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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 11, 1907)
-..ojWtAK.WfcJF i If The Spoilers, By REX E. DEACH. OopyrlKlit. I'M, l.v Hix K. Huueh. (Cou tinned from Piiko Tliroe.) Aprtn rnino the warning blast from fho steamer Mini tin voice of nit olll crr: Clear away thai atom lino!" "Oil, we'll be left!" Mho breathed, and flomehow It struck (Jlunlster that she jfoared this more Hum the men whoso afi)mtU'hliiK feet he heard. "Yon can make It all right," he urged 2ucr roughly. "You'll got hurt If you inlay here. Hun along and don't mind ns. We've been thirty days on ship board and were praying for something to haiipen." Ills voice was boyishly jrlad, as If be exulted In the fray that was to come, and no sooner bad he Kpokrii than the sailors came out of She iarkm"M upon them. During the space of a few heartbeats there was only a tangle of whirling tfonus with the sound of list on llesh, then the blot split up. and forms jilnngod outward, falling heavily. Again She. sailors rushed, attempting to clinch. They massed upon Dextry, only to grasp empty air, for he shifted with re- Tiic. old miner Htamjml on his iii;nt. inarkable agility, striking bitterly, as an old wolf snaps.t it was bathing vork, however, for In the darkness his 'idows fell short or overreached. JIenlstor, on the other hand, stood carelessly, beating the men off as they came to him. lie laughed gloatingly, bip Iu his throat, as though the en--counter were merely some rough sport. Tlie girl shuddered, for the desperate llence of the attacking men terrified Shrr more than a din. and yet she stayed, crouched against the wall. Dextry swung at a dim target and, missing It. was whirled off his balance. Instantly bis antagonist grappled with him, and they fell to the lloor. while a third man shuttled about them. The j;5rl throttled a scream. -I'm goln' to kick lm. Hill." the man panted hoarsely. "Ie' me tlx Mm." He. swung his he.-uy shoe, and Rill -nrted with stirring eloquence. "Owl You're klckln' me! I've got Jm safo enough. Tackle the big un." Hill's ally then started toward the others, his body IkmiI, bis arms Hexed, jet hanging loosely. He crouched be side the girl, Ignoring her, while she heard the breath wheezing from his "Jungs; then silently he leaped, Olenls Jer had hurled a man from him, then stepped back to avoid the others, when lie was seized from behind and felt the man's arms wrapped about his neck. Iho sailor's legs locked about his thighs. Now came the girl's first fcnowjedge of real lighting. The two -sjmn back and forth so closely In vlued as to be Indistinguishable, the others holding off. For what seemed many minutes they struggled, the jronng mail striving to reach his ad--tertiary, till they crashed against the wall near her aud she heard her chain idon'a breath coughing In his throat at the tightening grip of the sailor. Fright held Iter paralyzed, for she bad never seen men thus. A moment and ilcnlster wortld lie down beneath their stamping feet they would kick his Sllfe out with their heavy shoes. At (thought of It the necessity of action root tier like a blow in the face. Her terror fell away, her shaking muscles stiffened, aud bofore realizing what he did she had acted. The seaman's back was to her. She reached out and gripped him by the Ihalr, while her fingers, tense as talons, wiught his eyes. Then the first. loud ound of the battle arose. Tho man yelled lu sudden terror, and the others aia suddenly., fell back. The next In- jiitmkM Iflfwfe IIP Htant she felt a linnd upon her rIioiiI astern, screening herself behind a fife dor and henrd Doxtry's voice. boat, where the cool breeze fanned her "Are ye hurt? No? Come on, then, face, or we'll get left." Ho spoke quietly, I Tue forms hIu, hnd 8cen nI,,)rocbc(l, though his breath was loud, and, glane- npoukliiK earneslly. Instead of pass ing down, she saw the huddled form of UK tlcy stopped abreast of her hiding the sailor whom he had fought. I piee Then as thev began to talk she "That's all right. Ite ain't hurt. It's mnv that her retreat was out on1 ami i Jap trlelt I learned. I lurry up: i They ran swiftly down the wnarr, followed by Ulenlstcr and by the groans jf the sailors