For Love and Glory.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8160, 14 June 1906, Page 2

For Love and Glory.

CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued. The first thing that Arniand quickly noticed was that this ocoured on the side of the yacht opposite to where the Jap boatmen in the pay of himself and comrade hooked on to the trailing rope; and even such a small circumstance assumed more or less giagntic importanoe in bis eyes, for it might meant much when the lime came for them to depart hence. Once free upon the deck, Armand clutched bis impetuous companion by the arm. "Wait—tbey would not believe oa yet—doot' let's be premature and make asses of ourselves. Keep quiet a little longer, and the game must grow warm enough to suit even you," was what Aimand muttered in his ear. There it was again; evidently the fact uf being a poltroon oouli not prevent a man from having a shrewd head on hia shuulders. Armand was particularly deoirous that the girls should become aware of the truth before the rtsoue was attempted. He dreaded the scorn in Tessie'a eyes, should she imagine he tried to magnify a molehill into a mountain for the sake 1 of appearing what he was not and never oonld be, because the stars had not so decreed. Accordingly, the two intruders crouched thero and waited aa patiently as the peculiar conditions would allow. The boat had departed, bearing Its freight, and (he two sisters stood there with armß clasped aboot each other, declining to return to the saloon, and announcing thier determination to remain , at the yacht's side until the rowboat returned for tbem. This placed the conspirators in somewhat of a hole, for certain things bad to be done without loss of time, if thay expected to leave Yeddo baibour on the now ebbing tide. While the Spanish cavalier and the two Jupanese dignitaries endeavoured te engage the girls in conversation Godaigo slipped away and gave quiok orders to the crew. Immediately the clang of the windlass sounded, proving that the anchor was being raised. Miss Therese was no novice afloat. She had cruised a bit in her time, and therefore this sound, dread folly familiar, atruok her ears with alarm. Perhaps she beagn to have sodden suspicions with reagrd to this handsome Jack Spaniard. If once upon a time she had flirted with the senor, the consciousness of gilt must have now given her a terrible shook, poor girl, and she oonld realize the .enormity of ber,offeni»e as never Defore. Nevertheless, she turned upon Oodaigo, who had nov rejoined the group, and demanded that he launch another boat immediately, so that she and her sister might be put ashore. Although there was really no longer any reason for concealing their dark designs, since the girls seemed absolutely in their power, the illustrious admiral did , not see fit to lower his. mask for the moment. He made a flowery excuse for failing to comply with her request, declaring that the other boatß were one and all out of commission, being unseaworthy; that if the young ladies would only enter the saloon, out of this damp night air, the tender must soon return from the shore. His adroit words only alarmed them the more. "I do not believe oyo, sir; I fear you mean us harm, that my poor guardy's condition was only part of a miserable plot," declared Tessie, boldly. The gentleman laughed as though it were a joke. "Not for worlds would anyone harm you, Miss Morrison; who could be so cruel?" said the mau who wore the admiral's uniform. She turned upon the Spaniard! "Caramba; the oharmiug senorita suspects me, when 1 would lay down my unworthy life for one look," oried Senor Juan Valesqnez, exoitedly; but there was a vein of sarensm in his voice that aroused the "infant's* ire. Sho immediately proceeded to inform tho aaid cavalier that he was a most detestable monster, that she had always entertained suspicions regarding his honesty of purposo which had no become certainties, and that if he so much as laid a hand upon her sister she'd scratch his eyes out forthwith. It can be safely assumed that this vigorous little declamation, delivered with alVtho spirit that was an essen tial part of Evangeline's nature, aroused a glowing admiration in the breast of the young lady's ardent admirer and swain, the big Scotch warrior who crouched near by and drank in the words as though they were sweetest music. Upon the others the effect was different. They knew the mask was off, and that they stood revealed in their true colours. Hence being reckless of consequences, and quite regardless of the young ladys' contempt, they laughed some more; indeed, the handsome conquistador of Spain actually roared as though bis situa* tion appealed irresistibly to his keen sense.of the ridiculous. It is easy to he merry when all things seem to be coming one : s way. Yet, be laughs loudest who laughs last. "Senoritas, surely you will take cold ovt in this raw sea air with n fog coming on. It is not right to thus expose yourselves. We us gentlemen, must see to your comfort. Therefore, do uoi; refuse tho shelter of the saloon until the boat returns," he said, with a show of gallantry that might have pleas-

