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‘"Where had he been all night?‘ Her voice betrayed an interest that Fraser was quick to detect. He answered cannily : f **You can search me! I don‘t keep cases on him. As long as he does his work I don‘t care where he goes at quitting time." He resolved that this girl should learn nothing from him. "‘There seem to be very few white women in this place," she said aftet a pause. "Only one, till you people came. Maybe you‘ve crossed her trail?‘ "*Mr. Emerson told me about her He seems quite fond of her." + "I‘ve always said they‘d make 4 awelii iooking pair." "He intended coming out to the yacht last night, but he disappointed us." ‘"He‘s as busy as an ant hill. I met bhim turning in just as I came out for my constitutional." "Tell meâ€"is Mrz. Emerson ill?"‘ asked the girl. "Ill enough to lick a den of wildâ€" cats." "My old man had a whole string of banks," Fraser averred hastily. *"*Bloomington! I understood you to say New Orleans." "I wanted to be a jockey, and the old party cut me off. What I‘ve got now I made all by myself, but if I‘d stayed in Bloomington I might have been president of the bank by is time." "So you trailed the old skeezicks along with you? Well, that‘s right. Make the most of your father while you‘ve got him. If I‘d paid more atâ€" tention to mine I‘d have been better off now. But I was wild." Fraser winked in a manner to inform his lisâ€" tener that all worldly wisdom was his. "Whoâ€"Alton?" he queried with reâ€" assuring warmth. "Why, you and I have got mutual friends. Alton and me is pals." He shook his head solâ€" emunly. "Ain‘t he a scourge?" "I beg your pardon.‘" "I say, ain‘t he an awful thing? He ain‘t anything like Emerson. There‘s a ring tailed swallow all right, all right!‘ I like him." "Are you very intimate with him? "Am I? I‘m closer to him than a porous plaster. When Boyd ain‘t around I‘m him, that‘s all. Is that your yacht?‘ "No. My father and I are merely passengers." The girl nodded. "Yes. I know Mr Clyde also." "If youw don‘t mind, I‘ll rest a minâ€" ute. I‘m out for my morning walk. It‘s a nice day, isn‘t it?"‘ As she did not answer he ran on glibly: "My name is De Benville. I‘m one of the New Orleans branch. That‘s my canâ€" nery down yonder." He pointed in the direction from which he had just come. "I‘ thought that was Mr. Emerson‘s cannery," she said. "Oh, the idea! He only runs it for me. I put up the money. You know him, eh?" ‘"‘That‘s her!l I‘ll spread my checks with this one. Good morning!‘ he beâ€" gan. The . girl gave him an indifferent glance from two fearless eyes and nodded slightly. Boyd was too weary to do more than wish him success, but it seemed that fortune favored Fraser, for before he had gone far he saw a young woman seated in a patch of wild flowers, plucking the blooms with careless hand while she drank in the beauty of the bright arctic morning. She was simâ€" ply dressed, yet looked so prosperous that Fraser instantly decided: "No. He‘s afraid of my work, so I‘m going out on my own. He told me all about the swell quilts at Marsh‘s place, so I thought I‘d lam up there and look them over. I may cop an heiress." He winked wisely. "If I see one that looks gentle I‘m liable to grab me some bride. He says there ain‘t one that‘s got less than a couple of millions in bher kick." "Clyde is taking you to the yacht eh?" He met "Fingerless‘"‘ Fraser emergâ€" ing, decked royally in all the splendor of new clothes and spotless linen, At 10 o‘clock the next morning he staggered into his quarters more dead than alive. In his heart was a great thankfulness that Big George had not found him wanting. The last defective machine was mended, the last weakâ€" ness strengthened, and the plant had reached its fullest stride. The fish might come now in any quantity; the rest was but a matter of coal and iron and human endurance. Meanwhile he would sleep. CHAPTER XX. R LL that night Boyd stayed at his post, while the cavernous building shuddered and hissed 7 to the straining toil of the maâ€" chines and the gasping breath of the furnaces. As the darkness gathered he had gone out upon the dock to look regretfully toward the twinkling lights on the Grande Dame, then turned dogâ€" gedly back to his labors. He would have sent Mildred word, but he had not a single man to spare. (©) 0©00000000000000000620000006 ©06000080000000000 8) O 2 "I‘m going out into society." "Where are you going?" Boyd asked SILVER "Your friends!" cried Mr. Wayland. "That‘s what brings me hereâ€"you and your friends! I‘ll break you and your friends if it takes my fortune." "I can understand your dislike of me, but my associates have never harmed you." "Your associates! And who are "You are only a > minority stockâ€" holder. ~The control of this enterprise still rests with me and my friends." "How did you find out that she held the stock?