in whom the lust for combat bad been quenched. As Ibey scrambled up the Santa Maria's gangplank a strip or water widened between the boat and the pier. j "Close shave, that," punted fJlenlster, foe nir bis throat c nueriy, "lint I wouldn't have missed It for a spotted pup." "I've been through b'ller explosions and snowslldes, not to mention a trl llln' Jail delivery, but for real sprightly diversions I don't recall nothln more pleasln' than this." Doxtry's enthusi asm was boylike. "What kind of men are you?" the girl laughed nervously, but got no an swer. Thev led her to their deck cabin. where they switched on the electric ' light, blinking at each other and at their unknown guest. They saw a graceful and altogether attractive llgure In a trim short skirt and long tan boots. Hut what Clonls tor lirst saw was her eyes, large and gray, almost brown under the electric light. They were active eyes, he thought, and they Hashed swift, com prehensive glances at the two men. Her hair had fallen loose and crinkled to her waist, all agleam. Otherwise she showed no sign of her recent or deal. (Jienister had been prepared for the type of beauty that follows the fron tierbeauty that may stun, but that has the polish and chill of a new .ground bowle. Instead this girl with the calm, reposeful fae struck a note almost painfully different from her sur roundings, suggesting countless pleas- i nu't things that hnd been strange to i him for the past few years. Pure admiration alone was patent In the older man's gaze. "I make oration." said be. "that you're the gamest little chap I ever fought over. Mexikln, Injun or white. What's the trouble?" "I suppose you think I've done some thing dreadful, don't you?" she said. "Hut I lioren't. I had to get away rum the Ohio tonight foiv-certnln rea sons. I'll tell you all about It tomor row. I haven't stolen anything, nor poisoned the crew-really 'i haven't." She smiled at them, and Glenister found 11 impossible not to smile with her, though dismayed by her feeble explanation. "Well, I'll wake up the steward and find a place for you to go," he said at length. "You'll have to double up with some of the women, though. It's aw fully crowded aboard." She laid a detaining hand on his arm. He thought he felt her tremble. "No, no! I don't want you to do that. They mustn't see mo tonight. I i know I'm acting strangely nnd all that. ' but It's happened so quickly I haven't ! found myself yet. I'll tell you tomor-1 row, though, really. Don't let any one see me or It will snoll evorvthlmr. '. Walt till tomorrow, please." She was very white and spoke with eager intensity. "Help you? Why, sure Mike!" as sured the Impulsive Dex try. "An', see here, miss you take your time on ex planations. We don't care a cuss what you done. Morals ain't our long suit, 'cause 'there's never a law of Cod or man runs north of fifty-three,' as the poetry man remarked, an he couldn't have spoke truer If he'd knowed what he was sayln. Everybody Is prlvl-' leged to 'look out' his own game up here. A square deal an' no questions asked." She looked somewhat doubtful at this till she caught the heat of Gleuls ter's gaze. Some boldness of his look brought home to her the actual situa tion, and a stain rose In her cheek. She noted hiiu more carefully noted his heavy Hhonlderu and ease of bearing, an ease aud loosenena begotten of per fect muscular control. Strength was equally suggested In his face, she thought, for he carried a marked young countenance, with thrusting chin, aggressive thatching brows and mobile mouth that whispered all the changes from strength to abandon. Prominent was a look of reckless en ergy. Shu considered him handsome lu a heavy, virile, perhaps too purely physical fashion. "You want to stowaway?" ho asked. "I've had a right smart experience In that line," said Dextry, "but I never done It by proxy. What's your plan?" "She will stay hero tonight," said Glenister quickly. "You and I will go below. Nobody will see her," "I can't let you do that," she ob jected. "Isn't there Homo place whore I can hldo?" Hut they reassured her and left. When they had gone, Hhe crouched trembling upon her seat for a long time, gazing ilxedly before her. "I'm afraid," she whispered. "I'm