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

Ed Tbareße immensely at another time and under different conditions, but which somehow disgusted her now. "Yon dare not promise that we shall go ashore as soon aa the boat returns 1" she oried, tearfully, and yet with anger in her voioa. Then those four gallant gentlemen looked at each other in a fashion that seemed to indicate their willingness on each one's part that another should take the burden. Up spoke the gay admiral, who appeared to have fully entered into the spirit of fun which characterized the game from his side. "If the fog grows not so dense as to endanger your passage, or some other peril does not threaten, we assure you, dear young ladies, you shall be sent ashore; but surely we must not take any risk; your lives are too valuable to us to 3ream of that." "I understand—it is money you seek. A very horrible piece of business for gentleman to indulge in," said Therese, her voice faltering a little despite her endeavour to be brave. "Gentlemen—Heaven save the mark!—rather a precious set of brigands, worse than those we met iu the Swiss mountains," laughea Evangeline, hysterically and derisively. Perhaps the worthy quartet hardly relished such backhanded compliments; but since fortune had given the game so sweetly into their hands, tbey could surely affoid to shrug their shoulders. Besides, the "infant" looked so daringly lovely as she thus defied them, that as men they aught but admire her eauciness. Armand and Gordie had crept closer, their nerves wrought up to a dangerous tension by the approach of the climax. It could not be delayed muoh longer, and their hungry eyes were fastened upon the figures of the men against whom they expeoted to be presently participated, much as wolvea might survey the quarry joit within their reach. Senor Juan took'upthe gauntlet. "We must insist, senoritas, on yonr seeking shelter. To your guardian we hold oursevles responsible for your health. Allow me then, to assist .you to the saloon." "Stand back, you monster!' shrieked the "infant." "Please do not touch me," said Tessie, weak from the \ alarm that overwhelmed her. Godaigo Takanori, unheeding her request, put his hand on her arm. Immediately there was an uproar. Evangeline started it by scratching at the Spaniards mocking physoignomy, so close to her own, and laughing, Senor Juan pinioned her hands down, at her side by rudely throwing both arms around the chit. Tessie also endeavoured to elude the Japanese Filipinos grasp,- but he was too eager and quick. So that both girls screamed in unison as only lively American lassies can, and the laughing shouts of the men added to the pretty tumult. It was now time. There could be no longer any suspicion in the mind of Therese that in coming to her assistance when she was so seriously in need of help, he, Armand, was "playing to the grandstand." As for the brawny Scot, he had been electrified by those shrill Bcreams; it was his bonnie lassie, his worshiped Evangeline who oried out to distressing, and eaoh shriek seemed directed personally to him. It may easily be assumed that be started to clear the intervening space with the vigour of a young tornado, nor could any ordinary obstacles have hindered his ' impetuous forward movement. The distance was short. Doubtless the four worthy gentlemen heard him coming, but never dreaming of,enemies on board the yacht, they were somevihat in a fog to know what it all meant. Soant time was. allowed them to make deductions. A few exclamations, bordering more upon astonishment than nlarm, broke from their lips as they discovered two forms rushing down upon them, and Godaigo, as tho oommander of the yacht, roared out orders for the men to betake themselves off isstanfer, and mind their own business, since the little affair was no game ot theirs; for naturally he considered them some members of his heterogenous crew, inspired with the idea that when a gwoman Bqeuals they must fly to the scene like a set of fools. But Gcdaigio had made a mistake aa v he speedly realized. (To be Continued).