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Show 1 JOHN BURTlferf "'' ' ' " '""Tira Mllltoe.,,. Cx.IkmI W Ih.lrlM." Wc. W ffl Pmii's! i. h i1!,,'- !;!,... Ul "' l- I Ooi-thi. ht, i r Hi rjO k i i ham Aum. I it.t..i a J. Iiii.iii, Mil. ii l. e gj CHAPTER EIGHT Continued. Win n tin. launch approai hl Ar thur Morrli wan n In the Kw There werr r,-vn rlchl dressed )oing women In Iho part. John Hurt saw al a glume thai Morris anil some of his companions were under the In flnence of liquor Jessie guessed as much, and hr suspicions tiecame a certainly when Morris stepped un teadll) In the landing and came toward her, a vacant smile mantling hla fare "A thousand pardons Miss Cardon." he said hla voice husk) and his IhhI) ver) roel, but wavering "A thou and imrdons! Detenlli navoldahtc. ! aaeure you nn'voldlile detention, assure as-sure )ou! Bull right, though, 'anil I right now Allow me. Mlaa Carden." I and be atcptcd forward to offer hla arm John Hurt remained b) Jessie's side. i "IVi not dare lo apeak to me air!" cried Jessie, shame and anger driving the crimson to her face. "Iion'l let him come near me, John!" she ev claimed, clinging to Hurl's stalwart arm "Stand back. Morris!" said John In a low. clear tone, a glitter In hla dark gra) o)ea "You are In no condition, sir. to meet Mlaa Garden." The llnshll) dressed throng of gueata wns grouped behind Arthur ! Morris One of the jmmg women ' grased Arthur Morris by the lapel i of the coat. j "Come mi. )ou fool!" she snld with ' n vlndlcthe little laugh. "Don't you see )ou'ro not wnnled?" She turned I him half round and Klngsley grnbbeil I him by the arm I "Come along, commodore." snld that )ouiik IiIihmI "You .ire In the wrong pew, commodore' Cheer up. snil sen dog: wo ma) be happy )cl'" And with laughter and taunts the guests of the Voltaire led the )ncht' befuddled i owner along the pier Into the grove. trouble. John pointed tho boat for Mlnot's Light, uml hnvlng passed Inside In-side followed tho rocky shore, avoiding avoid-ing the reefs nnd shoals, which worn to him as an open book. "Tell mo n story. John, or anything! any-thing! We're both awfully stupid today. to-day. Don't oii think so?" "I will tell oti a secret two secrets," said John, gravel). "Don't tell mo secrets If )ou wish them kept, John," Inughed Jessie "I'm a regular tell talo!" "You will keep theso secrets at least, ono of them." replied John "I'm going nway That's the first secret." "doing nwnyV echoed Jessie. "Where, John?" "Out Wett to California" "doing to leave Harvard? Oolng to California? Surely jou'ro Joking! What does this mean, John?" Tho little faco was serious now. "That la the second .nroi TmuIa " There was that In his voire and In his o)os which thrilled tho girl by his elde. Jessie's soft brown oos opened open-ed wide, thou dropped as the) met his fervent gaze. , "I am going nway, Jessie, because. I love )ou." The little hand became Imprisoned in a tender clasp, and she listened as In a dream to tho words which clamored clam-ored for her love. "Listen to me. Jessie listen to me'" His voice was commanding In Its egf jcstnesa. "I do not ask you to love ,ne now I do not ask )nu to promise to be my wife. I only ask )ou to know thut I love you; lo know thire Is one man who has no thought olhor than your welfare; who cherishes cher-ishes no ambition other than to see ou showered with all the blessing nd Eoaora which Clod can grant to a I rood wean That Is my love, Jea-1 m ' If iime da I have all honest I riitht tn ask vmir lote In return. I I Hlmll do so making no claim on our old friendship Ma) I love im that )' Ha) that I may Jessie!" I I want you to love me, John, but please don t speak of It ngnln, John' said Jessie raising her e)es j glistening with tears "I menu not to speak of It for years. John. I have not thought of kive. at least, I I don'l think I have! I'leaett, John, , promise me that you w 111 not any anything any-thing more about It until-things nre ! different Will )oii promise?" John Hurt's fare was radiant na he made the promise. The anil was raised, nrd they alerted alert-ed back toward the grove John helped help-ed Jessie to the landing, and turned to see 0am Hound running toward them ! itxn.se me. shmi ne oreninieasi) , tn Jessie "I want you, John!" lie drew John aside "Arthur Morris and , hla friends are drunk In the hotel." j he said etrltedly "He sn)s lie's go-I go-I Ing to kill )ou. and he's Insulted Mlaa I Carden half n doten times." John's teeth weie set and hla hands ' clenched, but hla voire was calm as he turned lo Jessie "I must go to the hotel for n few minutes. I'll meet you nnd' Sam later" he said "You'll excuse mc, won't )ou Jessie" "Oh, John, for in) snke den t get Into trouble!" pleaded Jessie, who guessed something of the truth. John walked hurriedly nway I!n-terlng I!n-terlng the hotel, he sny Arthur Morris nnd live of his male companions seated seat-ed around n table loaded with champagne cham-pagne bottles nnd glasses John stood unobserved In the deep-I'-rlng the hotel.he saw Arthur Morris was attempting to sing hammering on the table with a ciine lo beat time You're a fine Lothario commodore'" commo-dore'" said Klugale) ns be slowly Jessie Mil d tears of vexation but nger dried her m 8ho turned to John with a wistful little smile on her llpi. 'Take me out In )our boat John," she said "Let's get as far as we can from those dreml'ill people ' In a few minutes tho Htandlsh bob bed snurll) at I lie landing, and Jessie stepped on board. The wind had carcely filled the sail when Morris Mine running down tho pier. He stopped stop-ped nt ho saw tho pair In the boat and glared ut them ns they glided nwu), bruto rago showing In every feature of his (lushed face. Ills friends followed nnd led Mm back. I.lttlo was said between tho two ss tho boat moved iwlftly along, llnch wns busy .vlth thoughts, and both seemed under tho spell of threatened nihil his glass. "After all our boasts I In a )okel cm )ou out shake his fli In )our far. nnd snll aa with the fair mnldeii' Your nmoura wear) me' "Hold )oi,r tongue Klngsley' ' growled Morris. "You'll sing n differ iit lime a few weeks from ,, As for this fellow. Hurt. I'll horsewhip Mm the first time I meet h,' You need not worry about my success with h Carden I'll wni(er ,., ,, less than u )enr i will" J'.'!!'.'. I!,!, ?""' ncr",M, "'" "". t.niped him by the shoulders, drag god him from the chair, and with Rf'P "f Iron nk him as n dog does a rat in. wineglass fell with a cra.h lo the floor. "Another wor.l. )ou drunken Insult cr of women, nnd I will bent jour m-ail iu a pulp!" Morris' guests throw themselves hi ween tho two mm. nnd John relaxed hl grasp Morris' neck. I)I(M for the mo.nen . Morris recovered him aelf and his face became ,,,r "l will, rage Seising ,,.)