Show TREASURE r OP OF THE SEA SA BY TORY fORY THUS FAR PAR yew rew ew of 01 a Ii small sailing falling vessel In to pick up Dick Jordan en D a a raft Dick realizes that heg he ho homen g men who are virtually pirates i ome me upon a drifting schooner I Jy 1 1 two people aboard They are captain and his daugh L p e. e Tucu Tutu the pirate captain ati at at- i to w take the schooner by hy force but off 00 by nose assisted by Dick j r the night Tutu Ten returns and ande ke e Dick and Rose nose prisoner Tucu gins Ins searching the ship for the re Tucu finally leaves with He takes Dick with him film but J capes and swims back to ro find a black pirate CHAPTER VII A tl shock of the explosion d Dick so that his hands relaxed their grip and and g g rolled from him He dazed that It took him some l Ko to realize that Rose had come assistance at the critical mo- mo putting the where he heI lV commit no further deviltry a 8 bullet through his brain lain taro tain Bedford had been knocked I head and left for dead by the before they attacked Rose cabin ey y found him hunched up In the i N rt I rs where the sea brine was Jle 1 t ning to finish what the blow blowe J 1 e head bead had failed to do They t r ed d d him to the cabin and placed km on n a bed and while Rose Rosei J i hI 1 t cd d over him to restore him to Dick quietly reI rebr reid re- re id d d the dead bodies of the I br I raPPed lopped them into the sea t i th this unpleasant task finished Fenced raced at the sky before return- return Sa la fat The schooner was laboring m 20 ly lly in the sea rolling and plunge ike e an old bull walrus every J groaning under the strain gale was playing havoc with was left of the sails and rigIs rigis rig- rig Is means her finish he mut- mut She can never ride through f Wand ro ond storm returned to the cabin where thad ij had d partly revived her father fatherA A j gh the liberal use of his favor- favor Vj Vi He was far from beh belt be be- h ad It lt took more than a il eon on t to kill the doughty New r d nd skipper born and bred on I Ire re water giving and receiving ai cW ijas as a Par part of his daily life for fora d. d a century or more Le r BO e glanced up at his entrance smiled ell ll recover she said simply k nodded gravely but did not the smile He was worried not conceal the fact from If we going to do he heThe heThe The schooner is rocking haking like an old man with igue gue gue Shell She'll never hold together U a dA morning liM Betty of New London she led ed d slowly a gleam of pride in rd tt face ace was built In the days ships were made to hold toW toi to- to i W er Wr W r and not fall faU apart in the first firsti i t pi Her keels keel's of hard white 7 ru and Fand nd her ribs of the best hack- hack r ck k Shell She'll rid ride through this 1 1 fl gas as sh she sho did the other f fell ell fell ell pull through he said but cing to be a narrow squeeze ivind's ds d's blowing great guns and andare andas as as are playing the devil with wreckage using using it as a ram to tor ir r in the sides I I f cs e s but we can stop that Were ever ver a sailor r rk k shook his head Nothing i en an n amateur I could sail a t and maybe qualify for a rate d-rate seaman That's Thal's about hen en Ill I'll take command she shed d quietly take orders e me lm e e e Aye At your service CapRose CapRose Cap- Cap Rose touched his forehead in salute clicked his heels in true mill mill- t form form torm Her face was very grave rocker flicker of a smile lighting it J i iJ S J II sJ I i y Rig b Up a r tJ Anchor it's ts t's going to be a hard night for tor a. a of f us she went on We cant can't i any of or the sails and md i if kf we the I the wind would blow them t to o s. s But the schooners schooner's wal wale i ig g broadside to the waves We stop estop that or well we'll go under tiRe te right Captain But how howe e e going to do it She wont won't her rudder with any sail saiLo to 0 o she answered shortly But Buts j's js s 's that wreckage It may save et t t. We must get axes and jit fit away before its it's too late ye yet c Aye Captain But you youit yount nt it t risk your life in that work me do it il I made no reply but began g an oiled slicker over her tO ders nodding to Dick to do the I JJ k She s selected two stout axes WJ a rack and after handing one m started for tor the companion Y y I started to protest This isn't work Rose Leave it to me f allow ollow V lo orders en do as I do she replied J d i rd Jr r plan was simple in 1 b ut of execution The e I s 5 ner was wallowing in II seas half buried at times by ririe nc i. i but the crash of the wreck- wreck II against the outboard was the alarming thing It threatened ash the bulwarks and shiver the