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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 20, 1908)
Escapade ROMANCE 'bt gyrus to JL L LC T?A TC Wy dCOPYQlGHT, t90l Y rlngton would overhaul him. lie spoke of this to Cooper, wringing a reluctant admission of the truth of his conclusions from the sailor, but the latter promised to put him along side the merchant Bhlp at least be fore Carrlngton ran him down. For perhaps an hour the three ves sels the ship and the two small boats held on, every moment bring ing the little chasers nearer their great quarry. The Flying Star was making no especial effort at speed Her royals were not yet set. She was proceeding on her voyage rather lisiirfv in fact, and the others were in high, hope, Carrington, especially. He thought that he at last bad Strath gate where he could not escape, and if Ellen and Deborah were on that -ship, they could not get away, either. Into this peaceful nautical passage at arms, suddenly a new factor was introduced. That, of course, was El len's boat. Sheltered by the island neither Strathgate nor. Carrlngton bad noticed It until It suddenly shot into view. Now Ellen had a better "wind than any of the other three. On a broad reach she came down on the big ship, as a sailor would phrase it, band over fist. Her little boat wat heeled over until the lee gunwale was awash, and danced over the waves at a terrific pace. Carrington saw the boat first. The reckless way in which she was being sailed caught his eye. It was too far for him to distinguish who sailed it, but he could tell that one of them was a woman. Something made him be lieve that it might be his wife. He gave the tiller to Haight, went up forward and stared hard. He would bave given Anything for a glass but there was nothing of that kind in the fisherman's boat and he had to trust to his unaided eyesight.. The longer be looked the more sure he became that it was Ellen. His first jmrjujse was to alter his course and head di rectly for her cutter, but he realized the moment he conceived the design that he could never intercept her, that bis only chance was to overhaul the ship for which she was evidently mak ing. He would thus lose no distance. If she did not intend to try to board the ship he could chase her after ward. The sailors on Strathgate's boat evidently pointed out the situa tion to him just as it had presented itself to Carrington, so all three held "on. Ellen had the shortest distance to sail, and a free -wind, while the ship and the other two boats had a hard beat before them. There was nothing Carrington could do in fact but hold his course, yet with what a fever of impatience he continued his steady beat to and fro across the harbor. The only satisfaction he got was that with every tack he gained percep tibly on Strathgate. Indeed the boats passed each other close enough for conversation, but Strathgate had noth ing to say to Carrington and Carries ton controlled himself waiting for a . - i. . self fully and unequivocally. Both of them, moreover, were en grossed in the other boat. As the boats converged uton the ship, there "I'll Kill You." was no doubt in Carrington's mind. or in Strathgate's, as to the identity' of Its passengers. The wind was get ting stronger as they drew farther oul into the open channel and the rate al which they were drawing nearer to the ship grew correspondingly slower Carrington gritted his teeth in his vexation. Still he held on. It was such a ract as he had never sailed before. He held on although he knew that if the wind increased, his case was a hope less one; held on, although he saw Ellen's boat in a few moments would Intercept the ship; held on, when he saw that boat disappear on the lee side of the ship; held on when he saw the ship thrown into the wind to make a half board so that her waj was practically checked; held on whet two figures appeared upon the deck of the ship, and one, a boyish look Ing youth, walked over to the weathei gangwayandlf tood in full view of the WNSE1VD B2Y3tf'a approaching cutters, waved a hand lifted a cap disdainfully and then dis appeared; held on when he saw the boat which the two had abandoned trailing astern at the end of a long line. It was my lord's nature to hold or doggedly so long as there was the faintest possibility of success and be yond. And he kept up the chase ol the big ship even though she suddenly covered with light canvas and, catch Ing the full force of the breeze, great ly accelerated her motion. He held on even though a slant of the wind brought the breeze over the quartei of the big ship as she bore away or her course to the eastward. Carring ton marked that with sudden sur prise. The ship was not going tc