For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8159, 13 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

~~ CHAPTER Vll.—Uontinued.

The McGregor would sooner or later bave a story to tell inconnection with bis escapade that promised to be mighty interesting. It could wait. Considerable strategy was iieoaeaary in order to Hvoid collisions in the dark, for it appeared that the stores bad been partly kept in this strong room, and boxes and barrelß and tin goods were scattered about in agonizing oonfusion. Already Armand gjrasped the truth. Several arrow-like shafts of light told were interstices in the parr tition allowed a survey of the .saloon. Perhaps these had been made by the keen-edged pocket knife 01 the former prisoner. Sounds, too, were plan.ly heard—the voices of men, ves, and of ladies, too. Armand trembled for the first time, trembled because he was about to look once more upon a fair face, that of the girl who bad cast bim aside as not up to, the standard ot •excellence she demanded in the gentleman who hoped to win her. Well, he was a coward, when it oame to an affair of the hearty like this, at any rate. Then, glueing bis eye to a crack, he gazed upon his lost love. She had never looked moreoharm■iing than when seen under suoh strange conditions, and it would be safe to assume that the stem resolutions with whioh Armand clothed himself recently received something of a shook jnst then. There were In all some seven pei--sons at the table, including Colonel .Morrison and his nieces. To, Armand they were strangers, tali save the handsome Spaniard and the. dark-faced Godaigo Takan--ori, now dressed as an admiral in the Japanese navy. ■ \ The other two were also Jape, and from their dress and decorations, appprentl? high In authority, though this, like the admiral's uni form, might bave been assumed for the..occasion.. They made merry. Morrison was flattered by their adroit compliments, and appeared .entirely unsuspicious of danger. Stranse.to say,' the gay and volatile ''lnfant" was not so loquacious as usual. Sfee missed her shadow, and ■wondered if Gcrdie absented himself because of somethinjg she bad said or done. ' That worthy noticed it immediately, and it appeared to give bim a tremendous amount of satisfaction, for he oalled the others attention to the point as though it were of prime importance. How selfish human nature is, ■when left to its own devices, aud of what paramount importance our own little affairs appear. Still, Armand could not blame bis Mend, even though it were not his Evanpeline whose liberty was threatened. r The dinner had bean as elaborate ais lay in the power of the Japanese "chef" to provide, but it was now drawing near .a olose. What then? ifrould the oorks fly from the bottles, and the little game of the confederates be worked fur all it was worth? It was a puzzle to knowj how they were to be able to introduce their presence—until the iron band within the velvet glove was shown it would be folly to make a move, since without proof of evil designs, they would only appear ridiculous in the eyes of those they meant to serve; and even the old colonel, dazzled by the compliments and champagne, might term them pair of senseless sensation mongers, who would be muob better off minding their own business than intruding their unwelcome presence upon a party of his warm friends. Ob, no! Arman<J wanted none of this in his'—it would doubtless appear to Miss Therese as though he were over anxious to play the hero in ber eyes, and such a thing was far from the thoughts of the honest fellow. He wae determined to let tbw game stew long enough, so that the opportunity for intervention, if it oame, would be fully ripe. When those at the table arose, Armand thought his time bad come, but soon realized his mistake, for the ladies wore bowed out, accompanied by the handsome Spaniard. "Now, look sharp," whispered McGregor, who had an intuition to what was coming. The game had reached its second stage. left to themselves, the gentlemen lighted prime cigars and indulged themselves with a choioi of several rare vintages, purchased with the gold of the man who promenaded the deck with the ladies. Armand did look sharp, and it was not at all necessary for his companion to clutch him by the arm in order to make him see an adriot little byplay, that enabled the versatile uodaigo, risen from world-trotter and "ci-devant" Shinto priest, to rank of admiral, to pass his band over Colonel Morrison's glass, and drop some unseen substanoe into it. Was it poison? Armand shuddered," and then made up his mind these fellows were too cunning to desire the death of the old soldier. Besides, I he mupt be the party with whom all negotiations would have to be conducted, so it behoveud tbem to treat him mildly. Thiß, then was only a subtle Japanese sleep powder whose potent effect would soon make itself manifest and seal the old warrior's eyes so tightly that be would not know aught for hours, when the rogues expected to be far away upon the restless sea, beyond the reaoh of pursuit, and ready to conduct their negotiations by mail or oable. It was curious to watch the colonel, after he had gotten that .narcotic inside. Ho fought aaginst,

By St. George Rathborne. Author of "Dr. Jaclc>" " The Witch from India," " Captain Tom,"l"Mynheer Joe," " Dr. Jack's Wife," etc., etc.