(,v, bo le ho bur M I. John', ,,ail. T tin missed Its mnrk and cra.hed through a mirror teaching Into hi !,Uc!nW,!! " T" onderf , In and before any one could Interfere nred iw.inll.tenk at John Hurl who was not throe )ards nway Like a panther Hurl leaped under ho levele.1 arm. A stKm hot struck maamf, '" Wr,"""K' " mass, amid overturned chnlra nnd tahles, and the flight of pc r,c"ien .pectators. both men lurched hen n, he Wr- .J,0,1,n ""rt lM.enn." A. they fen. a third shot was fire.!, the reiHirt uelng mullled as the shell n Plodod w.,hl their clo' emta'ce The smoking weapon fell to the .or from the nervelgra'ip'fAr hnMi"n!, wh" l,url eUwl " "' thrust It Into his pocket, hut the pre caution was unneceaanr) J orris lay n the sanded fl,r of the s,ark and .loath Ike. a frown upon M, On the white flannel ,hrt ..bove hi. har was an ominous . smear of red resi.lratlnn. before the u)es of the men who bent over him. A froth ed with blood ,m)w, and bubbled from his mouth. CHAPTER NINE. The Partlnn. John felt the touch of a hand on his shoulder, and, turning qulokly, faced Sam Hounds "Fer (lod's sake, git outer hero. "' a soon as ye ran" b p.r ". Ji'l.n hung bsck diflanil 'in' mi. John. Jesle waltm f. H e eniind of J..,l, , , , , 'ilk IV ..it ,.M, l,,!,. ,lr, 'n ii dum i a. the inolionbv. r ,n ,1 V rn he turned and f..lir.. ' n It. .iimls No hand wan rs.. I i I' hi in The witnesses of in,, trai " ! Id In a spell had evis for ii.l.l but Its victim J- "I. ran forward lo meet him r fa... white with fear 'Oh what has happened John' hst has happeneif?" Her voice trem d and ber lips parted with a vague Jttit "Are you shot Are you hurl Hi Oh, tell me John' ' "Im not hurt darling" said John. wkniK Into the uplifted e)es. Home Whk haa happened and we must v. at once I will tell mi bIhiui It tin- way home." U a stern effort John Hurt master i his emotion and cnlml) told Jessie ai had happened lie said no word I the shameful Insults In which her B... had been Imndled In a public sinking place He explsln.il that a rrrel had arisen, during which Mop had been shot with his own weap- Jessie listened breathlesul) It 'l grown so dark Ihsl John could I see her face, hill there was a ni..r In her voice when she asked 'ttttl he die. John? S"l fear bm," replied John, il might have been Imatlusllon but ft thought thai Jessie sbuddrred and aw) from him. They heard the jpbl lMat of li.Mifs liehlml ihem nnd ' rlutihed his arm !)'" of the darkness a horse madl) dm. dashed forward, and waa pull bark on hi haunches b) the side the carriage A face peered In homely but welcome face of 8am winds ,' Drive on na fast as )e can. John." Bpc.l Ham. "I've thrown 'em off scent. I ran the Slandlsli out Wer the bn). set 'er tiller an' let "cr S, an' i-ome bark an' told Vm )ou given 'em the slip that wa). Nil) slick, eh? You bet none n' 101 dudes can gel the best of Ham Mends! (Ill up!" an. gave the horses a cut of the kip which sent them dashing down rnad A few minutes later the) asrhed Iho Illshop farmhouse Ham Mid the excited horses while John Wped Jessie to alight. "Jump on in) horse nnd git!" said hst In n whisper. John drew Jessie to the shadow of n MIp and held her bands In bla "Jle I nm Innocent, but Ilia "rid will hold me resNinslble for tsl death of that blackguard. Hweet-hint Hweet-hint t had dreamed of bridging the gY between us. I had fallh that s lucky star would smile on my naWtlnns, lhat my youth and health wesld one day make inn worthy of I b grandest gift Uod give to nun tat love of the woman he worships! ;Tt hope Is not dead, but It has gono far from me. I must endure either Imprl ment nn.l disgrace at homo nr exlb- abroad I can face, either, Jessie, if I have tho support of our friendship, nnd the knowledge that )ou hold me guiltless. Can you give Rio Ihem. sweetheart? ' "Uoth. John " snld Jessie, aoflly. "J - I shall pray for your surma, rin sow. John! Take Barn's advice and line, flood h)c dear'" There were leara In the sweet voice "Will ).... kiss me Jessie?" (To lie continued.) |