‘ "She told me, of course." ‘"‘Don‘t ask me to believe that. If she hadn‘t told you before she wouldn‘t tell you now. All I can say is that she acted of her own free will. 1 never dreamed she put up that $25,000. What do you intend to do now that you have taken over these holdings?‘ *"What do you think? I would spend ten times the money to save my daughâ€" ter.‘" The old man was quivering. "Don‘t tell me you didn‘t know!" cried Wayne Wayland. "You knew all the time. You worked your friends out and then sent that whipper snapâ€" per to my daughter when you saw you were about to fail. You managed well. â€"You knew she couldn‘t refuse." "' ey! "*Mildred!" Emerson started as if he had been struck. "Are you insane? Mildred doesn‘t ownâ€" Why, Alton never told me who put up that monâ€" "Yes. I paid him back the $10,000 he put in, and 1 took over the 25,000 shares you got Mildred to take." The old man smiled grimly. "I have not been swindled." *"*Then Clyde sold out!" exploded Boyd. "So you think the time has come to crush me, eh?‘ said Emerson. *"Well, you‘ve been swindled. Only oneâ€"third of the capital stock has been sold, and Alton Clyde holds 35,000 shares of that." "I own 35,000 shares outright." Mr Wayland tossed a packet of certifiâ€" cates upon the table. "And 1 have options on all the stock you placed in Chicago. I said you would hear from me when the time came." "You a stockholder? How much stock do you own? Where did you get it?‘ "JTust a moment before you order me out. I‘m a stockholder in this comâ€" pany, and I am within my rights." ‘"We heard about your good fortune. Mr. Wayland has come to look over your plant." "It is not for sale." "How many fish are you getting?" "That is my business." He turned to Mr. Wayland. "I hardly expected to see you here. Haven‘t you insulted me enough ?" "Show them to the office.‘"‘ Boyd rose and wentinto the other building, where a moment later he was confronted by Wayne Wayland and Willis Marsh. The old man nodded to him shortly. Marsh began: "‘There‘s a launch at the dock with some people from above,"‘ he anâ€" nounced. "I stopped them, according to orders, but they want to see you." Boyd Emerson roused from his deathâ€" like slumber late in the afternoon, still worn from his long strain and aching in every muscle. He was in wretched plight physically, but his heart was aglow with gladness. Big George was still at the trap, and the unceasing rumble from across the way told him that. the fish were still coming in. As he was finishing his breakfast a watchâ€" man appeared in the doorway. A hbalf hour later when Clyde reâ€" joined Miss Berry she noticed that he seemed ill at ease, gazing down the bay with a worried, speculative look in his colorless eyes. "All right. Let‘s hunt up the govâ€" ernor." Together they went to the ofâ€" fice in search of Wayne Wayland. "*Now, look here," Clyde objected weak!ly, "you may be mistaken, and it doesn‘t look like quite the square thing to do." But she silenced him with an angry gesture. ""Leave that to me. I‘m through with him." "All right," he said at length. "I‘m glad to get out, of course. The rest is up to you." Mildred‘s lips were white and her voice hard as she cried: "I am thoroughly sick of it all!l I have played the fool long enough!"