. She stopped him with, a per- j * impiory gesture. "No-let it go. We're bettor oft vitliout it- Hold that man fast till 1 etch a rope. We'll make sure of them ?otb, this time!" Straining forward in thc grasp of 1er guard Hose implored her sister: 'Judith, in pity's name, think what ou are doing!" "Hold your tongue!' Judith snapped -Iciously.. "Another wii'mper out, o? .ou, aud I'll huvo you gagged." The balance of her threat, though lccompanied by the exhibition of an lutomatic pistol, was drowned out by he sudden roar of a steamshp fog-sig ?al, so close aboard that lt seemed ?lmost to emanate from the forepart sf the schooner her?elf. As It was answered by shrill and tioarse cries, of terror and of warn ing, from a dozen throats, Alan found !iiu)8clf released, his captors leaping for their lives to the taffrail. He caught an Instantuneods glimpse af the knlfe-liko bow of a f?frsi ztoara ?r toweling above tho two-master sweeping toward It at a speed which -aised a smart jet of white under iht cutwater. Someone aboard the schooner, with he voice of a stentor, hollowed a .orrified appeal: "Stop your engines! Shut off your iropeller! Stop your-" Then. Uko tho wrath of God, the steamship overwhelmed the lesser ship; its bow seemed to slice through the srhooncr as a knife through iheese. And the two halves were fair ly driven under water by the frightful force of the blow. Thunders deafening bim, Alan was hurled bodily through ?io air fully twenty feet. When ho came up ho Btruck out at 'andom, blindly tormented by the vis. on of ROBO caught in the suck of that Tigantic wheol, drawn under, crush and mangled by the propeller o? he vast black hulk whoso flank was sliding past, like tho face of a cliff, en yarda behind hia shoulders. Awaro of several dark objects dot ing the surface within a radius of ..overal ydrds, he swam for the near 'flt; the head was a woman's, the foco urend toward him .tho ?aco of Kose. Ho gasped wildly: "Keep cool! ?)cn't struggle! Pat one hand.on my boulder and-" VVhat happened thon was never luite clear to him; he only knew that ie was forced to fight for his v-r? ifc-that he woman, as soon a- at ?nme within reach, flung herself Upon tim like some maddened animal, ?hitching his throat, winding her imba round him, dragging him down and down. PruniUve instinct alone saved him He remembered later, most vaguely, Mie culmination of that duel.beneath 'he waters-remembered freeing an w ni, drawing it ba?k, delivering - blow from his shoo hier with all nts strength, finding himself trem, strug gling back to thc air. Then a boatbook caught the back of big shirt and dragged him for some listance, until two strong hands caught him beneath the armpits and held his head above' tho wafer He looked up witlessly Into the face of Barcus, and still bewildered, strug gled ?eebiy. The other's voice brought him back to his senses: .'Easy, old top! Take ! H_easy!_You're all right now-rost 1 \f S? Ajf3***e Jr* Quality a When a friend marries, the world is to remember 1 memo rab?n of tito event, give something nice tiber rather than to a First Cia Solid Silver It sounds well-there it the ears ol the bride as s Cut Glass ' There is nothing hands? its beauty and elegance 1 cot glass of tibe first eui only. We carry a wary comp that ts very stnidblo for wi price that yost care to pa] L minute, then help me get you iboard." He obeyed, controlling bis panic is best he might; and presently, with :onsidernble assistance from Harcus, :ontrlved to scramble in over the gunwales of aboat which proved to be he stolen life-boat. Asido from Harcus and himself lt mid ono other person only-the worn in he loved, crampled up and uncon scious in the bow. He strove to rise and gd" to her, to nahe sure thut still she lived. Bar ms restrained and quieted him. "There! Easy, I say! She's all right-fainted-that's all! She and I took the water in ' practically ibo wine spot, and luck threw this ss 2d boat my way within half a v. m strokes. No trouble at all-in a man. nur OL speaking:' "Hut the steamer-" "Wliy fret about her? At the paco she was making she couldn't havo stopped within half a mlle. We'll bo all right now-witli power to fetch us to land." "Hut the others-Judith!" Alan sat up and leaned over the gunwale, searching an oily, leaden expanse spotted only with a few splinters fin'' bits of wreckage. "I left ncr out there-unconscious-she'll drown,. I tell you!" "And I'll tell you emething!" sahl Mr. Harcus severely. "You'll lie quiet and shut np or I'll dent your domo with the share of an oar- Let her drown-and a good Job, I say! Don't you know tho meaning of 'enough'? Merciful beavens, man, you're tho roost insatiable glutton for punish ment ever!" But Alan wasn't listening. His face was' ss lightless as tho waters that swam beneath his lack-luster gaze. There was a horror in his heart that numbed oven the senso of relief, of deliverance, that pene trated his being like a shock of mortal pain. Dead! Judith dead! Hack there, in tho fog and the cold* * * * *dcad by his hand! (To be continued ) It Always Hoes the Work. "I like Chamberlain's Cough Rem edy better than any other," writes lt. E. Roberts, Homer City, Pa. 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