afraid. What am I getting into? Why do ineirt look so at me? I'm frightened. Oh. I'm sorry I undertook It." At last she. roso wearily. Tho close cabin op pressed her. She felt tho need of fresh air; So, turning out the lights, she stepped forth Into tho night. Figures loomed near the rail, and she slipped tbat she must not stir. "What brings her here?" Olenlster was echoing a question of Doxtry's. "Hah! What brings them all? What brought the duchess and Cherry Ma- lotto and all the rest? x0, no," said the old man. "She nin't tbat kind-she's too line, too dell- cate too pretty." "That's lust It-inn nwttv! i'oo pretty to bo alone or anything except what she Is." Hex try growled sourly. "This coun try has plumb ruined you, boy. You think they're all allke-an' I don't know but- they are all but this gal. Seems like she's different, somehow, but I can't tell." (ilcnister spoke musingly: "I had an ancestor who buccaneered among the Indies a long time ago, so I'm told. Sometimes I think I have his disposition, lie comes and wbis- pcrs thing to me in the night. Oh, ho was a devil, and I've got his blood In me untamed and hot I can hear him saying something now something about the spoils of war. 11a, ha! Maybe he's right. I fought for her to night, Dex the way he used to tight for his sweethearts along the Mexican. She's too beautiful to be good, and 'there's never a law of Cod or man runs north of tlfty-three." They moved on, his vibrant, cynical laughter stabbing the girl till she lean ed against the yawl for support. She held herself together while the blond beat thickly In her ears, then lied to the cabin, hurling herself Into her berth, where she writhed silently. beating the pillow with hands into ( which her nails had bitten, staring the i while Into the darkness with dry and aching eyes CIIAI'TKU 11. s UK awoke to the throb of the engines and, gazing cautiously through her stateroom window, saw a glassy, level sea, with the sun brightly agleam on It. So this was Herlug? She had clothed : It always with the mystery of her school days, thinking of it as a weep j lug, fog bound stretch of gray waters. ' Instead she saw a Hat, sunlit main, I with occasional sea parrots Happing their fat bodies out of the ship's course. !A slenlng I"' lopioil up from the waters abreast, and she heard the cry of "Seal!" Dressing, the girl noted minutely the personal articles scattered about the cabin, striving to derive therefrom some fresh bint of the characteristics of the owners. First, there was an elaborate copper backed toilet set, all richly ornamented and leather bound. The metal was magnificently hand marked and bore Olcnister's initial. It spoke of elegant extravagance and seemed oddly out of place in an arctic miner's equipment, as did also a small fet of Do Maupassant, Next she picked up Killing's "Seven Seas," marked liberally, and felt that she had struck a scent. The roughness and brutality of the poems had always chilled her, though she bad felt vague ly their splendid pulse and swing. This was the girl's first venture from a shel tered life. She had not rubbed elbows with the world enough to find that truth may be rough, unshaven and garbed in homespun. The book con firmed her analysis of the junior part ner. Pendent from a hook was a worn and blackened holster from which peeped the butt of a large Colt's re volver, showing evidence of many, years' service. It spoke mutely of tho white haired Dextry, who, before herj Inspection was over, knocked at the door, and, when she admitted him, ad dressed her cautiously: "The boy's down forrad, teasln' grub out of a flunky. He'll be up In a uiln- ! utc- How'd ye Bleep?" "Very well, thank you," she lied, "but I've been thinking that I ought to explain myself to you." "Now, see here," the old man luter jected, "there ain't no explanations needed till you feel like glvln' them up. You was In trouble that's un fortunate. We help you Unit's natu ral. No questions asked that's Alaska." "Yes, but I know you must think" "What bothers me," tho other con tinued Irrelevantly, "Is how In blazes we'ro goln to keep you hid. The stew ard's got to make up this room, and somebody's bound to see us packlu' grub In." "I don't care who knows If