‘ At the upper cannery Mildred found Alton Clyde with the younger Berry girl. She called him asifie and talked earnestly with him for several minâ€" utes. She gathered up her wild flowers and rose, saying: 3 "I must be going." *"T‘ll go with you." He jumped to his feet with alacrity. *"Thank you. I prefer to walk alone." "Declined with thanks!" he murmurâ€" ed. "I‘d need ear muffs and mittens to bhandle her. I think I‘ll build me some bonfire and thaw out. She must own the mint." "Yes, and she‘s just as bright as she is good looking. But I don‘t care for blonds." Fraser gazed admiringly at the brown hair before him and rolled his eyes eloquently. "I‘m strong for brunettes, I am. It‘s the creole blood in me." "Every hour of the day, and the days are long," said Fraser cheerfully. "But he ain‘t crippled. He could have walkâ€" ed away if he‘d wanted to. It‘s a good thing he didn‘t, though, because she‘s done more to win this bet for us than we‘ve done ourselves." "She‘s unusually Pretty," the girl reâ€" marked coldly. â€" "‘They have been together a great deal, I suppose." "Ohb, you can make book that she didn‘t start no lovemaking. She ain‘t the kind to curl up in a man‘s ear and whisper. She don‘t have to. All she needs to do is look natural. The men will fall like ripe persimmons." "One can hardly blame her for trying to catch him." Cherry Malotte, coming down to the cannery on her daily visit, saw Willis Marsh and Mr. Wayland leaving it. Wondering, she hurried into the main building in search of Boyd. ‘The place was as busy as when she had left It ._"I warn you again to keep away from my daughter!" he cried furiously. "And I warn you that I shall come aboard the yvacht tonight alone." The president of the trust turned and, followed by his lieutenant, left the room without another word. "ILL STRIP YOUR BACK AND LASKH YOU TILL YOU HOWL LIKE A DOG." speech. But Wayne Wayland was not to be cowed. Marsh‘s florid face went pale. His tongue became suddenly too dry for "If you try to cross me I‘ll strip your back and lash you till you howl like a dog." "Mr. Marsh and I may have someâ€" thing to say to that." Boyd© wheeled upon Marsh with a look that made him recoil. "I tell you I won‘t take my dismissal from any one but her. I shall come aboard the Grande Dame tonight." "Oh, no, you won‘t. You won‘t see her again. I have seen to that. Milâ€" dred is engaged to Willis Marsh,. It‘s all‘settled. I warn you to keep away. Her engagement has been announced to all our friends on the yacht." is not necessary to go into dâ€"éi;..iTs_:'- L;E us spare each other that unpleasantness. I am familiar with all that father will say to you, and his feelings are mine; hence there is no necessity for further explanations. Believe me, this is much the simplest way. MILDRED. Boyd crushed the note in his palm and tossed it away carelessly. "You dictate well," he said quietly, "but I shall tell her the truth, and she Will"â€" The young man opened the envelope and read in a bhandwriting he knew only too well: Dear Boydâ€"The conviction has been growing on me for some time that you and I have made a serious mistake. It "I expected you to say that. If you want her own words read this." With shaking fingers he thrust a letter beâ€" fore Emerson‘s eyes. "Read it!" , "I shall take my dismissal from no one but her. I can explain everyâ€" thing." . > "You did not come down here to tell me that," he said at last. "No. I came here with a message from Mildred. She has told me to disâ€" miss you once and for all." Boyd stood appalled at the violence of this outburst. The man seemed insane. He could not find words to answer him. "Hilliard as good as told me so himâ€" self. Do you wonder that I am willing to spend a fortune to protect my girl from a man like you? I‘m going to break you. I‘ve got a foothold in this enterprise of yours, and I‘ll root you out if it takes a million. I‘ll kick you back into the gutter where you beâ€" long." $ Emerson uttered a terrible cry, and his face blanched to a gray pallor. "Do you mean to sayâ€"I sentâ€"herâ€" to Hilliard ?" "If you want proof, take your own relation with her. It‘s notorious. Even Mildred has heard of it.‘" "I can explain to her in a word." "Perhaps you can also explain that affair with Hilliard. If so you had better do it I suppose you didn‘t know anything about that either. I suppose you don‘t know why he adâ€" vanced that Jloan after once refusing it. They have a name for men like you who take money from women of ber sort." "You have said enough now, so that you will either prove your words or apologize." The old man waved his bhands as if at a loss for words. "Look here! You can‘t be an utter idiot. You must know who she is." "Do you? Then tell me." Wayne Wayland turned his back in disgugt. "Do you really wish to know?