Show c THE STORY THUS FAR lark shannon whose horse madoc was sold to fear clear a debt when her bar father died sails from england tor for america david north whom she loves was to make s the trip til with b her L r but sails alls the u night ight before larks s ship hip goes foes down but she reaches land am and d galt gait withe a bound servant rescues her the two manage to hobble bobble linter lancer a fine horse that had bad escaped from the sinking ship lark finds her self elf a prisoner at the inn r run u n by cony and mag mae who plan to hold h her e r for ransom to david norths firm she tries to run away but cony catches her and she Is locked in the attic she escapes again and Is happy to una find that her pursuer Is david she falls into his bis arms CHAPTER X and why you masqueraded masquerades masquera ded as one of the gipsy band and sailed on iiii the runnymeade Runny meade suppose he finds you out im not supposing that david said when im this far along if I 1 can get a copy of his logbook log book and accounts that will stand up in a law court and win the case for us it was galt gait that found me on the island david and saved me we captured lancer and hid him safely there lancer hes a horse that was on the tempora a dream horse red ras kau kall we call him ile he belongs to squire jarrod terraine of great ways plantation hes the horse that offered a reward for ashl davids arm tightened about her shoulders as a figure grew discernible through the night and crept toward them stopping every step or so to listen and peer forward into the dark As the moon came out from behind a cloud david stood up pushed lark back into the deeper shadow and drew his dagger from its sheath after a moment larks tight drawn breath eased and fluttered its galt gait she told david and called the name softly he came to them 1 I feared get lost lark or 1 I was scared till david came I 1 thought a parson lived in the manse galt gait nodded like a fool I 1 never thought till gone that you know the folks here never could get another parson after you sent david to me lark said warmly you helped so much galt gait id a sent anybody I 1 thought could help you he said shortly bein I 1 had no chance just then to go with you no need my now wait withe david said youve served us well we can still use you sensing his hurt lark said galt gait youve been so good I 1 cant thank 1 I wonder david broke in impatiently it if get lark to norfolk for me ill naturally be glad to make it worth your while you dont aim to take her there ther e yourself galt gait asked blankly david has to get latsons Mat sons records lark said in quick defense hell meet us in norfolk if you and I 1 could get the baskall some way comys yawl is tied at the horn town jetty for caulking galt gait said thoughtfully we might could use it and leave it tied down coast some where ill care for lark galt gait turned his back on david if were goin lets go while we can you get your you papers ill see after lark thanks lad david was impervious to gaits sur surliness lines S ill 1111 follow down coast as soon as I 1 can you are responsible for fo r lark lark tell mistress mara mar a hastings that I 1 sent you to her that you are my little friend and neighbor whom ive spoken of so often they stood together for a moment not saying anything any thing and then a sound came to them a baying far off that sounded at first like the cry of a wolf and then changed chanced as it came nearer to a more familiar but equally horrible note the bell like bay of old dog there could be no doubt of it lark and even galt gait shuddered as david stepped in front of them drawing out his pistol silence he said quietly keep back ther there e in the bushes you two david took his stance and waited almost he waited too long lark cried out to him in terror and at the same instant his shot rang out and the huge hound leaped convulsively in the air and rolled over dead david said its all right lark dont cry dar darling lingi quick galt gait lets go lark kissed david once more and started across the church yard with galt gait following her before they reached the highroad it began to drizzle tivy they settled into a long steady pace galt gait began to talk now he said more words than lark had ever ever heard from him she knew he was trying to comfort her and distract her you talk like a poet galt gait lark said youve al almost most forgot your guinea speech when you have been telling me all these things yo youve uve been speaking as your father must have spoken ive been alone so long with guinea folk he said ive most forgot the proper words I 1 used to know knowing you has changed me lark your belief in me has changed me from a lowdown low down boy into a man though round here you to trust nobody fast as you trusted me in the dawning light she could see the quick grateful smile that he gave her they were nearing the town now galt gait pointed out the shepherds inn at the c crossroads cross ross roads ahead I 1 and the half finished welbourne mansion with its arcaded loggia and fine pointed roof the sleeping town lay la Y around them galt gait skirted it a and nd led lark directly to the deserted jetty here she noticed a copy of the handbill for lancer posted and in spite of galt gaits S urgency stopped for a moment to read it suppose lancer there lark said watching galt gait at his slow business of un furling the sail sup 7 galt gait dropped the helm and swung for him pose somebody else has already found the baskall on ghost island her voice was apprehensive hell be there right enough gait it said comfortingly 1 I dont doubt that I 1 saw him there only yesterday afternoon I 1 aint worried about him one little bit 1 I wish