CHAPER VIII

the insidious enemy with much the same gallantry he had shown upon Southern battlefields when leading his half-starved Georgian regiment into the jaws of death at Uhancellorville, Antietam and the rest. But valour counted little in a case like this. His efforts grew weaker. He yawned incessantly, and once even stretched himself. Gad I but he was most remarkably sleepy. The voice of the admiral telling a strange story pounded like the distant drop of water over a fall. If be could only snatch five minutes of sleep unnoticed while this apparently interminable talk went on, he might be able to hold out to the end. So he yielded himself a prisoner to the litile god Morpheus, resoue or no rescue. The monotonous voice sounded farther away than ever, and finally was utterly lost to his mind. 4nd no the colonel got hie nap alright; but it promised to' remain with him a little longer that he bargained for. When his head had really fallen upon his chest, the star performer, Godaigo, brought bis romance to a sudden terminus. "Come," be said, sweeping a wicked smile around the eager faces at the table. "I'm afraid you'll vote me a wretc.hed entertainer,, since our honoured guest has fallen asleep at the table. Be so aood, Kitensai Shoiohi, as to shake him a little to see whether be but dozea~»harder now—ah 1 I muob fear it would require an earthquake to arouse the gentleman. Allow me." The scamp thereupon gravely shook hands with each of the other Japs present, as thbugh it were a matter of congratulation that the American colonel should deigu to slumber after the spread that had been made in his favour. It was all very theatrical, and could not bat considerably interest thoseto gaze upon- the feast of Luoullus yet debarred from partaking because of the impediment 1 between, as well rb the lack of an introduotioa and invitation from mine host. , They could do what they pleased with Morrison now, and he would offer no protest. Once placed in a boat and taken ashore he could give them no trouble. The sisters could be in their power, hostages of fortune as it were. Godaigodapped his bands. Immediately four Japs glided in,--who had apparently been drilled in their duties, for at an order from the man in command they lifted the slumberer from his seat and carried bim away. The others hastily f . followed, assuming looks of regret that were calculated to deceive the girls, tohn would, of course, be greatly alarmed over ' the condition of dear, "Guardy.V Armand put out his hand and caught hold of his comrade, not less eager than himself. "It is time," be observed, grimly. ''Ay, time to up set the ship again, time to send some of these de'ils to the lower regions if they try to stop us. Evangeline!"! cried Gordie, solemnly. That was the McGregor's slogan, under which he could faoe all creation if need be. "Lead on, and may H<*aven be kind," was what the American said as he drew his weapon and turned his baok upon the frieudly partition.

A HEAVENLY LITTLE GAME. When the two oomrades' whom destiny had apparently designed to link together in ties as strong as ever bound David nnd Jonathan of old, hurried out of the lazaret on board the yaoht, it was with the distinct understanding that they bad a task of no mean magnitude before them, and one that was likely, to try their powers to the very utmost. i To defy the crew of this yatcbt was a bit of boldness that might have been appalling to some men, but the Highland laddie never knew the meaning rf discretion, and as for Armand, well, Tessie had said be was a coward, so of course that settled it; but possibly there may. be times when even a craven may forget what his proper place is, and do somethiing ridiculous, something bordering on valorous. Armand bad no time to think about what the right caper might be, since the emergency demanded hs sole undivided attention.. How they managed to get clear of all those incumbrances without an upset, was something that might do to wonder over at a future date, when nothing better offered to take up their time and attention. It was aoomplisbed' amid much confusion, and with several grunts from the big Scot as bis shins came in contact with sundry boxes. Once outside, they groped their way to the ladder and mounted, to the deck. All was quiet above, save voioes at the side, where the polite "admiral' was assuaing the grief of the two alarmed girls, and endeavouring to oonvince them that as soon as the boat bad 1 conveyed their uncle—wno had been a trifle indisoreet with the wihe—to the shore, it would return and take them after, the smallness of the craft making two trips necessary. (To be Continued).