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Show I Arthur D. f I Dontlco SmClh I O 9 I i Copyright, 10:1 K 9 ARTHUR t. HOWDEN SMITH 1 ' WNU Service CHAPTER XIII 22 Doubt The Badger was sinking to the booming ol the t'enturion's minute guns, sinking wltb the sun that had draped crimson curlaln across thf portals ot the west. Aft, under the break ol Ihe poop, a carronude was made fast to ringbolts, square tinid ships, and on top ot It whs lashed the bundle of sulk-loth thai beld Colli shawe's body. The Englishman rested where he had died, and from the stump of the nilzzen still floated the Hag he had ordered nailed there, one cornel torn by a roundshnL The sluop-of-war reared up. Strug gling to keep tier bow above water; but presently she sagged forward, and j,- this time she failed to recover her self Her fo'c's'le commenced to slant Masses ol green walet surged through the for'ard ports, and she started to slide under as 11 she was coasting ' down a hlh that grew steeper and steeper. Waves licked at the bundle on the cnrronade, submerged It. slapped the poop railing and bet stern canted high in air, the White Ensign at the mlzzen standing out straight Id the breeze as It was en gulfed. The last minute gun boomed, and i Fellowes launched a crisp stream of orders almost before the echoes had died away none bul himself aware that he must have something to dl ver, his mind or else go mad. Cara liigleplu Ignored the resumption resump-tion ol discipline's sway. Her gaze remained fixed od the swirl of wreckage wreck-age that marked the spot where the Badger had disappeared. But pres ently, as the brig forged ahead, the litter of spars and deck fittings dwindled dwin-dled to Insignificance, and she became aware ol the orderly hum o activities activi-ties around her and of her father. "Do you suppose I might speak to Captain Fellowes?" "Is it wise, Cara?" her father nsked. "I am bound to admit Fellowes Fel-lowes has been civil, but I think we do well to avoid him as much as pos sible. And I'll not have him suspect ing us ot pleading for mercy." She laid a caressing palm on Ben lnglepin's face, which was neither so plump nor so rubicund as It had been, after a day's toll In a -stuffy cockpit thai presented one endless suocessIoD of horrors. "T owe him an apology. Father," she explained simply. "And I must thank him." "Thank him?" "For his generosity. It was noble." "He's generous and oohle enough ( to see thai we are by way of being hanged." Ben Inglepln retorted disagreeably. dis-agreeably. "You're unfair, Father." Her 11b some tigure st rnightened. "If we merit mer-it to he hanged, shall we complain ot hlm7 We knew the risks we must encounter And If a stake such as ours Is worth playing for, worth win nlng, 'tis worth losing a life for." There was nothing circuitous or In direct In the expiesslon with which Ben Inglepln regarded his daughter. "Ah. lass, you shame me. Egad you do!" He stooped and kissed her "Speak to Fellowes. He's a gentleman. gentle-man. I'll own. and a bulldog. If there ever was one. Chater and" "We'll say nothing ot ("hater. Fa ther," she Interrupted " 'Twould have been heller for us had we not soiled our case by contact with him." "I'h. my dear I Pon't he hard on Saul. He wasn't choice. I'll grant von. but In his way he helped" "Ah, no, he ruined us I But for him Captain Fellowes would not have been pressed. And If but this Is to no purpose. Co below, and see If you cat) help poor, fat Maria. I'll he with you soon." "Stay on deck, poppet, and win some color to your cheeks," Ben counseled "The souora and I can manage." Fellowes was staring out over rht stern --at the same distant spot, which so recently had monopolized Owns ut lentlon. when the girl approached "Oh. Miss Ingli'pin. wo we are in dehfd to you. To you and your fa Iher and your -ah duenna er helpful. I'octor O'Slnieghtiefv telis me. We s'lould have been badly oft without )-o'.i--the Badger's woundtV and everything." "We were glad lo do It, sir.' sin returned "But 1 mint to thank ou 'Twos knlirt't'.y o! ou -to luiry hiir so- nilh his !):K Hying And I no. sorry fei w';.it I -an, I r'iis afternoon ' He flu.-hoo le i- '- I Vil " Tu lis tile tiaa'a" l:t i-a..;;n,,i --i Pave mm I. to ar-,-..-r .Vr i;,. ;,, toe C'llli-li.iv. e ii'-f :i.e m-is ' : , . : - r laai ie ia.- a a v.... I ii'o yon an n ; ' I : 1 uaa t ., a ,. "I'M now con d .. .i. i .!-.