America apparently. But it was evident, even to the mosl sanguine mind, that the game wat up. Strathgate's boat was suddenly put about. The earl had abandoned the chase and was going back to har bor. Carrington was not so easily daunted, or perhaps he was more blind to the possibilities, for he strove to persuade the boatmen to continue the chase. He would have sailed tc France, or to America, or to the end of the world, in whatsoever boat he was on so long as it would float. But the boatmen were not so minded. They were not provisioned for such a cruise nor prepared for it. Not even the incentive of unlimited financial rewards with which Carrington strove to dazzle them could make them agree to continue the pursuit. They Tere clamorous for putting back to Ports mouth, seeing plainly that they had failed. It was only the personal au thority of Carrington's rank and sta tion which kept them from summarily dispossessing him from the helm. They were not quite ready for that when Strathgate's boat came rushing down toward them. It was Carrington's opportunity. Balked in his chase of his wife, he determined to wreak his vengeance upon the earl. As the boat drew close to his bows, by a sudden sweep of the helm he sent his own heavier cutter crashing fair into it. The force with which he struck the other boat caused Strathgate's smaller vessel to hang on the bows of Carrington's boat There was no loss of life, for Strathgate, scarcely worse for the disaster, fol lowed by. Cooper and the lad, scram bled aboard Haight's cutter. White with passion Strathgate rushed aft, shaking his fist at Carring ton, who sat laughing bitterly in the stern sheets. At Strathgate's back were Cooper, furious over the deliber ate wrecking of his boat, and the boy eager to join in the fray. "By heaven!"-, cried Strathgate, fiercely, "what did you mean by that?" "I should think tjiat my meaning was obvious even to you," says my lord, indifferently, although he was seething with anger to soe Lis adver sary within his reach. "I don't know you, str," cried Coop er, shaking his fist, "but you sunk my boat. You done it deliberately. It'll cost you a matter of 50." " 'Tis cheap at the price," answered Carrington. "Don't worry, my man. Just pipe down," he continued, as Cooper opened his mouth to expostu late. "I'm Lord Carrington. You shall be paid for your boat and something for your trouble." "Payment is not enough to com pensate me, Carrington," cried Strath gate, furiously. "No," returned Carrington, "there's nothing that I might offer you that would pay you for what you've done, you dastard!" "What do you mean?" "You know very well what I mean, although I confess I have done some wrong to your powers of fascination," returned Carrington. "And what, pray, may be the ex planation of that statement?" queried Strathgate. "I thought that you had run away with my wife; I thought so yesterday morning,. that is; but now I see that she fled from you as well as from me." "It's a lie!" cried Strathgate. Both men were now so worked up and so blinded with passion that they did not care for the open-mouthed, open-eared audience which crowded around them. "She did go with me," continued the runaway. "It looks like it this morning. I she went with you. how did she come to be on yonder ship while you were here?" Strathgate laughed evilly. "If you must know it, my lord, your wife fled in my company." "Damn you!" cried Carrington. But Sfrathgate went on without heeding. "An accident, a broken coach wheel stopped our journey. I rode on ahead to make arrangements for our passage to some happier land on yonder ship. Lady Ellen elected to go by water." "I don't believe a word of it," re turned Carrington. "If it were true," asked my lord again, "I ask you why you were not on the ship?" "I overslept myself this morning, w ith the consequences which you see." "You haven't seen me end of those consequences, my Lord Strathgate," continued Carrlngton. "No?" "Not by any means. We'Jl Bettle the question aB to which of us is to live" "And have Lady Ellen?" interrupt ed Strathgate. Carrington whipped out his pistol. "Another word like that and I'll kill you without giving you a chance for defense." "You threatened to murder me on the wharf an hour or so ago," and Strathgate, equably. "What prevents you from doing it now?" "A thing of which you know noth ing," answered Carrington. "And what is that, pray?" "A sense of honor." "Indeed," answered the earl, "I had understood that your honor was it Lady Ellen's keeping." The sweat stood out on Carrington's face. He locked his jaws until the muscles rose like whipcords. He was under the strongest . possible con straint a man may put upon himself. "My honor is in