Show 12 0 W N U S E I 1 CC THE STORY STOR y THUS FAR lark shannon whose horse borse madoc was sold to clear a debt when shen her father abber died sails from england for america larks ship goes down but she reaches land and galt gait withe a bound servant rescues her they manage to hobble lancer a fine horse that had bad escaped from the sinking ship lark finds herself a prisoner at the inn run by cony and mag alag who plan to hold tier her tor for from rom david norths firm david north was her sweetheart lark larh tries to run away but cony catches her and she is locked in the attic she escapes and is happy to rind find that her pursuer this time is david she falls into his arms galt gait corn comes es along alone and agrees to get lark to norfolk Nor tolli CHAPTER XI he pulled up by the boat rail threatening galt gait lark screamed and tried to climb into the yawl begging the sailors not to let cony t touch ch galt gait one of them gave cony a push sprawling him in the prow again he lay there moan moaning ing hes my bound boy cony said thickly 1 I got a right to punish a bound boy that tried to murder me suppose he is a bound boy hes worked for cony and stood all sorts of mistreatment for six years that enough hes a better man than cony now are you going to let cony kill him galt gait could have killed cony CODY a while ago I 1 wish he had matson smiled a very little suppose we step inside the inn he said and talk about it miss lark shannon then give galt gait your protection first lark was weary past any weariness she had ever known but she felt a surge of new life new hope when matson nodded and crisply ordered cony not to touch galt gait As a matter of fact lark found she could think better now that the immediate danger of punishment of galt gait was over galt gait can buy himself off his last four years of service he and I 1 together caught the red stallion lancer and hobbled him on a certain island cony will undoubtedly try to get the horse and claim the hundred pound reward himself but I 1 want everybody here to know that galt gait withe and I 1 lark shannon caught that horse the reward is due us and not cony do you understand perfectly matson said with faint impatience now are you quite ready to talk with me for a while lark nodded feeling deflated rebuked she followed him past the sailors and the staring curious gipsies up to the inn he chatted pleasantly with lark about the weather his voyage over the tragedy of the temporal temperas Tem peras sinking if she had not seen him murder that sailor last night lark could have been at ease with him now certainly he tried to put ter h er at ease it was a little harder now for her to credit davids tales of his villainy and gaits thorough distrust and fear of the man but criminal or not surely his interference in her affairs and gaits was a v very ery practical stroke of luck his sympathy for her was evident you something better to wear than that filthy calico he asked petulantly and your you hair your hair 1 I have the dress I 1 was shipwrecked in lark felt the angry red rising in her face 1 I exactly arrayed myself for your approval dr matson im sorry it if my appearance annoys you mag was coming with a tray of tiny tomatoes that rolled about like red marbles matson looked at her with loathing take them out and wash them in spring water dont bring them in hot and dusty bed them in leaves with the drops of cold water on them mag sighed and turned and matson said go to the store house and get this girl something to wear while youre about it something lemon yellow or thick rich cream not in heavens name the muslin you fouled with your own wearing last night get her a cape brown or blue and quite soft so that it can blow in the wind and a ribbon for her hair copper velvet if you can find it I 1 shall arrange the ribbon in her hair and morocco shall wait well mag bellowed come here que eniel think un self a smart one dont un got a great friend in matson un lark said 1 I dont know I 1 wish I 1 did she went into the store stor 1 e room un wish un did mag shook out a blue satin cape till its folds snapped and crackled well I 1 knowl know I 1 know hell sicken a 0 uns mean ways an anslia slit un so I 1 she took scissors from an open trunk ripping larks dirty calico from neck to knee roughly she stripped lark of 0 the dress slipping a creamy india silk over her he head jerking its ita high tight waist in place yanking the embroidered bottom flounce smooth over larks torn petticoat tying the light ribbon sash angrily 1 I knowel un was bad luck when first I 1 seed un mag kicked a pair of laced slipper sandals toward her now un be in for bad luck uns own self ive lost better wenches than un to that spanish cat in there more wenches than ive got bugs in my bed bunk uell come beggin back to me likely an will I 1 an cony help we will not lark quietly put on the sandals and laced them mag was rummaging in the sea cask pulling out a bolt of gold sewn brown ribbon nea measuring suring a quivering length snipping it clean she threw the cape and ribbon over larks arm and pushed her ahead into the scullery locking the store room behind them the back scullery door opened and lark saw galt gait standing there just standing staring at her oh lark un be so beautiful oh lark he had cleaned himself up a and d put on fresh clothes but aside from that there was a new authority a about ut him a look of maturity and dignity which lark was struck by V N 1 7 4 1 1 A va 4 ta 1 I knowel un was bad luck when I 1 first seed se edun un at once you bargain with matson lark not for anything least of all me lark said galt gait please I 1 think hell help us really I 1 do oh hell help un all