- : - Vou were d ro i ' ; ll IJ wraaao. Hjir- n none the less because 'twas all til-sue til-sue of mischance." " 'Tis an evil passion, this hate," Fellowes Insisted. "Vexation and sor row and death It has brought to all who crossed my path." "You exaggerate, sir." she answered soberly. "Surely, 'twas not evil to slay Captain ('Inner, who would have slaiD you And James was your en emy In war If he must have died he'd rather have died so." "Are you become my advocate?' he cried, exasperated the other officers glanced a! him askance. "Well, rhen give rne an argument in lusiifieution ot delivering you to Joshua lnglepin's hatred !" " "l'ls unnecessary I should argue wlrh yon to do your duly." she replied as soberly as hefore "You set your hand to this task Will you draw hack from ft?" "(Jod knows 1 1 " He was on the point ot saying: "I love you I How can I send you to a cell in the Bride well, a gibbet od the Southwest bat tery?" When he realized the bare fact ne loved her must make him Im placable. In honor, he could not fa vor her And If he possessed any lln gering shreds of pride, he adjured himself In a hot burst of fury, he'd remembei she hud accepted Cnllishawe after plighting froth with him. "1 have got myself into this coll,' he concluded, strangling his emotion " 'Tis for me to work myself free. But I'd have you know, ma'am, I galD no satisfaction from It." "How could you. who are not cruel?" she answered tranquilly. "Come, Cuf-fee, Cuf-fee, you can aid me shift the wounded men for their ease." a Burdened with prisoners and running run-ning short ot water and food after a six months' cruise, Fellowes was relieved re-lieved when a wet Easter sent the S IllilFH But Joshua Stopped Him by a Gesture. blockaders scurrying off shore, and the Centurion could venture a landfall. They stood out from the Rockaways. following the beat the Badger had patrolled, pa-trolled, and on the verge of darkness sighted the spot of Sandy Hook and came to anchor for the night under the guns of the forts. They were safel A fat cruise, everyone agreed. The prizes should yield $100,000. at the lowest computation and allowing for the loss of one of the three sent In, what with the gold In the Centurion's Centu-rion's strong box and the choicer bits of cargo stowed In the hold. And that meant some $3.ri0 In prize money for every seaman. Of alt the crew, Fellowes, alone, was moody, and received indifferently the congratulations of visitors. By his instructions, in-structions, nothing was said of the capture of the True Bounty, and the nglepius and their attendant were confined In the after-cabin. They were Joshua's personal share of the spoil, he reflected cynically, they and the tidbit of treason that went with them, and Joshua should be the first to gloat over their humiliation and shame. He'd have nothing to do wltb it after discharging his duty. Surrender Surren-der them, give his report and go Where? Anywhere there was lighting. He abandoned his reflections when the Inglepius came on deck, the duenna, duen-na, wrapped In her funeral garments, clinging to Cara like a shadow. Both Ben and his daughter looked like peo pie who have shut the past from their minds, who front Ihe future unafraid Ben nodded pleasantly to Fellowes. and Cara enfolded him in one of those compassionate glances which made him writ tie Inwardly. Why should she pity him? He wanted none of her pity. And annoyed, self-onnsrious. his expression became wooden and tad turn as he responded to their greet logs. .Nog-jle had the longboat hoisted out In audition to the oarsmen. Fellowes detailed an armed escort, consisting of Soplier. F.uehes. Ponk, CulTee, and Tom. and when they had taken their nhiees he asked the Inglepins to fol low them. The duenna was lowered in a lubber seat. Her vast hulk coulo never have accommodated Itsolf to the laeoh's ladder. And lasi he went overside himself, precisely dressed In i fresh uniform, sword and pi.-to's at liis bell, tiie compromising petition "u:"eo had found in the True I'enniv s ati.-hor-stivk folded n;i in his breast a-tat. j liis I-and crept tov.ar.i 'hi- p,.,-!;..f ! -e.i on his con: I lie t,,-,, , ! a : : 1'- ti e ; aa:a la ! w : a a - v: t ; d.-ivmcn; f" aa lis l,i ' aa p'a.