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Show . . 3say w4H3r SMITH W.M.U.SERVIC6 aatart-Vnia'fcgSfc-- ARTHUR D.HOWDtN SMITH CHAPTER XIV Continued 23 "Plight 1 Entirely right," agreed Joshua, taking the petition at last "There ought to be a watchman outside. out-side. If there Is, tell him I wish the governor to wait upon us. Lie may assure bis excellency 'tis ol supreme Importance." Fellowes was heartsick over the sit uatlon. Manifestly. Joshua was In no disposition to show mercy; and so soon as the governor came the wheels of Justice would commence to grind: deposition, Indictment, testimony, affidavit, af-fidavit, summation, charge, all leading up to the Inevitable verdict and sen tence. And he could do nothing, merely mere-ly sit and view the tragedy, which was the consequence of his own deeds ; llimself, as he had said to Cara. the real executioner. Joshua had Just finished reading the petition to Lord Liverpool. Thr paper trembled In the merchant's hand; he glared triumphantly at his brother and niece, but be quickly looked away from Cura. Not easy, even for so stout a hater as Joshua Inglepln, to enjoy gloating over the frail gallantry of that slim figure In the saffron-yellow gown. "Damme, 'tis the brains of the federalist fed-eralist parly, Fellowes," Joshua greet- ed the Long Islander, and there was a noticeable quaver In his voice. "We've got em all In one noose. We'll wipe pin out-" "They'd wipe themselves out, II you but let them he. Any party stupid stu-pid enough to father a paper like that can never last." "Stupid Is right," Joshua agreed. 'Devilish stupid. Just what I'd expect ex-pect of Ben's friends." He leered contemptuously ot his brother. "Al ways over-reaching yourself. Hen." Caru exclaimed, with a cutting con tempt that brought a blush to Josh uu's cheeks : "Neither my father nor I would seek to evade responsibility for what we have dune, sir; but we are one In regretting we launched a plan which might have harmed our country, coun-try, although that Is perhaps to be questioned." Joshua regarded her sourly. "'Perhaps to be questioned!' To have seceded with New England and factions In Tork and Jersey? And under protection of the Crown? Egad, young woman, you're an optimist opti-mist I At the least, 'twould have lost us the war." " "f would have ended the war," she corrected him, keeping her temper. "One part of our plan was to Insist the British must not take advantage of our efforts. We desired oo more than their support agaiust aggres-- aggres-- slon from the federal government. And we were persuaded that hostilities hostili-ties would cease Instantly, and o pence be negotiated. " "ye, and the British would have gobbled you up and the resl of us. Inter," fumed Joshua. "A divided republic re-public Is a helpless republic." Cara sighed. "However honest wns our purpose, sir," 6he said, "we came to see 'twas unfair. In that It struck from behind nt other Americans, who were exposing expos-ing tlicli lives for what they believed v . right." A sneer twisted Joshua's Hps. "So?" he answered. "And how chanced this wondrous metamorphosis?" metamor-phosis?" Eor the first time she was embarrassed. embar-rassed. And It was her father who answered the question. "We are Indebted to Captain Eel lowcs nnd bis olllcers and men for that, Jos." lie smiled slightly. "After nil, we are Americans. Cam and I Wo couldn't see Americans lighting as they fought, nnd escape a sense ol obligation to them. Some died for the Hag, nnd 'tis as much my ting us yours. You Pernnornts have no more claim to It than we Federalists." Joshua appealed to Fellowes. "A likely yarn, captain I A bid for sympathy, damme 1" "We want none ot your sympathy, ' Cnra flared at him before l-'ellowes could speak. "We are not ashamed of what we have done. We are sorry If you can understand that. But we are not ashamed or unwilling to stand our punishment. We were wrong. that Is all. And yon will do wicked thing. If you visit upon all those men" she pointed to the petition, "the vengeance of party feeling. They are not to blame for It. Nor Is mv father. Twas my plan In the beginning, begin-ning, and 'twas I who obtained the support of ministers In London for It. No, no. Father I Yon can't den. rue. Tis the truth. Aye. and Cap tnln Fellowes knows It for the truth lie saw me with Lord Wellington In Lisbon." "Now. now. taral 1 will be heard.' -9 Bon was so dismayed that he stain mere!, "l-lsssee here, Jos, shes entlieiy wrong. The child was im agent throughout. She's Innocent Tis I whom to blame Rot me, 'tis the truth I And y-y-you know, you haven't any r-r-rlght to hate her. 