‘ Marsh‘s smooth voice quesâ€" tioned. “I do"’ * "She is a very common sort," said Willis Marsh. "I am surprised that you never heard of her while you were in the ‘upper country.‘ She followed the mining camps and lived as such women do. She is an expert with cards. She even dealt faro in some of the camps." "How do you know?" ' "I looked up her history in Seattle. She is veryâ€"well, notorious." "People talk like that about nearly every woman in Alaska." "I didn‘t come here to argue about that woman‘s character," broke in Mr. Wayland. they? A lawless ruffian, who openly threatened Willis Marsh‘s murder, and a loose woman from the dance halls., "Take care!"‘ cried Emerson in sharp voice. THE INDEPENDENT, GRIMSBY, "No; you were merely wrapped up in your own affairs.: You see, I had been living my own life and was fairly conâ€" tented till you came.s Then everything changed. For a long time I hoped you "Iâ€"I am sorry," he said, gripped by a strong emotion that made him go bot and cold. "I have been a fool." "No, Iâ€"I"â€" Then he fell silent. "What liftle I did‘I did because I love you," said the girl in a tired voice. "You may as well know, for it makes no difference now."‘ Then, for the first time, the whole truth burst upon him. The surprise of it almost deprived him of speech, and bhe stammered: 1 CHAPTER XXI i got trmllxme; e?ough w\’ith this cannery s 6t on my hands.‘ \ $ w HiYs Irllzttgin;ht: ?i:‘ll as}l{&sg, ha:: "I wish you had told me," said Emâ€" erson. gvi:&kael:-iâ€":voh:f vzii.l fi:;,:gi Wayne Wayland was by no means who has to fight her way alone? But| SU‘¢ that Boyd would not make good my past is my own. It concerns noâ€" pis threat to visit the yacht.t that evenâ€" body but me." She saw the change in | 2 and in any case he wished to be his face, and her reckless spirit rose. prepared. A scene before the other "Oh, I‘ve shocked you! You think all | Passengers of the Grande Dame was women should be like Miss Wayland. | NOt to.be thought of. â€"Besides, if the Have you ever stopped to think that ; YOUNS man were roughly bhandled it even you are not the same man you | WOU‘d make him a martyr in Mildred‘s were when you came fresh from colâ€"| °Y°S. He talked over the matter with lege? You know the world now; you | Marsh, who suggested that the sightâ€" have tasted its wickedness. â€" Would | 8°°"s shoul.d dln.e ashore and spend t_he you change your knowledge for your | @Vening with him at the plant. With earlier innocence? You know you | ODIy Mildred and her father left on would not, and you have no right to | the yacht there would be no possibility judge me by a separate code. What | Of scandal, even if Emerson were mad difference does it make who I am or | ehough to force an interview. what I have done? I didn‘t ask your | "And what is more," declared Mr. record when I gave you the chance to | Wayland, "I shall give orders to clear win Miss Wayland, and neither you | on the high tide. That fellow is a nor she have any right to challenge | menace, and the sooner Mildred is mine." away from him the better. You shall "I agree with you in that." | go with us, my boy." "I came away from the mining But when he went to Mildred to exâ€" camps because of wagging tongues, | plain the nature of his arrangements because I was forever misjudged. ‘ he found her in a furious temper. Whatever I may have been, I have at ’ "Why did you announce my engageâ€" least played fair with that girl. It| ment to Mr. Marsh?‘ she demandedi bhurts me now to be accused by her. I | angrily. ®"The whole ship is talking. saw your love for her, and I never | about it By what right did you do tried to rob her. Oh, don‘t look as if | that? * I couldn‘t have done differently if I "I did it for your own sake," said had tried. I could have injured her | the old man. "This whelp Emerson very easily if I had been the sort she | has made a fool of you and of me long thinks me. But I helped you in every | enough. There must be an end to it." way I could. I made sacrifices. I did ' "But I don‘t love Willis Marsh!" things she would never have done." l she cried. "You forget I am of age." She stopped on the verge of tears. | _ "Nonsense! Willis is a fine fellow, ‘Why did you do all this?" he | He loves you, and he is the best busiâ€" asked. | ness man for his years I have ever | "Don‘t you know?