j The Sea
0:
CHAPTER XVI II. ("Continued.)
"There is another estate further up
the river, 1 bollcvo?" resumod Fox.
"yes," answered Murl; "thorp is one
ten miles up, owned by Loues (nronii.
I Bay ton miles up I momi his boundary
Is there. Ills dwelling in over flftcon
allies."
"I thought I should go tip there."
Lnroon would hnve nuked more quos
Uoiih, but nt this juncture the meal was
prepurud and tho guest movod to the
table.
The pirate cnptnln had noticed not only
some peculiarities in the voice and face
of his guest, but the effect that had been
produced on Paul. lie had hcoii it all.
even to a look which Mary herself gave
tho newcomer. After tho man had taken
hiw Beat at tho table,, Lnroon commenced
to pace up and down the room, and when
he whh whore ho could look upon his
guest's face, he did so most keenly. At
length he stopped in his walk and beck
oncd for Paul to follow him, at the sumo
tlmo taking n lighted candlo from tho
mantel and leaving tho room.
Just. ii8 the youth cloned the door nfter
him the guest had finished his repast,
and with a quick, decided movement, ho
nroso nnd moved close to Mary's side.
Tho'maldeu did not shrink from him nor
uli mid or, for Uiero whh something no nat
urally kind in his couiitonauce, and then
ho wore .such an appearance of modesty
nnd goodness that she felt rnlher drawn
toward him by some inward force.
"You are a child of Mr. Laroon?" he
said, inquiringly, an he aat down by her
lde.
"I am am yes, I suppose a ward,"
tho maiden answered, with somo embar
rassment.
"But not n very hnnny one. I should
nay," remarked the mnn', at the sami
timo placing his hand upon her shoul
der.
"I have been nick, sir," said Mary,
feeling Hiiro that ho alluded to her looks.
"Ah; a physical, bodily ailment V Then
your mind is well. In spirit and soul you
lire at peace."
Mary started and gazed fixedly Into
tho man's face. There was something
liko a smile upon it, but It was u vory
sad and melnncholy one.
"Mayhap I know not your meaning,"
ho at length murmurod. She could not
feel offended with him, for his very look
and tone forbade it.
Tho guest cast his eyes about tho room
ae If to assure himself that they two
wero alone together, and then said:
"I have lieen informed of some cir
cumstances which lod me to suppose that
you wore not vory happy here. Have
been informed correctly V"
Mary burst into teara. The question
touched upon a spring that opened cv
ry wound afresh.
Tho stranger drew ono of her small
nh i to hands within his own, nnd then ho
drew her head upon his bosom. It was
a very strange movement, but Mary did
not resist it. No, oho pillowed her head
thero as though It were her home, nor
did Bhe seem to think Uiat he was
trangcr who thus supported her.
"Weep not now, my child," he Raid, In
tones as sweet as a mother's voice. "If
tho ni caotaln should return and find
you thus, lie would wonder nt It."
"And do you know, then, my guar
dian's character?" asked Mary, raising
ber hoad quickly, and speaking earnestly
"I do know Mnrl Lnroon well, and
know his bUKincsB. Hut let that drop
wlicro it Is. I can perhaps help you."
"And you have known me before?"
uttered Mary, half imploringly.
, "Not exactly; but I think I have
known those who did once know you. I
promised a person that If ever I came
across you, 1 would help you If It lay In
my power, and I suppose I must now
keep my promise."
"What do you know of mo or mine?
Oh, tell mo if you can!"
shl Here conies Lnroon. T know
nothing that would benefit you now to
know. But take hope. I must Ioiiyo you
in tho morning, but I shall return. 1
Jiavo come all the way here only to help
you, and I tell you thus early of my
mission that you may have more to hope
for, Be careful now, and do not let him
nee that you havo learned anything. All
may depend upon your secrecy ami care."
And so saying, he resumed his seat,
awaiting the appearance of Lnroon.
CHAPT13U XIX.