'Tis I you hate. And what's the use of making party feeling more bitter than It Is? Publish thai list of sig natures, arrest ull the poor devils I tempted Into the affair nnd what will It hrlng you? A scandal that may wreck the country more surely than 1 planned to do It." "He's right," cried Fellowes. "Ton must believe them, Mr. Inglepin." There was bewilderment in Joshua's ruddy face. " 'Taking their side?"' he queried. 'Why, I I hough! you don't you hate em, too?" "I dun'i hate anyone," Fellowes an swered slowly, "I'm through with hate." "Ab. hut you've satisfied your hate,' protested Jushun "Chafer's dead And Colllshnue. And " "I have no regrets for Clutter," Fellowes Fel-lowes interrupted. "I'm not going to be a hypocrite about that. But kill ing him didn't make me uny happier And for Colllshawe I'd cheerfully give my own life, II that would bring him back. I did a brave, honorable man nn Injustice, and then procured his death Just as you will do. If you send your brother to the gallows. Or your niece. Oi anyone whose name Is on that paper." "They're all traitors." fussed Joshua. "Don't deserve considera tlon. Of course, a woman's a different differ-ent matter. But a traitor Is n tral tor, and nil the talk In the world won't aller that." Fellowe: was struck by the stub-horn stub-horn tone of his employer, a faintly pugnacious attitude of self defense. "Are you honest with yourself, sir?' the Long Islander challenged him swiftly. "I low much of your indig nation springs from patriotism and how much from personal hatred?" "Why wliy why " Joshua was balked, palpably dismayed, bul he floundered on: "The fads are evident. evi-dent. And if I do hate a man. Is that a reason to excuse bis treason?" "No. hut 'tis ample reason to examine ex-amine your own feelings," rejoined Fellowes "You have endeavored to ruin your brother haven't you?" "1 have ruined him," scowled Joshua. "Yes, you hold his life and reputation reputa-tion In your hand, there. Will It make you happier to use your power over him? Think, Mr. Inglepln I Are you happier, now? Have you felt more at rest In your mind since I gave you that paper?" "Why not?" Joshua answered slowly. slow-ly. "I've hated him Tor years. A loose-thinking, nrlslocrntlcul sort of fellow, always opposed to me." "And you've always been opposed to him. Can't you be In opposition without killing him?" "Tlsn't Just that I want to see him swing." denied Joshua, ruddier than ever, the note of defense heavily stressed. "Damme, that's a vulgar Idea. Fellowes." "You are trying to satisfy your own hatred." snapped Fellowes. "And you can't do It You know you can't do IL Tlie closer you hug your hate, the spinier It grows. If you yield to It. you'll he miserable for the rest of your life. If you hold It off, you'll place your brother under an obllga tlon" A glint ol humor flashed In Joshua's china-blue eyes; his wide mouth quirked up at the corners. "By G d. you're right I" he exclaimed. ex-claimed. "Why hang him when I can make him owe me what money can't buy, eh?" Hoofs rattled In From street, "'Tis the governor," warned Fel lowes. "D n the governor," Joshua bins tered cavalierly. "Where's my flint arid-steel? And that candle? I can never find anything ,n this place." Fellowes watched him with an amn'.PitiHtil shared In full hy Ben and Cara. Only the duenna remained un Interested, (he beads clicking through her mittened fiiiL-ers. white Joshua struck spark lo tinder, and lit the candle he extracted from a cubbyhole of his desk. "There. " he announced triumphantly. triumphant-ly. "What d'ye think of this. Ben? Here's a debt you won't soon pay oft my lad!" And he stabbed a curner of the pe tilion Into the candle flame, which blazed up magnificently. A thin trickle of smoke drifted across the room, and Fellowes heard Ben couh Ing. saw tears in Cam's eyes, hut the smoke hadn't drifted In their direction. direc-tion. J'-.shua chuck fed to himself. "Ah. you thought yon could tret en without rr.e. but all you did was to make n fool of yourself And I caught von. Ben. I caught you fairly!" "Fairly, .los." I'cd agreed. "A:, a 1 can t pay off the dobi except to say I'm sorry for wh.it hanpened before Ik Is." "Sorry, eh? Ouch. dumir.Pt Burned my lingers. Well, the things done." He hesitated as the last charred flakes of toe deadly petition floated to th. floor. "Sorry eh? 