they won't send me hck. They wouldn't do that, would they?" She huug anx lousjy on his words. "Send you back? Why, don't you savvy that this boat Is bound for Nome? There ain't no turnln' back on gold stampedes, aud this Is the wildest rush the world ever saw. The captain wouldn't turn back. Ho couldn't. Ills cargo's too precious, nnrt tho company pays $5,000 a day for this ship. No, we ain't pnttln' back to unload no stowaways at flvo thousand per. Besides, wo passengers wouldn't let him time's too precious." They were Interrupted by the rattlo of dishes outside, and Dextry was about to open the door when his hand waver tif&l III hi Tho Kind You Have Always in uso for over 30 years, and has been made under his pcr iJVt Honal supervision since its infancy. y, coccU, Allow no one to deceive you in this. All Counterfeits, Imitations and " Just-as-good" are but Experiments tlint triilo with and endanger the health of Infants and Children Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare goric, Irops and Soothing Syrups. It is IMoasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its ago is its guarantee. It destroys "Worms and allays Feverishncss. It cures Diarrhoea aud Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates tho Stomach and Vowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea Tho Mother's Friend. GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS Bears the rh.6 KM You Have Always Bought in Use For Over 30 Years. TMC CENTAUR COMPtNV, TT MUHHAY STIlCCT, NCW VOKK CITY. ESKIHZIZSI Beit for couaht. Cold, croup ttnooping CoUQh, Etc. Mo Opiates. Conforms to National Pura Food and Drug Law. Allconeh syrups containing oclatei coniti jte the bowels. Bee's Laxatlre Cough 8yru motm tbt bowels and contains no opiates. PARKER'S HAIR BALSAM Clrnni'i and iKtutlHcl the hair, l'ri'inotei luxuriant growth. Never i'ailk to Restore Gray Hair to its Youthful Color. Curea acalp illwatrt & hair falling. Wc.andjl.Wat Drugglita ed uncertainly above the knob, for he heard the hearty greeting of the ship's captain. "Well, well, Glenister, where's all tho breakfast going?" "Oo," whispered the old man, "that's Cap' Stephens." "Dextry Isn't feeling quite up to form this morning," replied Glenister easily. 'Don't wonder! Why weren't you aboard sooner last night? I saw you. 'Most got left, eh? Served you right If you had." Then his voice dropped to the contldentlal: "I'd advise you to cut out those women. Don't misunder stand me, boy, but they're a bad lot on this boat. I saw you come aboard. Take my word for It, they're a bad lot. Cut 'em out. Guess I'll step Inside and see what's up with Dextry." Tho. girl shrank Into her corner, gaz ing nppruhenslvely at the other lis tener. "Well or ho Isn't up yet" tneJ' heard Glenister stammer. "Better come around later." "Nonsense! It's time ho was dress ed." The master's voice "was gnitily good natured. "Hello, Dextry! Hey! Open up for Inspection." He rattled the door. There was nothing to be done. The old miner darted an Inquiring glance at his companion, then, at her nod, slipped the bolt, aud the captain's blue bulk .tilled the room. His grizzled close liearded face was genially wrinkled till he spied the erect gray figure in tho corner, when his cap came off involuntarily. There his courtesy ended, however, and the smile died coldly from his face. His eyes narrowed, and the good fellow ship fell away, leaving hhn ttie stiff and formal olllcer. "Ah," ho said, "not feeling well, eh? I thought I had met all of our lady passcugers. Introduce me, Dextry." Dextry squirmed under his cynicism. "Well I ah didn't catch tho unuie myself." TO BE CONTINUED. Bought, aud which has been lias homo tho signaturo of Signature of CATARRH Ely's Cream Balm Suro to Civo Satisfaction. ClVES RELIEF AT ONCE. It cleanses, soothes, heals nnd protects tho diicMwd membrane resulting from Catarrh and drives away a Cold iu the Ilead quickly. Tit-stores tho Souses of Tu-to and Smell. Kusy to use. Contains no injurious drugs Applied into tho nostrils and absorbed. L-iiyo Size, fiO cents nt Prut;ni',ts or by mail Limud Cream Bulni lor uso in atomizers, 7G coats. ELY BROTHERS, 5G Warren St.. Mew York. 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