When Laroon colled Paul out from
tho room where the guest was eating, lie
wont at once to a private apartment, and
closed the door. Paul wondered what
till this meant, for the pirate vhowed by
his countenance that he had some pur-
poso In It. After they had g.lned
jilace, Miirl walked up and down the
room several times before he spoke, and
during that time ho seemed to be in
nervous thought. ,
"Paul," he said at length, stopping in
front of the wondering youth, ".ou have
noticed that man who is now in tho room
wo have just left?"
"Yes," roturnud tho youth, looking up
with an expression of curiosity,
"Do you think you have ever seen him
( 'before 7" resumed the ' captain, carefully.
'"Is there not something familiar about
ids fact and voice?"
''Thero is, certainly," returned , Paul,
nfter, i moment's thought. "There is
Konl'othing about him that enl up a
recollection in my mind, but k has no
form q'r feature; But why should you
ask me?"
"Because I thought you might poatd
hly help ino out with tho puawlo."
"But who do ymi think ho is?"
Laroon did not answer tbh question
ot once, for it evidently took him unpre
pared; but he soon surmounted tho dim
t-nllv nml said:
"Ah. 1 do now remember a Mr. Fox
Scourge :
who lived close by your father's; I think
that must bo It."
That would soem the most roason-
able to me," added Paul, "for if I had
over seen him before it must bo an you
suggest."
"Thats It," resumed Lnroon, starting
across the room. "That's it," lie repeat
ed, as ho came back. "You may return
now."
Paul loft tho room, and as soon as ho
was gone the pirate captain commenced.
to pace tho lloor.
"it giny bo all nceldent his coming
icre. But no win Know us no win
know us, mi lean I am mistaken in tho
mnn. But I will make myself sure. I
can do that, nt all events."
s be spoke thus, his countenance
irightened, and soon nfterwurds ho re-
oined' his guest.
But there was one other person in that
room who watched the countenances of
all with more Hum ordinary interest,
and who surely did so to somo effect if
the changes of her own face could havo
been seen. This wns Otohewa. She had
slipped Into the room unpercelved by
all savo Mary, when the guest s supper
had been brought in; and when he re
vealed his business to Mary, she had
been so far behind tho projection of tho
jamb of the fireplace that he did not no
tice !i or. She had heard all, nnd she
had seen nil; but most particularly now
did she watch tho movements of Marl
Lnroon, for she read his thoughts in
hi looks. Only Mary knew the girl, and
even she did not know nil her wondrous
powors of perception nnd ingenuity. So
Marl Laroon's secret thoughts wero not
his own, nnd even a mystic form thnt
tloatcd in tho stranger guest's soul wns
not his alone. Into his soul the girl
hnd probed with her strange wand, and
she read that night a new nnd holy
truth.
At length the hour grew lute, nnd the
stranger naked for rest. Old II agar was
sent out to conduct him to his room, nnd
in this Otehowa read a warning which
others saw not. James Fox arose, and
having bid tho company good-night, he
followed tho old woman from the room.
It was late for Mary to be up, nnd sho
nnd Otehowa also left. Paul hnd noth
ing now to detain him, nnd he, too,
sought his own room. And Mnrl Laroon
wns left nlono. Iff gazed about him,
and a shudder crept through his frame.
"Why did ho come?"
So spoke the dark man to himself, and
then ho walked away into the dnrkness,
and back again. Then he stood still nnd
repented the question. He gazed about
him, and he saw the dim specters floating
about in the dim corners of the room.
They were men nnd women whom he
had murdered. And he saw another
specter and he covered his faco with
his hands. Soon ho started up, and his
fists were clenched, and with the right
one ho smote lib breast.
"Why did he come?"
And as the words echoed through the
high plnco an answer seemed to come
back:
"Vengeance!"
And again the swent stood cold nnd
heavy upon tho dark man's brow. Ho
saw two children two laughing, prat
tling, gleesOmc children and he remem
bered thnt cold, wet, cheerless day when
he lied with them to Boston. He re
membered the Cross-Hands Inn, nnd the
night he spent there. Ho remembered
when ho went up to Ha bed that night
how ho saw tho children nsleep the
boy with n stern, sorrowful face, and the
girl with a calm, confiding smile. Ho
remembered how that tiny whito arm
was thrown over the boy's neck, and
how tho boy's hand rested protcctingly
upon her shoulder.