her ladyship's keep ing," he said slowly at last, "and I am confident that she will never put it at the hazard of a blackguard like your self." This time It was Strathgate who gave way. "You have another pistol at your belt. Give it to me. Take you one end of this boat and I the-other. We'll see then who has the right to live and love." "I dishonor myself," said Carring ton, rising and abandoning the tiller, which was instantly grasped by one of the crew, "by meeting you in this way, but I'll do it. Here!" He extended one of the pistols. "I . would prefer a choice," said Strathgate, not extending his arm to take it. "As you will," returned Carrington, extending both of them to him. "You honor me in doubting my good faith," he remarked as Strathgate took one of the pistols. "Haight," said Carring ton, "take your station amidshlp, out of range, and count three. There shall be no firing dqne by either of us until after the word 'three,' Are you agreed. Lord Strathgate?" . "Entirely," returned the other, step ping forward. But Master Haight did not propose to have his vessel turned into a field of honor, which would be a field of blood. He interposed a vigorous ob jection. "Gentlemen," he began, "I'll have no murder done here." "There shall be none," said Carring ton. " 'Tis a fair duel with each man a chance for his life." "I don't know about that, my mas ters," returned the sailor, "but I say this: This boat's mine, I'm the cap tain of it, and I'll have no fightin' aboard. Savin' yer honors' graces, it can't be done. You agree with me, Cooper? You, Jack? You, Ned?" "Ay, ay," returned the others, clos ing about Haight and interposing be tween the would-be combatants. "Gentlemen," continued Haight, who was not without a certain decision of character, "I swear to God there-ain't goin' to be no fightin' on this boat. I don't, know the rights and wrongs of this quarrel, but this boat's mine and I won't have It. You'll oblige me. Lord Carrlngton, by givin' me that pistol. And you, sir " turning to Strathgate, "will do the like. When you get ashore I've naught to say about your actions, but here " He held out his hand imperiously for Lord Carrington's pistol and mo tioned Cooper to take that of Lord Strathgate. The boat had shot up into the wind and lay idly rocking, practically drifting. Cooper's cutter had been shaken off and was a floating wreck some distance away. Cooper had a distinct interest in the quarrel, for he muttered: "You're right, Haight, there can't be no shootin' here. Yonder gentleman might get a bullet in his in'ards and then who'd pay me for my sunken boat?" Strathgate Interrupted with a laugh, one of those irritating laughs that drove Carrington nearly frantic: "Did you arrange all this with the captain of youri boat Carrlngton?" queried Strathgate. "Is this a bit of bravado, with the appearance of this worthy, sailor at the proper mo ment?" "Curse you!" cried Carrington, leap ing up to windward. "Come up to windward with you." He leveled his pistol full at Strath gate, having sprung clear of the hud dle of men who happened to be to leeward. Strathgate had followed his movements and two shots rang out si multaneously. Quick as had been the rush of the two men, however, the sailors had followed suit. Haight threw himself .upon Carrington and bore him back against the low rail, nearly throwing him overboard, while Cooper struck Strathgate's arm such a violent blow as he pulled the trig ger that his pistol was hurled back wards and fell into the sea. Haight was the first to recover him self. "Gentlemen," he said in tones that indicated he had come to a final de cision, "jwu've had it out now and there's got to be no more of it. Un less you give me your word," he said, turning to Strathgate, "and you give me yours, Lord Carrington, to abide peaceably in the boat until we get ashore, so help me God! I'll lash you down to a ring bolt with a rope, and" "There's naught for it," returned Carrington whose pistol, knocked from his hand, had been taken possession of by one of the men, "but to give you the promise, for you have, my pistol, the other has gone overboard and while I have a sword Lord Strath gate is without a weapon." - . "Oh, you have my word,, too," said Strathgate carelessly. "He'll keep the forward end of the boat and you'll stay aft, my lord," said Haittht to Carrington, "and now we'll put Lack to harbor." My lord Strathsjate amused himself during the hours that elapsed before he and Carrlngton were landed at the same wharf whence they had taken ' their departure, by humming graceful little tunes, whistling merry little airs and In general disporting himself as if he were having a delightful time. My lord Carrington, who