right hell help un both a great won wonder derl mag ana snatched ached up her broom and went at galt gait un get out galt gait took the broom away from her and broke it in two pieces across his bent knee he stood there staring down at mag 1 I vow un look a killer pro proper perill I 1 she away im not going to kill you he glanced toward the curtained doorway to the big room and took two steps across the scullery to lark 1 I never saw a woman so pretty and sweet as you be lark ive gone and done you a great hurt getting us caught the way I 1 did I 1 I 1 wish you ever spoke to matson hell hear youl you lark whispered the barber fellow cut my hair galt gait put a self conscious hand on his short sailor fashion brown locks 1 I vow it looks a sight it looks fine lark said nervously you look fine but galt gait I 1 mu must st go and talk with dr matson hes going to help us I 1 know he is but maybe better wait ill wait for un for you I 1 mean galt gait said quickly 1 I cant put much faith in matson im uneasy in in my bones but if he was to want to help anybody living it would have to be you lark ill bide right here waiting lark galt gait eyes set and thoughtful on mag you nor cony will lay hand to me again he said quietly im not fearing cony im going away in time ill send you money it if there be a money debt for the rest of my term I 1 aim to go and take lark too of well now hear the fool I 1 how far un think to get mag spat the words at him to the end of a rope like uns old man he kill himself did h hea ev galt gait asked quietly 1 I never should have thought he did 1 I aint sayin dothia mag backed a little deeper into the corner me an cony aught to do with parson withe but un can keep in mind with uns fancy talk an foppish ways fine words never kept uns old m man n from chokin ill keep it in mind I 1 wont forget anything there was a terrible sternness in his voice a flat aching helplessness 1 I mind the day I 1 come here I 1 got my first beating from you and cony I 1 mind folks said my father hanged himself youve got to think about now lark said urgently now galt gait you cant undo done with galt gait please youre exhausted and done out with with the fight and with worry youre going to leave here im going too she stepped quickly through the curtain then edging past the littered tables walking quickly toward dr matson he looked up laid down his book and got to his feet nice he said the old buz has some very good things in her store room ill have it checked you look quite charming lark really very pretty indeed you have no idea dr matson said pleasantly how much I 1 preci predate ate your changed appearance A weakness perhaps a conceit on my part yet except for a lack of color you are very nearly beautiful lark have you thought of a touch of rouge or perhaps pinching your cheeks lark stared blankly at him she set her milk mug down hard she said dr matson maybe you dont realize that I 1 am ready to drop with weariness im glad to to do the thing pleasing to you to put on these pretty clothes but I 1 dont think I 1 can stand it unless I 1 know what youre going to do about galt gait and me if you really expect to help us her voice broke no tears pl please easel his voice sharpened ive been selfish I 1 apologize certainly you must rest go at once by all means and rest but until I 1 know im not sure I 1 could ifould rest you see ive been held here for more than a week ive tried to tb get away ive heard I 1 galt gait whipped I 1 so hoped that you she broke off mag was coming from the scullery with the tray ot of tomatoes bedded now in dripping green leaves mag said you owe a bill for her clothes tote it up matson ate with enjoyment joy ment wiping his lips with his silk handkerchief and get the customary clothes for a man finishing indentured service for young withe ill advance you the ten pounds a year you paid for his service no doubt hell pay me back with his reward money from the horse lark said breathlessly yes ol of course he will oh you are so kind dr matson I 1 cant begin to tell you how grateful not at all matson sipped his milk its a mere nothing frankly I 1 have no special interest in young withe but you have he tried once to squire you shall we say to your friends in norfolk this time I 1 shall make it possible for him to succeed lark said dr matson gaits waiting for me in the scullery would it be all right for us to 19 take a and ana out and leave here before evening matson walked to the door and glanced at the sun he said you need rest and its still the best ol of the morning why not rest a few hours ill have to work for some time over cony and then I 1 should enjoy taking you and young withe out to get the horse unless ol 01 course you dont want my company lark said oh no yes I 1 mean we do want your company you youre the one hope weve got gali gal and 1 I 1 I cant tell you again he cut short her thanks mag has told me a little about aboul you you see your friend mr david north is known to me that is by correspondence his company the cargie riske is famous on these shores in fact they are business associates of mine I 1 deal with them for all my insurance I 1 would be a very poor client not to dooh looh after your safety but david at all important aril in the cargie riske lark said hastily he owns only the tiniest interest a and nd really dr matson I 1 dont think the cargie riske would give any well 1 I mean matson laughed until the tears came you poor child you fancy I 1 expect repayment from your young mr north fo for r helping you his laugh changed to a look of annoyance very red and embarrassed lark larh said mag and cony did they said as much straight out I 1 mean to insult you sir TO BE CONTINUED |