david could have come with us galt gait that we could all three have gotten away together he looked at her long and thoughtfully 1 I know david norths your man he said humbly but id like mighty much to kiss you lark shannon As she leaned toward him there was a slight movement under the pile of tarpaulin in the stern of the boat their frightened eyes saw it lark whispered galt gait it moved eisaw I 1 saw it there galt gait said steady now and with a quick step leaned over and gave the tarpaulin a sudden jerk cony was lying there his face was mean and mischievous he was shaking with laughter his great red mouth stretched wide in vindictive glee 1 I caught uns he said rising to his feet 1 I caught un clean sweetmeat for sure I 1 did dida galt gait lunged for cony but one tug 0 ol 01 f comys apelike arms jerked the tarpaulin from under his feet throwing galt gait backwards to the centerboard of the yawl cony was on him then pistol in hand kicking his bis head his shoulders lark said wildly gaits been bound to you for six years y ears conyl cony I 1 you know too long for indentured service and you certainly know youve no right of any kind to hold me you got any decency 1 c cony kicked galt gait again and dazedly galt gait got to his feet stumbled toward the stern took the tiller and righted the course of the b boat oat once or twice in the short and miserable trip to the inn cove galt gait tried to veer th the e course of the yawl out to sea and each time cony threatened and cursed h him im to larks surprise he tri tried ed it again and this time cony p pulled u 11 ed himself up and walked to gal gait and nd kicked him viciously and then lark realized that he wanted to draw cony to him because he stood taut until cony drew back his heavy foot for another kick and then galt gait dropped the helm and swung for him knocking the pistol out of his hand across the boat and into the water the boat dipped and bobbed wildly and lark dodged the flying boom her heart pushing into her throat as galt gait and cony went down rolling and struggling into the bottom of the boat once the sail touted foule d them and cony got his great unnaturally long arms around galt gait in a hideous embrace forcing the youn younger ger man back and back until his very spine bone was bowed to the breaking point lark flew at cony trying to pull him away beating at him with her fists tearing at him she could see gaits face contorted with agony could feel and hear hea r the pull and protest of muscle on muscle the ominous cracking sound that might mean gaits back was gone then somehow galt gait was doubling over fling cony up and over his head with a tremendous terrifying effort cony struck the deck full force turned tried to get up was met by galt gait galt gait throwing himself on him beating him hammering his fists into comys face straddling him pinning the big form down beating his chest his head his face beating and beating him as it if he stop as if all the hate of years was un loosed and be glutted galt gait caught the single mast reeled and righted himself 1 I beat him he said stupidly to lark 1 I got the best 0 con cony Y I 1 never thought to do that but I 1 got the best 0 cony im glad lark said fiercely but you want she stopped suddenly aware of the nearness of the shore of people staring calling out to them the yawl had been circling derelict in the wash of the tide it was close in now kept off shore only by the push of the river current sailors from the runny gipsies and the big negro men who had poled the barge last night lined docks and platforms lark saw mag there wringing her hands shrieking and moaning some sailors were putting out a davy boat rowing toward the yawl with swift sure strokes they grinned up at lark the bound lad won did he 9 one of them shouted then they were boarding reaching for the big landing paddle bringing the yawl in with expert neatness settling her in her accustomed berth talking about the fight laughing winking at lark looking acorn scornfully at the whimpering cony in the group along the platforms lark saw the black clad figure of matson he stood there looking amused and a little out of place with his graceful cape and exaggerated sweep of pheasant feather in his wide brimmed felt hat ill kill un galt gait mag pushed forward trying to clamber into the boat ill kill un for this the sailors pushed her aside rudely laughing one of them said boiled you up mag cony be all right he be just blubbering berin never know you to set such store by him cony raised his head saw the circle of grinning faces and began to groan heavily galt gait still stood there holding the masi lark stooped and tore a square from her petticoat mopping the blood from his face one of the sailors lifted her then to the platform flat mas ma glared at her malevolently give un a beatin right he un cony A thick featured sailor asked guffawing guff awine awing drew drew a knife on rne me cony gasped as if he were dying of a mortal wound the dirty s sn eakin killer crept up on me and sought to murder me ill kill him ill lash eer piece W 0 skin from his back ill beat him to death by god the dirty murderer lark felt the sick cold fury well up unbearably in her galt gait try to kill him she said steadily he draw a knife on him or creep up on him cony had a pistol pointed in in gaits face he kicked him I 1 can show you the bru bruises isei and gal gait it only did what any man here would have done he tried to take care of himself with his fists if there was unfairness it was cones any tried to cheat me by away from four years a 0 service it comys strength was returning ri now w that he was protected tried to th kill roe me let me get at himl TO BE CONTINUED |