‘ Cherry gazed at | known. If it were not for this foolisti‘ bhim with a faint smile. n eBA . ceint. Sn RRstms erala t ons oi ult T "Yes, I do." She returned his look of shocked hbhorror with half hearted defiance. "You must have known who I am. Fraser knew, and he must have told you. You knew I had followed the mining camps. You knew I had lived by my wits. You must have known what people thought of me. I cast my lot in with the people of this country, and I had to match my wits with those of every man I met. Someâ€" times I won, sometimes I did not. You know the north." "I didn‘t know," he said slowly. "I never thoughtâ€"I wouldn‘t allow myâ€" self to think"â€" "The truth! My God! You don‘t know what you‘re saying!" "There is nothing to set right," said the girl wearily. "Marsh told the truth, I dare say." & "What did Marsh say about me?" asked the girl. ; She was pale to the lips. "He said a lot of things that at any other time I would have made him swallow on the spot. But it‘s only a pleasure deferred. With your help I‘ll fdo it in their presence. I don‘t like to tell you this, but the truth is vital to us all, and I want to arm myself." Cherry was silent. "You may leave it to me," he said gently. "I will see that Marsh sets you right." "‘They blame me equallyâ€"more than you. It seems that Marsh made an inâ€" quiry into yourâ€"well, your life history â€"and he babbled all the gossip he heard to them. Of course they beâ€" lieved it, not knowing you as I do, and they misunderstood our friendship. But I can explain, and I shall, to Milâ€" dred. Then I shall prove Marsh a liar. . Perhaps I can show Mr. Wayâ€" land that he was in the wrong. It‘s pur only hope." "So I am the cause of your trouble after all." ‘"Well, perhaps you had better know the whole thing," said Boyd slowly. "Mildred does not like you. Her faâ€" ther‘s mind has been poisoned by Marsh. It seems they resent our friendship. They believe all sorts of things." "Tell me, why did he turn against you so suddenly? What made Miss Wayland angry with you?‘ "Iâ€"I would rather not." "Why? I‘m your partner, and 1 ought to be told." You and George and I will have to work together closer than ever now. Don‘t let‘s begin by concealing anything." "Do you think he can injure the comâ€" pany?" she inquired anxiously. Boyd was standing in the door of the office. In a few words he told her of Mr. Wayland‘s threat. "I hbhaven‘t a doubt of it He can work very serious harm at least." on the afternoon before, and she saw that the men hbhad been at work all night. Many of them were sprawled in corners, where they had sunk from weariness, snatching a moment‘s rest before the boss kicked them back to their posts. The Chinese hands were stoically performing their tasks, their yellow faces haggard with the strain. At the butchering tables yesterday‘s crew were still slitting, slashing, hackâ€" ing at the pile of fish that never seemâ€" ed to grow less. Some of them were giving up, staggering away to their bunks, while others with more vitality had stood so long in the slime and salt drip that their feet had swelled, and it had become necessary to cut off their shoes. He told of his stormy interview with Boyd, concluding: "It is fortunate we found him out, Mildred. I have guarded you all my life. I have lavished everyâ€" thing money could buy upon you. L have built up the greatest fortune ip ‘"Absurd! Take all the time you wish,. You‘ll come around all right. That reprobate you were engaged to defied me and defended that woman." Mr.