And Mnrl Laroon is an old man old,
nt least, in crime nnd trials. Only forty
years hnve passed to his debt In the
great llfo book, but sec how laden with
accounts these years arc! See the lines
of silver already in his hair, and tho
lines of woo already on his brow. And
Marl Laroon thinks of those children
now, as they havo just left him, and for
the moment a softer shade renin upon his
dark face. Not once In all these years
has that boy done him harm by word or
deed and not once In all the whilo has
the girl given him cause for complaint,
until die past few days. He sees them
the only pure things he hns about him.
and they would llee from him. Why is
it so? Too well he knows. But the
thought comes to his mind, aud he spenks
(gain to himself:
"She shall be mine!"
'Phon ho starts nwny ngnin and pene
trates the gloom, nnd when ho turns
even the lamp itself hns changed to a
stievter. for it is gone, nnd a hideous
looking object has taken Its place. He
starts bock and clasps his hands in fear,
for his mind is not with present things.
and he stops not to reason. But soon he
see tho lamp ngaiu, and the specter
has passed awuy, but not from aight,
for it liB8 only moved , from boforo th
light and now stands before the smol
dering ft re.
"Who's there?" he gasps.
"Ilttgiir," i tho resnonso.
And tho plrato is himsolf again, for
now another luvtuuato demon is with Inn
to combat with tho dwollors ot the un
scon world.
"Whoro did you put our guest?' asked
Marl, approaching the wonmn.
"In tho turret chamber."
"And did you nothing more?"
"He asked for water. I gave it ami
Up will sleep more soundly than he
would If he hud drunk not."
"But not to danger?"
"No; only for the night, I doubt if
he feels it beyond the rising of the bun.'
"tJood ilngnr, thou urt a very jewel
want snail i pay uieaf as union an
you want. Come to m tin my wddin
day. No hold. On the day after."
"Plenty."
With this assurance the old black ling
went nwny, nnd Marl Lnroon was onco
more nlono. Ho looked at his watch, anil
1 It wanted yet nn hour of midnight Mid
1 night wns with him a ehnrmcd hour, nnd
ho loved to work at that mystic period
between two days.
OHAPTEIl XX.
The turret chamber was so called from
being situated below one of tho turrets
of tho building, the other turret being
raised upon tho center, and' consequent
ly over the hall. This chamber waB
in the southwest corner of the building
and overlooked tho Btrcam that ran
through tho yard. In this chamber the
stranger guest was put to sleep. There
woro two doors leading' from it, and
these ho locked before ho retired.
It wns midnight, nnd the man slept
soundly. Ho heard no noise no sound
disturbed him. Upon thnt side of the
room near the bed n secret door wns,
opened. It was a door which no stranger
could ever have discovered, for it was
only ono broad panel made to swing
back. This panel opened, nnd Mnrl La
roon entered ho room in his stocking
feet. He stood whon he first entered,
until ho heard a low, deep, regular
breathing of one in sound sleep, nnd
then he approached the bed. Ho moved
to tho head of it, nnd carefully held up
a pocket lantern so that its rays should
not fall upon tho face. Then ho worked
down the coverlid and sheet, working ns
carefully as a mother would handle her
sick Infant. Then ho opened the shirt
at its bosom, nnd soon the brond, full
breast was exposed, and there was a
deep, heavy scar there, running from
the tippor point of the collar bone to
the center breast. A single insta'JrWhe
pirate looked
at the scar, and thCT he
put back the clothing he had removed.
He stopped not to examine anything else,
but stealthily he glided away from the
place, and noiselessly closed tho panel
after him.
"I knew him at first," he muttprcd to
himself, nfter he hnd gained the hall.
"Why did he come?"
Ono long hour the captain wnlkcd up
nnd down the wide hall, with the lantern
hi his hand. Then ho went out into tho
court, nnd crossed over to the low build
ing ngninst tho wall where tho male
slaves slept. He entered here nnd nwoko
a slave named Wnrda.
"Warda," whispered Marl, "come with
me."
Tho slave threw a blanket over his
shoulders, and followed his master out
into the court. The rain hnd censed fall
Ing, nnd tho clouds were fast rolling off,
but yet the air was chilly, and the pirate
cnptnln entered the building he hnd left,
nnd pursued his wny to the apartment
where he hnd received his guest the night
before.