timbers Umbers of the hulk to splinters Either that had to be removed or the Betty was doomed But Roses Rose's Idea was to use the thing that menaced their lives for saving the schooner By cutting it loose from the side and fastening it with tow lines the wind and waves would convert it Into a sea anchor D Dick ck attacked the wreckage nearest nearest nearest near near- est him with his axe Make your lines fast first she cried intercepting him or well we'll lose it Wi With h three slack lines running from the mass of wreckage to the forward towing bitts they were ready to cut away the rigging that held the battering ram in position They hacked steadily at ropes and wire rigging cutting in water sometimes sometimes sometimes some some- times a foot Coot deep They were drenched to the skin and nearly t exhausted ex exhausted ex- ex x- x hausted when all but a single line was severed Rose raised her axe to cut this Dick seeing her danger shouted to her but she did not hear The rope rop parted with a loud snap and writhing writhing writhing writh writh- ing and twisting like a sea serpent it struck up and caught the girl as asif asif asif if it had been the tentacle of an octopus Dick saw her stagger under under under un un- der the blow fall to the deck and andi i liy r. r IV s ws Dick helped her into the cabin where she fell feU exhausted on the bed then with the rope twist twisted cd around her she was carried overboard as the released wreckage brought the theline theline theline line taut One horrified glance and be he was after aCter her plunging recklessly into the green brine In his leap he caught the slack end of a short rope and clung to it With his other hand he clutched her skirts Fortunately the like snakelike line that had wrapped itself itsel aro around nd her waist unwound as quickly as it had coiled Dick held her limp figure in one arm and with the other fought to pull himself himsel back on deck The struggle lasted for only a afew afew afew few minutes but to Dick it was an anage anage anage age before beCore he finally got a hand on the rail and with the aid of a grayback grayback grayback gray- gray back l lifted ted Rose over it and rolled on deck Exhausted by his supreme effort he lay there clasping the girl Rose stirred first coming to her senses with a little sigh She was too dazed for fora forI I a moment to understand understand understand under under- stand the meaning of it all Dick clasped her still tighter Dick Tr's His Hand At Nursing T What happened she breathed faintly Everything he laughed recovering recovering recovering ering his breath We cut the wreckage loose and its it's working beautifully Were We're no longer wallowing wallowing wallowing wal wal- lowing like a grampus The Betty dont don't deserve her name if it she doesn't ride out the storm now She sighed again from sh sheer r physical physIcal physical phys phys- ical weariness For the first time she seemed to be conscious of his arms around her Did Did did I faint she faltered No that last line Jerked you overboard over over- board I got cot you just in time In another minute wed we'd both been lost lost She considered a moment in si si- si lence Then in a low voice that would not have reached him if it her lips Ups had not nol been close to his ears You You you jumped overboard Corme for Cor forme forme me I caught you before beCore it was too toolate toolate toolate late he replied Dick helped her into the cabin where she fell reU exhausted on the bed beside her father While he hunted around for a stimulant she closed her eyes and drifted off into a doze She accepted the drink he applied to her lips sipping it slowly and under Its stimulating effect the color color color col col- or crept back into her checks cheeks Dick stood before her watching her with greedy eyes The nearness of death had shaken him fully rully as much as her and he had difficulty in keeping back the emotion that threatened to overwhelm him You seem to be in command now she said smiling faintly when he ordered her to take another sip Yes Ves he laughed Its the tile sec ond and d case of mutiny aboard the Betty His words recalled the other time when her authority had b be been n Ignored Ig nored and the crew deserted She frowned and closed her eyes again You can imprison ms me later he went on but until the storms storm's over Im I'm captain and my first order order order or or- der Is that you keep in the cabin and not appear on deck again I cant can't do that she replied shaking her head Theres too much to do Not for you I can handle it Not alone alone- Yes He pushed her gently back when she attempted to rise have to stay here i if f I have to tie you ou he added gently