â€" Wayland recognized the danger signal. "Nonsense! Willis is a fine fellow. He loves you, and he is the best busiâ€" ness man for his years I have ever known. If it were not for this foolish boy and girl affair you would return his love. He‘suits me, andâ€"well, l have put my foot down, so there‘s an end of it." him ? "I did it for your own sake," said the old man. "This whelp Emerson has made a fool of you and of me long enough. There must be an end to it." Wayne Wayland was by no means sure that Boyd would not make good his threat to visit the yacht that evenâ€" ing, and in any case he wished to be prepared. A scene before the other passengers of the Grande Dame was not to.be thought of. Besides, if the young man were roughly handled it would make him a martyr in Mildred‘s3 eyes. He talked over the matter with Marsh, who suggested that the sightâ€" seers should dine ashore and spend the evening with him at the plant. With only Mildred and hber father left on the yacht there would be no possibility of scandal, even if Emerson were mad enough to force an interview. | _ "As Chaney De Benville, that‘s all. \How is that for a drawing room monâ€" [ aker? She fell for the name all right, | but there must have been something | phony about the clothes. That‘s the trouble with this park harness. If I‘d wore my ‘soup and fish‘ and my two gallon evening hat I‘d have passed for a gentleman sure. I‘m strong for those | evening togs.. I see another one laterâ€" a little maduro colored skirt with a l fat nose." "Miss Berry." "I‘m glad to meet hbher. I officed her out of a rowboat and told her I was Mr. Yonkers of New York. We was breezing along on the bit till Clyde broke it up. He called me Fraser, and ‘ it was cold in a minute. Fraser is a l cheap name anyhow. I‘m sorry I took it." "She might have known I‘d never crack. It‘s her own business, and I‘ve got troubles enough with this cannery on my hands." \ "Did you know Cherry in the upper country ?" sls “Nope.” ‘ ~*"She said you did." * "She said that? "Yes. She thought you had told me who she was." "Thank heaven for that, anyhow, but â€"I don‘t understand about the other." Boyd voiced the question that was foremost in his mind. * "Speaking of clothes, I notice you are dressed up like a fruit salad. What is itâ€"the yacht?" “Yes.ii "You‘d better bhurry. She sails at high tide." "Alton told me so and said that he was going along." an air brake, don‘t it?: I never won a bet as long as I packed it arov=»d, and Fraser hasn‘t got it beat by imuore than a lip." are the limit." "Do you mean to say it isn‘t your real name?‘ asked his companion in genuine bewilderment. "Do you intend to force me to marry "Naw! Switzer is what I was born with. Say it slow and it sounds like ~Boyd looked up quickly. "Did you introduce> yourself?" "Sure! I met ‘em all, but I didn‘t catch their names. I ‘made‘ one beâ€" fore I‘d gone a mileâ€"tall, slim party with cracked ice in her voice." "Nothing doing in the heiress busiâ€" ness,‘" replied the adventurer. "I couldn‘t stand the exposure.‘‘ "They were cold, eh?" "Yep! They weathered me out." "Did you really meet any of those people?‘ It was not until supper time that Boyd saw "Fingerless" Fraser and questioned him about his quest for an heiress. "I must think.. Iâ€"I want to go away. Goodby."‘ "Goodby," he returned and stood watching her as she hbhurried away, half suspecting the tears that were trembling amid her lashes. The girl stood for a moment with her eyes turned toward the river. Then she said: might grow to love meâ€"as T loved you, but I found it was no use. When I saw you â€"so honest and unselfish in your devotion to that other girl I thought it was my chance to do someâ€" thing unselfish in my turn. It was hard, but I did my best. I think I must love you in the same way you love her, Boyd, for there is nothing in all the world I would not do to make you happy." 66 Sail S !’l "Well!" Boyd breathed deeply. "You Cherry spoke directly to Miss Wayâ€" land now. "I have supported this little fellow and his mother for a year.‘‘ She indicated thevred haired youngster in Constantine‘s arms. ‘"That is all I care to do. When you arrived Mr. Marsh induced Chakawana to take the baby up river to a fishing camp and stay there until you had gone. But Conâ€" stantine hbeard that he intended to marry you, and, hearing also that he intended leaving tonight, Constantine "His child!" Wayne Wayland turned upon his daughter‘s fiance with a face of stern surprise. "Willis, tell her she is lying!" j "She‘s lying!"‘ Marsh repeated obediâ€" ently, but they saw the truth in his face. f Marsh started to speak, but Mildred Wayland, who had been watching him intently, was before him. i ‘"Who sent you here, miss?