had more at Btake, was gloomy and silent. He did not cast a glance in the direction of his brother earl recliping on the deck forward until the vessel was made fast to the wharf. Then he sprang out and touched Strathgate on the shoulder. "We have matters of moment to settle, my lord," began Carrington gravely, "and it were better that we settle them quietly as gentlemen, which one of us at Jeast is." "I agree with you in that proposi tion," returned Strathgate bowing. "We shall doubtless find friends in Portsmouth and may conclude our ar rangements without the unseemly in terruptions of brawling seamen." "Brawling seamen!" growled Haight under his breath. "The only peaceable people aboard the cutter were Cooper and myself and the men." "I am staying at the Blue Boar," said Strathgate gravely. "I also," returned Carrington. "Very well, I shall await a visit from your friends as soon as may be convenient." "There are men on the nhips yon der," said Carrington gravely, "brother officers of mine. One of them will call upon you forthwith." ' Strathgate bowed but made no other reply as he walked away toward the inn. Carrington stayed a moment or two longer to complete arrangements for paying for the boat he had destroyed and then with a heavy heart, turned toward the town. He was in a ter rible state. He had had no sleep the night before. He had ridden both day and night. The 'chase of the morning had not conduced to quiet his nerves, and the insults of Strathgate, whom a punctillio kept him from picking up in his arms and breaking as he would a stick, had not rendered him any more easy. His first duty was to get something to eat and to refresh him self by a bath. He would then send a message to some of his shipmates in Admiral Kephard's fleet who could be counted upon to attend to all the arrangements of the meeting a 1' outrance between him and his enemy. Although Carrington was as angry as a man could well be and as full of bitter hatred toward Strathgate, he did not intend to throw his life away on that account. He had other things to do, one of whieh was to chase Ellen wherever she went and find out the truth. He did not believe Strathgate's extravagant assertions about the earl's arrangement to meet Lady Ellen on the ship, but there was a possibility of truth in it and that at least kept him from entire confidence in his wife. As for Strathgate, he was not feel ing any too happy either. He had risked everything, got himself em broiled with a man of Carrington's determined character, had upon him all the odium of having run away with another man's wife, and yet he had lost the wife! His sensuous admiration of Lady Ellen was turned to something like hate. He did not want to throw away any points in the game either, and he made up his , mind to kill Carrington, If it was in his power, and to wreak such vengeance upon Lady Ellen as would cause her to remember to the very last hour of her life the time in which she flouted him. CHAPTER XIV. Admiral Kephard Joins the' Pursuit. We left Sir Charles Seton hard and fast in his boat on the shoal. Sir Charles had nothing to do but study the ocean and observe that which transpired upon it, for a few moments of hard work convinced worthy Master Whibley that only the rising tide would float his vessel. Sir Charles saw the whole drama enacted before him. He saw Ellen run down the Flying Star; he saw that vessel's way checked; he could see Deborah fol lowed by Ellen clamber aboard. He marked the other two boats chasing down the channel and made a shrewd guess that one carried Carrington and the other Strathgate. He saw the collision, although of course he was too far away to know who was re sponsible or what was happening. He even saw. the smoke from the two pis tols' which were discharged by: the belligerents on the boat and after a time detected the report faintly, but other than that he kuew nothing. It was some time before the rising tide coupled with their own tremen dous exertion got the boat off the shoal. Sir Charles had had plenty of time to mature his plans. He knew that Ellen was on that ship. He guessed that Carrington and Strath gate had gone back to "Portsmouth, if one or the other, "or both of them had not been killed in that inter change of pistol shots, and he sur mised that the first duty to which they would devote themselves would be to see which one could kill the other. He therefore determined fo chase the ship. Not in his own boat, oh, no! He had a better plan than that. A ready and resourceful man was Sir Charles Seton. And while he was deep ly in love with Mistress Debbie, the more in love because through Ellen's persistence his sweetheart had been, as it were, dragged out of his arms and therefore added the value of the unattainable to his pursuit of her, yet he was not in addition blinded by DOC 0 n Plattsmouth's 4th of July celebration is bound to be a "hummer." It will be a clay which will present many opportunities for the If you have not a Kadak of some kind, come in and we can sell you one right and teach you how to use it. : : : : : ffDUfMKfu mm ML THE DRUGGISTS. 