but firmly Were in no real danger now The sea sea anchors anchors anchor's holding her nose up in the wind and waves If she hasn't sprung a leak well we'll ride safely until morning If U she's leaking we must man the pumps she exclaimed attempting to rise again All right Stay here until I I find out Ill I'll report to you Doubtfully and unwillingly she agreed to this Dick made mode her comfortable comfortable comfortable com com- and then started up the companion to see how much water I the ship carried in hi the hold Ten minutes later when he returned returned returned re re- re- re turned she was sleeping with one brown arm thrown across her II breast the other limply crooked above her head The hair disarranged disarranged disarranged ranged by the storm fell in tangled strands over her shoulders and neck Unmindful of the shriek of the wind and tumultuous roar roar of the waves he sat by her side silently watching her comely face and youthful figure his eyes glowing with yearning desire He stretched forth a hand to touch her arm to stroke her hair to ro caress a cheek to clasp a limp hand In his and press it to his lips but he did not touch her nor permit his IDS fingers to come comein comein come comein in contact with the bed or clothes Instead he drew back slowly as asif asif asif if actuated by some subtle force that was stronger thin than his newly awakening love brushing his eyes with a trembling hand His face grew suddenly pale and drawn adding adding adding add add- ing years to his age As a fugitive from Crom justice with a price on his head he had no right to touch her herno herno herno her her- no right to drag her into the net that entangled him The wreck of the steamer had temporarily freed Creed him but Pettigrew would take up the search and run him down He could not elude the law for forlong forlong forlong long It had hounded him persistently persistent persistent- ly for two years driving him from pillar to post and when he had felt the safest found him buried ina ina in ina a small obscure corner of South America living under an assumed name and started him back to answer answer answer an an- for the crime he had never committed He could never feel safe again An unconscious groan escaped his lips Ups followed by a bitter laugh the tile sound of it filling the narrow cabin and awakening the Her eyes opened and stared at him in bewilderment Then with with I returning returning returning return return- ing intelligence she smiled and with an impulsive little gesture thrust both hands out to him The gesture simple and Innocent was the unconscious feminine invitation of love and Dick knowing she had betrayed her feelings groaned inwardly inwardly in inwardly in- in and stood in indecision struggling with himself himsel First Hints of 0 Love Come Corne to Dick and Rose You saved my life lIe Dick she said simply Is there anything you want of me The atmosphere of the cabin grew hot and stifling to him so that he breathed heavily a giddy sensation swept over him his hands trembled trembled trembled trem trem- bled with passion and he moved swiftly toward her to seize what belonged be longed to him But he checked himsel himself himself him him- I be-I I self sel in time stopping abruptly at ather ather ather her side He was so near he could have touched her but he slowly folded folded folded fold fold- I ed his arms and forced a smile to his lips bps Your friendship Rose always he said gently give me that I no no matter what happens I She gazed up at him in bewilderment bewilderment bewilder bewilder- ment a hurt expression coming into her eyes such as you see in a childs child's denied some pr precious cious wish The hands slowly dropped to her side and the lips Ups murmured so faintly that the words were almost inaudible inaudible inaudible inaudi inaudi- ble Yes Yes always always How could you doubt it The Betty of New London proved worthy of her namesake namesake-if If tradition be true that the original Betty was wasa a staunch little craft who broke hearts galore and lived to see most of her loves married or buried at ata a good old age and age and when morning morning morning morn morn- ing dawned with breaking clouds and a warm sun she was still riding rid ing lag on nn on even keel with none of her timbers smashed or weakened Forward the sea-anchor sea held bobbing bobbing bob bob- bing up and down on the waves like a sodden mass of driftwood with the tow lines sl slackening and jerking jerking jerk jerk- in ing rhythmic illy as the schooner backed and lurched in its struggle to break loose from them I Neither Dick nor Rose had slept throughout the night they had to keep constantly on watch TO BE CONTINUED |