Mnrl Laroon did not dream thnt his
movements were nil watched. He did
not see the dark, slight figure that hung
steps nice a aiiaoow. wuen uc
entored the great drawing room he did
not notice that through another door
dim figure floated and lay concealed be
neath a wide ottoman.
Warda, commenced Marl, as soon
as the door was closed behind him, "did
you see the stranger who came here last
night?"
"No, master."
"A stranger did come, and he sleeps
now in the turret chamber. I' think he
will leave here to-morrow for the estate
of Lopez Garonne. If he doca I shall
send you to show him the wny. Before
:io reaches Garonne's I would like to
mve him turn off and visit that place
from which man never came back. Do
you undcrBtnnd me now?"
"1 am sure Uiat you want tiie man
killed."
"Exactly, Warda. And I want it dono
without mistnke. Now, mark me; do this
faithfully, and you shall have Otchewa
for your wife."
The man clasped his hands with
savage joy, but they fell to his side in a
moment more, and in a tone of doubt ho
said:
"But tho young missus won't let me
have her."
"As soon ns the young mistress is my
wife the maid shall be -yours; and that
will be vory soon. Do this for me, faith
fully and surely, without a third person's
knowing it, nnd Otchewa shall bo yours
ns 1 live."
"I'll kill a thousand enemies for you
at that price," uttered Warda, witl
sparkling eyes of Tengeful joy.
Loug had Warda loved the bright-eyed
maid of tho Muyscas, but she would not
yet ho his, for she loved him not, and to
protect herself from his importunities she
had persuaded Mary to forbid him ever
again to molest her malu with Ids prop
ositions of love. Laroon knew all this,
and though Warda would have obeyed
him without such reward, yet he knew
thnt such a course would ensure mon
complete success.
"What weapon will you take?" asked
tho plrato.
"I'll curry all three," answered the In
dian, "the sword, the knife and tho
pistol; nnd I'll use what comes handiest.
I can perhaps put a pistol to his head
and finish him quickest. But -lie shall
die before lie roachos Loppy. Garonne's.
I'll take him in the ravine beyond tho
bluffs. Nobody will hoar a pistol there,
nnd I can throw the Iwdy down among
tho rocks, 'and . it'll bo eaten up in n
few days.
"Then it 1b all understood," said Marl
"Now remember; when the stranger
Mr. Pox-Is ready to sot out, I shall send
you with him as hla guide. You know
tho rest."
And the master nnd the slsvo sop
nrntcd, and the master went now to km1;
hiti rent. - Otehowa crawled out from
beneath tho ottoman, aud having assur
ed herself that tho pirate's work for the
night wiib done, she, too, went away to
sleep.
(To he continued. i
When an out-of-town widower war
rle a town girl, the question novt fre
quently asked is, "How old U ho
CHOICE SELECTION OF INTER-
EST1NG ITEMS.
Comments aud Crltictaum Based Upon
tho Happening of tho Day Mb-
torlcol and News Notes,
A whipped Japancos is a dead Japa-
tcso none other genuine.
"Wo may bo shy on wheat, but who
arcs bo Jong an tno uppio crop is
nrger than usual.
Thero la a growing belief that the
crm "grand finance" la merely ouo of
ho synonyms for grand larceny.
A woman can savo a lot of money
n matches by keeping tho gas burn
ng, so as not to have to light It.
Professor Benbow successfully sleor-
d his all- ship for SOO yards at St
Louis. Hut It's a thousand miles to
iVushiiigton.
"Western civilisation is permeating
3hlna. In another generation it will
lot be considered a disgrace for a
Uhlnoso woman of ldgh rank to stand
in u broad footing. .
London Is getting giddy. The daugh
ter of tho Lord Mayor has boon' jilted
y an Egyptian olUclal and somebody
ixploded a bunch of llrecraekors In
(Vestniinster Abbey.
ArUcssness is held to be the prerog-
itlvo of childhood. Hut why should
to valuable u jewel be denied older
leoplo? Is there any virtue that is
willy unbecoming an adult?