0 DC Last evening C. W. McConnell of Lin coln, a lineman for the Burlington, de parted for his home after having made connections of the party line telephone system which has recently been installed at the shops, with the station. This places any phone in the shops in posi tion that they can call the station with out the intervention of any other office. At the station they have switches also that enable them to switch the station phone onto either the Lincoln or Omaha line as they desire. This places at the telegraph office appliances which ena bles them to talk in any direction. W. P. Stull, of Adair, Iowa, was in the city thi? morning, and made ar rangements for the lustallation during the coming week in the room formerly occupied by Claus Speck, a moving pic ture show, which shall be continuous in its entertainments. He thinks to get the show going by the forepart of the week. He departed for his home this morning on the Burlington. Will Loan $10,000. I have $10,000 which I wish to loan on good farm security. Write or phone Claude F. Anderson, Pacific Junction, Iowa. NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT. State of Nebraska, t , County of Cass. f ss In County Court. In the matter of the estate of Hannah E. Cal kin, deceased. All jersons interested in the above estate are hereby notified that the administra tor of said estate has filed in this court his ac count and petition for final settlement, pray ing therein that said account be allowed. A hearing will lte had uion said petition and ac -count on the 1st day of July. l!ls. at 10 o'clock a. m.. of said day in the county court room, at Plattsmouth, in said county, at which time said account will l examined and adjusted and final decree of distribution will be made. All objections thereto must be filed on or be fore said time. . Witness my hand and seal of said court this Stth day of June, luos. ALLEN .T. BEI-X1X. SEAl-l County J u dye. SHLRIFF'S SALE. Ty virtue of an order of sale, Issued by James Kolertson. clerk of the district court, within and for Cass county, Nebraska, and to me directed, 1 will on the 24th Day of June, A. D., 1908, at 11 o'clock a. m.. of said day at the south door of the court house, in said county, sell. at public auction to the hitrhest bidder or cash the following real estate, to-wit: The north half of the northeast (n?4 of the nej-t) quarter, of section thirty-three (33) in township twelve (12), ra litre nine (9), east of the tith P. M.. in v-ass county. eirasKa. The same lieine levied upon and taken as the property of Walter A. Lautrhlin. administra tor of the estate of Reulen A. Chapin. deceas ed. Ira Chapin. Edward Chapin. Jesse O. Chapin, Tacie Laut-'hlin. nee Chapin: Kate Beeler. nee Chapin: May E. Chapin. Florence B. Chapin. Koy M. Chapin, and Walter A. Laiurhlin, truardian of May E.Chapln.Florence B. Chapin. Koy M. Chapin and Albert I. Wel ton. are defendants to satisfy a judtrment of said court recovered by Oscar W. Laugblin, plaintiff, atrainst said defendants. C. I. QriXTOX. Sheriff Cass county, Nebraska. Plattsmouth, Neb., May 12th. As You are Thinking of Taking a ' Vacation Take a P H O WO C RAPH with you. It will entertain you and help you pass away your time. Call and hear the new records at : : - : : H. 6. VAN HORN, DOC o 0 2C Special Train Plaltsmouth to Elmwcod and Return on June 27th. Account Modern Woodmen of Amer ica picnic at Elm wood. Neb., on June 27th, the Missouri Pacific railway will run a special train from Plattsmouth to Elmwood, leaving Plattsmouth at 8 a. m., returning leave EImw"od at 10 p. m Fare $1.52 round trip. Hugh Norton, Agent. Good Horse For Sale. A good all around work horpe, good for farm work. Apply at Ed. Donat's saloon for particulars. Notice to Cass County Farmerls The secret of curing hams and bacons lies in the use of Wright's Liquid Smoke. It's quicker, safer and gives better results than the old style method of using a wood fire. Sold by F. G. FRICKE& CO., Druggist, Plattsmouth, Neb. Bedroom :: Furniture in all the latest styles is display ed at Hild's for your selection. This is new stock carefully se lected to give the best furniture quality and the best money value Come in and look over our line and satisfy yourself. M. HILD, Plattsmoxith. Neb Plattsmouth, Nebr. Pff) ijjxj) an cy. 1$ - i sv ( A'- 1 ..' -