‘ "No one sent me. If Mr. Marsh will stop his chatter I can make myself understood." "Don‘t listen to her." Cherry turned upon him swiftly. "You‘ve got to face it, so you may as well keep still." He fell silent. ‘"We heard that Mr. Marsh was goâ€" ing away with you, and I came to ask him‘ for enough money to support his child while he is gone." Cherry shrugged her shoulders and showed ber white teeth in a smile. "Mr. Marsh anticipates slightly You may judge if he is right." *"‘That‘s her game. She â€" wants money!" *"What is the meaning of this?" deâ€" manded Mr. Wayland. "I heard you were about to sail, so I came out to see you before"â€" Marsh broke in hoarsely: "She‘s a bad woman! She has come here for blackmail!" "Blackmail!" cried Wayne Wayland "I thought as much!" Followed by the stares of the sailors, she came up the deck toward the old man and his daughter, who had arisen, the Indian girl clinging to her sleeve, the tall breed striding noiseâ€" lessly behind. Willis Marsh came with them, his white lips writhing, his face like putty. He made futile detaining grasps at Constantine, and in the siâ€" lence that suddenly descended upon the ship they heard him whispering.. white companion. Marsh‘s face was livid; he shook a quivering hbhand in Cherry Malotte‘s face. It seemed as if he would strike her, but Constanâ€" tine strode between them, scowling siâ€" lently Gown into the smaller man‘s face, his own visage saturnine and menacing. Marsh retreated a step, chattering excitedly. Then Cherry‘s voice came clearly to the listeners: "It is too late now, Mr. Marsh. You may as well face the music.‘" Over the side bhad come Cherry Maâ€" lotte, accompanied by an Indian girl in shaw!l and moccasinsâ€"a slim, shrinking creature who stood as if beâ€" wildered, twisting her hands gnd starâ€" ing about with frightened eyes.. Beâ€" hind them, bhead and shoulders above the sailors, towered a giant copper bued breed with a child in his arms. They saw that Marsh was speaking to the newcomers, but could not disâ€" tinguish his words. The Indian girl fell back as if terrified. She cried out something in her own tongue, shook ber head violently and pointed to her Wiilis Marsh squirmed uncomfortaâ€" bly in his seat. He fixed his eyes upon the knot of men at the starboard rail. Then, with a shurp indrawing of his breath, he leaped up and darted down the deck. / "I bave talked with her already. I assure you she is not dangerous.‘"‘ Miss Wayland chilled him with a look and waved the mate away, then sank Dack into her chair. "It is very unwise," Marsh chimed in apprehensively. *"She isn‘t the sort of person"â€" Mildred leaned forward and called to the ship‘s officer: "Show ber up. I will see her." ‘‘Mildred, you mustn‘t talk to that woman!" her father cried. *"*That creature? I bhave nothing to say to ber." "Very well, sir.‘"‘ The mate turned, but Mildred said suddenly: y "Wait! Why don‘t you talk to her, father? **Yes, sir. She came alongside in a small boat just now with some natives. I stopped her at the landing, but she says she must see you at once." "Ab, that woman again!‘"‘ Mr. Wayâ€" land‘s jaws snapped. *"Tell her to beâ€" gone. I refuse to see bher." His complaisant enjoyment was inâ€" terrupted at last by the approach of the second officer, who announced that a lady wished to see Mr. Wayland. "A lady?" asked the old man in surâ€" prise. R "Yes. But I swore that he should not." "Then he‘ll come," said Mildred. It was twilight when Willis Marsh was rowed out to the yacht. He found Mr. Wayland and Mildred seated in deck chairs enjoying the golden sunset while the old man smoked. Marsh exâ€" plained that he had excused himself from his guests to go whither his inâ€" clination led him and drew his seat close to Mildred, rejoicing in the fact that no one could gainsay him thig privilege. Moreover, he had won the unfaltering loyalty of Wayne Wayâ€" land, the dominant figure of the west. Nothing could keep him now from the success his ambition demanded. "Did you say that Boyd threatened to come aboard this evening?‘ quesâ€" tioned the girl. all the west for you. I have kept you pure and sweet and goodâ€"and to think that such a fellow should dare"â€" Mr. Wayland choked with anger... "The one thing I cannot stand in a man or a woman is immorality. I have lived clean myself, and my son shall be as clean as I." j wWEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1915