"Tips to Millionaires" Is the Utle of
t magazine article by Israel Zangwlll.
kfter Zangwlll has been over hero a
itUo longer he will learn that all head
vaiters aro not millionaires, cycu if
hey do look and act like It
The Ohineso Idea of neutrality .ispfonsideraiDjy beiow it in sustained in-
thowu by the readiness wlUi which
linv Rfll nrnvlslntia tr nlthnr .nhrtv
1 . jj..-.
ipou the production of tho price? ' In
ilds respect Uie neutrality ideusiof tho
Drient and of the Occident seem to bo
in full accord.
Tho man who imagines unionism Is
niy a passing icauire or 'industrialism
s badly deceived. Unionism is hero to
Itay. And it ought to atay. It may
. . . n a . J i t " - i I if
ia abused, betimes, but it has accom
plished much; not only forhTbor, but
tor civilization.
i Rawhide, or oven leather, if boiled
for hours, will make a nutritious soup,
laya a writer in Country Life in Amer
ica on the subject of what a man lost
n. tho woods may find to eat. Many a
nan lias bridged tho awful gap by
lolling his boots, whence Uie phrase to
Ixpress tho final extreme, "I'll eat my
hoots first." Mark Twain was once
pnt to Uiis final resort and recorded
itterward Uiat "the holes tasted tho
best"
A housekeepers' club recenUy organ-
bed In an Arizona city opens Its meet
ings by o. roll call to which each wom-
n is expected to respond with a tested
:ocipe or a helpful domestic suggestion.
Che oUiors write them down. Then
tor an hour Uie members assist Uiolr
iostess with bar mending, or whatever
jewing she may havo on hand, and the
Qoxt hour Uiey devote to, their own
lewing fancy work being prohibited.
lUius is rovived the helpful old fashion
jf tho "sowing bee," so called, doubt
less, becauso Uie sewing and Uie buzz-
lug were simultaneous.
"Dulce ct decorum est pro patrki
norl" thus It has always been and
Ihus it will bo so long as International
llsagreements continue to bo settled
by resort to arms. Not only do patriots
com It sweet aud becoming to dlo for
their country, but Uie memory of Uiose
ivho fall In defense of ling and country
s cherished more sacredly than Unit of
those who achieve tiio greatest and
most beneficent triumphs in the arts of
peace. No oUier fame Is so enduring
as tlmt of Uie mllltBiry hero. On no
Dthers are honors so gratefully be
stowed. This Is demonstrated lit Uie
history of the United Statos quite as
conclusively as In that of any otiior
eountry.
The moment a horo appears nnd
tvlns moil's hearts they set about kill
ing him. If ho is a soldier or sailor
Ihoy dower him with bull pups and
buy houses for him, and tbon turn nnd
rend him when ho disposes of them,
riiey sot banquets in his honor and
compel him to talk at Uiom, and then
try him down as a tiresome after
Sinner speaker. They nickname him
''the Just" and then ostracise him be
muse fhey got tired of the nickname.
In sheer perversity they unearth a tin
told lor and hatl him iih "a bigger limn
.iau old Grant." Or they faintly
atiin their Idol as "a good old hus-
U?en." If or his fume it were bettor
if ten that tho man who has deserved
Well of all men should die while his
iexui'ta arc crroiwi upon him, When
ob iivo unou'tuadv togendnvy during
oitr ttfe then In r')7 nothing loft
Last year England Imported 210,000
tons of, butter. Tha United CJtntco ex
ported' about 4,000 tons. These facta
leavo a fair Inference Uiat Lngland
offers an open market for moro than
llfty times as much butter as wo aro
in tho habit of exporting. England's L
purchases of this article from foreign
countries and from her coloniesaniount,
to about $100.000,KX) a year. Our ux
port silica of It approximate $1,500,00
Ennlaiid mirchnsed last year about
130,000 tons of cheese. Our totals
ports were in the vicinity of S.OOO'ions,
worth about $2,250,000. Canada,
whom wo aro prone to regard as an
economic inferior, exported ten times
as much as wo did. This leaves a- fair
inference that there is In England alona
a possible market for some $10,000,000
worth of choose every year.