'Matter of fact, so am L Hanged if ah. no, co! d d If I can remember what It was ail ahout." "Need you care, Cncie Jos?" asked Cara. between laughter and weeping. "S'pose not, s'pose not, niece." Joshua admitted. "Still " "Oh. won't you two shake hands?" she begged. "Can't we be a family instead of enemies?" Her father stepped forward promptly, prompt-ly, and after a moment Joshua met him, arm outstretched. "God bless you, Jos I" "Eh? Eh? Seem to have something some-thing in my eye. Mind those fingers. Ben." The door to the outer office was Hung open. Nitnrod Sopher standing at attention beside IL "His excellency the governor,' Doomed the lawyer, and Governor Tompkins bustled into (tie room, bow Ing to Cara, plainly puzzled hy the j spectacle ot the Inglepln brothers clasping bands. "Your servant, ma'am," said Ms ex 1 cellency. "Am 1 to witness a recou dilation, gentlemen? I heard the Centurion was In. nnd thought from your message " "Governor, I burned the d--n pa per!" Joshua confessed. "Hang the whole Federalist party hang Ben-hang Ben-hang my niece, here? Couldn't go It. Ben's learned his lesson, so's the girl The rest of em Well, they'll eat out of any feed bag we bitch on 'em. soon as lliev hear we know their little scheme." smile warmed the governor's homely features. "You did the right thing. Joshua," he pronounced. "Party hatred Is as evil a thing as personal hatred, old friend You've found that out, I see. Good I So let's all sit down, and talk it over reasonably and But Where's Captain Fellowes gone?" Fellowes had done all he could do. he felt. His one desire was to avoid Cara Inglepin. If he didn't see her perhaps he could forget her In time. At least. It would be better than try Ing not to look at her, struggling against the pricks of what-migbthave-beeu, cursing hlmsell for useless Jealousy Jeal-ousy of a dead man. CHAPTER XV Mary McCarthy Intervenes Fellowes had scarcely reached the waterfront when his oume was called behind him in a brogue thicker than O'Sbaugbnessy's "Mislher Fellowes 1 Capt'in. sorrl Oh, Mother av God, will ye " And he turned to face the waddling bulk ot the duenna, her tallowy tal-lowy features crimson for once us she panted an incoherent stream of prayers, pray-ers, denunciations und saints' names: "Ain't ye got the slnse ye was born wid? Oh, holy Brldgit, the wind's clane gone out av me I Shure, 'tis me end I'm at this rnlnlt I" In one llglitnlng-flash of memory Fellowes reviewed the moment of his leaving the True Bounty In the Badger's Bad-ger's quarterboat. It hadn't been Imagination, Im-agination, after all, that glimpse of the strange creature at the cabin win dow. and the fragment of brogue he had thought he heard. But what on earth could be the reason for her pretending pre-tending Ignorance of English? "By your leave, ma'am I" he rasped sharply. "You've deceived me many months. How d'you excuse It?" Jer face fell, and the glibness left her speech. "Ah, now, yer honor I Don't be afther wrlngln' yerself Into a murther-in' murther-in' rage and me no more nor fearful for a full stomach and sorra the chance av that more often nor not. what wid the worry was on me and the tret av the say." "That's no answer," be told her, with what he knew was mock-severity. "Ah, but them Sisthers, sorrl" she sighed. "For ever afther me beeaze 1 tuk a bite and a sup beehune meals, nnd cryln' out loud If I had more nor a hunk o' sail fish to me dinner." To save himself, Fellowes couldn't resist a smile. "You mean you were In a convent?" he asked. "Were you expelled?" "I'll thank ye not to asperse me repytashnn." she retorted angrily. "Expelled I Divil a bit I All the ould tartar would De sayln' was: 'Mary darlin'. don't ye think ye'd do better In privut service? 'Tis me loves ye like me own flesh-nnd blood, but 'twas never a convent ye was born for.' And when the worrd come me young leddy was for sett In' up a duenna. In the Portuguese siyle. she says to me. Mother Seraphina, site says: "And here's God's wi blessed chance for ye. Mary darlin'. but 'tis Portuguese ye must be. and see ye, never let on there's n dhrop av Irish blond Into ye or a worrd av English on yer tongue.'" fTO BE CONTINUED) |