-,- j e:...:,- - t t:.t. Ta-.' ri,vr. la:: ( ::;' eves W. r e:i V:e',-. , s I l-V.V.vs ees. !!i!d head Ma! I, a:. a dropped together. Bad she read bit purpose? Or was that but fancy, too? "Faster, men," he urged the rowers hoarsely. It was only six months since the True Bounty und Centurion hud sailed, and the waterfront remembered the gossip that linked the two vessels. And here was Ben Inglepin returning In Joshua lnglepin's brig, with aD armed escort lu attendance. Cara, her hand on her father's arm. waved to an occasional acquaintance, smiling frankly. The duenna was a shapeless mass waddling after them. Nlmrod Soplier. very Important, strode In front. Poak and Eaehes marched behind be-hind him. and Tom and CufTee Imme diately behind the Inglepins and the duenna Fellowes brought up the rear, denying the requests for Information Infor-mation which were showered upon him. as the word spread along the docks "Hey, the Centurion's In I They got Ben Inglepin V his gal." Merchants and shopkeepers, hucksters huck-sters and peddlers, suilors and militiamen, militia-men, boys, and girls, market women, housewives, maid servants, eddied toward to-ward Front street. Far in the rear a brace of fat watchmen hobbled anxiously. anx-iously. Inquiring of everyone they met whai had happened. In Front street they hnd an answer: "Ben lnglepin's in Joshuay's office Josh nay's, I tell ye . . . No, no. not his'n. 'Ain't nobody thar No, ye can't git In. Joshuay's prlvateersmen won't let ye." But the watchmen persisted and forced their way to the doorstep. At that moment Fellowes emerged from the doorway of Joshua lnglepin's office, and the grim, set expression of his features, the competent poise of his lean body, caught the attention of Ihe nearer bystanders. Men craned on tiptoe to catch the few words he spoke. "You two are watchmen? Then one of you is to go to Government house, and Inform Governor Tompkins, with Mr. Joshua lnglepin's compliments, that the Centurion privateer is In, and Mr. Inglepin will be obliged If his excellency ex-cellency will attend here to examine certain matters of Importance." A dozen voices hailed Fellowes. "WhatB toward, sir?" "Are the British Brit-ish coming In?" "Will they engage the forts?" "1 have no Information of that character, char-acter, gentlemen," Fellowes answered. "As a matter of fact, the blockading squadron was driven offshore by the recent storm." "Did ye have a good cruise?" called a different group. And one deep voice roared : "What happened to yer fore-topmast fore-topmast ?" "We lost It In action with the Badger Bad-ger sloop-of-war," Fellowes returned. And sensing the abrupt tension produced pro-duced by the statement, went on: "Itv may Interest you to know that we sunk her. We have the survivors of her crew aboard, and among other things I must consult the governor as lo their disposition." A cheer that was almost hysterical acclaimed the news. CHAPTER XIV Joshua's Decision Joshua Inglepin stood In the entrance en-trance of his private office as Fellowes ushered the prisoners in from the street His eyes gleamed like blue agates, his Jaw was clamped rigidly; but there was less color than usual in his face, and his neck-cloth was damp wltb sweat Ben was debon-nair, debon-nair, self-possessed. Be regarded Joshua half-humorously, gave him a curt nod and a " 'Morning Jos," while Joshua eyed him almost slyly, and appeared ap-peared to be fumbling for words. Cara. after a single level-eyed stare at her uncle, looked Idly out a window at the crowd besieging the warehouse. The duenna stood listlessly, clicking her beads In blnck-mlttened hands. ,itlumph," exploded Joshua, clearing his throat "D d if you didn't do it, eh, Fellowes? Bul where's Cbater?" "Dead." And at the word a little, cool wave seemed to roll across the room, chilling chill-ing the hearts of all who heard it. Joshua's mouth worked for a moment before he spoke again. "Dead, eh? And the True Bounty?" "We burned ber. I couldn't spare the men to fetch her home." "Had reason, I suppose?" "We found what we sought," Fellowes Fel-lowes answered, and thrust a hand into in-to the pocket which contained the petition. pe-tition. But Joshua stopped him by a gesture. ".Not out here. Too public people can see through those windows. Come inside." He stood back while they Bled Into the private otliee, theu shut the door after them. "This Is belter," he said. In no hurry to accept Hie paper Fellowes had produced. pro-duced. "By the wayl See anything of Collishawe?" "He's dead." Fellowes replied, wincing winc-ing "We sank the Badger." Joshua beamed. "This is whal I call a thorough Job." be exclaimed. "'Tis what comes of hilling enough." The bellow ot the crow-d had risen louder, and l-"el!owes made an excuse of it to clianue the subject. "We sin uid cer rid of those rK'" !e. sir." lie said "TW. m.a he dangerous. danger-ous. And here is the p-per. 'Tis irn-ta.vt irn-ta.vt If if ar- !!!:, g is lo ha ,!,,. ,.. t!: uo -r::or si1 a '-1 M-e it i:r.:;-edi-! Ml. ay " ! . - i I-!-. i -V; : m i;: i j I 1 i. T' : t i i-. l's ia 11: n i ! .e e: a e ' ' -!!'; 1) iy.w I |