There Is u story that when Marryat's-
"Juphet In Search of a Eatlidr" was.
running as a serial tho usualf signals
were neglected by an Aiherle'nii and
a British boa, which met at.sea and a.
sea and a kfii
ery, "Has f
L?" Thnt-'
substitute appoiircitJiiMthodweri
Japhet found hlsfmirer"vyet?
was seventy ycarsjngo, aim snip ionci3
of books havo bectrwrftten since. Not
only was Japhet not io final work or
Its kind, but tales ottndventuro huvo
poured forth In amazliig quantity and
with all the variety that Is 'Indicated in
the range from a dhifottiovel fo Steven
son's "Treasure Island!" Furthermore,
tho public that feasts on theso later
productions knows little of Jophct
Somo readers pick him up by chance
others search him out because they
have a curiosity' about one of tiio old
autorsjRvSowas onco very popular.
Meanwhile tho vast majority go after
the books of the year -and aro noMcou
selous Uiat they ars losing anythlug.
PossilMy. too, there Is no loss, but it
mayjbVs.iid also Uiat Japhet Avould an
swer as well for its purpose now as
ever It.dld. AVhilo It falls much below
LilTreasufe Island" In nrUsUc value and
terest, it Is a lively performsince and
greatly superior to much of Uie con
temporary literature that has usurped
Its place. Moreover, when wo eay su
perior wo Include In the idea thoso"olo-
ments that make such works popxilar.
People who want just a rattling good
story will And It in hisdlverUug ax
nmve. iTODamy rue signaling aw
would not be repeated if It wero run
ning as a serial now, but it is j'qulta
conceivable that It might, bo celebrated
as a book of the year. On tiio score ot
fashion aloneUiereiwouId certainly bo
that stamps it aa belonging exclusively
to o. peculiar Ume or a peculiar mood
I of Uie reading public. The new booka
take Its place simply because they art
newly published, which is u happy
thought for the new author. Each gen
eration must have Its own output, In- (
eluding ephemeral stuff Uiat appears
and disappears In a single season. And J
while the criUcs rage Miss CorelUP
points wlUi pride to Uie fact Uiat forty.
three tons of paper were used In th&
first edlUon of her latest.
Prunes Shipped to France.
The glamor of a foreign name is po
tent in selling comestibles. Many a
box of prunes labeled "French" sells
at a price that, togeUier wlUi Uie labcL
convinces the crlUcal Eastern housed
wife of the high quality of Its contents, ,
and puts It beyond Uie reach of tiio "k
boarding house keeper. Sho buys "Cal- '
lfornla' prunes, to Uio disgust of her
boarders, who, did Uiey but know It,
aro grumbling over fruit identical in
quality avIUi that set before Uie criti
cal housewife's husband. For Uio
French have a trick that, while repre
hensible, rellccts credit on our product
At Bordeaux, the real center of Uio
prune trade of the world, Uio pruno
crop for lOO.'l was a failure. Califor
nia prunes wero bought by Bordeaux
dealers, who repacked Uiem In attract
ive form, made them lithographically
French, and alilped them back to
America.
Albion W. Tourgco, American consul
at Bordeaux, is authority for this state
ment, made In a consular report. Ha
says thnt tho prune crop at Bordeaux
last year ws only one-twentieth of tho
normal output; yet in the last sis
months of the year the dealers thero
roshtpped some $20,000 worth of Call-,
fornln prunes to America, where thel
supposed oorlgin and their attraetlvo
packing found them a ready market.
There is an obvious moral in this,
which is that California prune grower
should pack their fruit ii well as Uio
French do, and make It In every way
as tempting In appearance. It might
not be a bad plan, olthor, to put a eopy
of Consul Tourgoe's report In each box.
San Francisco Argonaut.
Tho Old and tho Now.
"Who wore thoso two women
just registered?" inquired the hcA
proprietor.
"Mrs. Mary McGIuuls nnd her
daughter, Miss Mnymo MacYnnos," re
plied the clerk. Philadelphia Press.
You are not having nn unrestrained,
good old tlmo In oatlng corn oh' tho
cob unloM you have kernel clea
around U th back of .vtnr ear.
whf
0
F