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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1926-6-9, Page 7te, THE BRUSSELS POST WEDNESDAY, JUNE ji21. IL Love, Th - Tyrant 1 "What do you want?" she demand ed, trying to ipeak coldly and indif f erently. The veins swelled in his forehead "I don't know what I want, ex- cept my revenge on him," he said. "And I'll have that." She was silent for a moment, then she asked: "How did "you find me? Does father—" he doesn't," he said. "Nev- er mind how I found you. Pm got. leg to take you hack to your father." She shrank away from him. "I will not go." He laughed bitterly. "Aye, you may well he ashamed r he said, "but I meen to take you. He's net .married you, Kitte?" hu asked, suddenly, hoareely; and he held his breath waiting. for her ane - wee. Kate's face flamed, then grew deathly pale. "I don't know who youtanean," she said. "It's a lie," be said. "I moan that hound, Gordon. Spare your breath, I saw him enter this house last night. He has just left it." Kate's heart beat painfully; the room seemed to spin round her. "It's no use lying," he said. "I've found you both, here together, and I'm going to take you back,"• "You cannot—you cannot!" she breathed. He laughed fiercely. "I can and I will!" he said. He drew a little nearer to her, lowering his voice till it became a horst. whispdr. "Listen to me, Kate. I've got him in my power, and I've only got to speak a word—one word and he's as good as a dead man. Re- fuse to come with me, and I'll fol- low him—" She stretched out her hand as if to ward off the threatened danger. "No morel Don't—don't speak another word She looked round as if she were terrified lest they had been overheard. "I will come with you, Dick. I will come at once." He was -a little startled by her ready acquiescence; but he nodded significantly. "Go and get your things on," he seid; "if you're not down in five min- utes, I'll come for you. But you'd better come, or, I warn you, -it wiU be bad for him." She held up her hand as if to sil- ence him, and turning, went quick- ly, but with trembing steps, up the stairs. He followed her to the door, and watched her enter the room above; then he returned and paced up and down the sitting -room. Kate staggered into , Miss Woods' bedroom and caught at the bad to support herself; and Miss Woods, who had just finished dressing, turn- ed to her With a cry of alarm. "Help me!" cried .Kate. "Oh. what shall 1 do? What can I do to save him?" She had no thought for herself. "What is the matter?" asked Mies Woods. "Him? Who—?" Kate broke in on the question in a voice almost inaudible. "Mr. Gordon! There is a man in the room below who—who will de him an injury. He is in danger! Oh, don't ask me—I can't tell you 1—he is in great, terrible danger, and this man knows where he is; and there is no one to warn him, no One to tell him to escape! And this man is waking for me, waiting now! If I'm not down he five minutes he will come up here after me, will force inc to go with him. Oh, what shall I do, what shall I do? If I could only get to him, speak one word to warn him, put hint on his guard! I tried this morning, but he would not listen; he is too brave, too tecklass, to care." She sank on the bed, and, covering her face with her hands, rocked to and fro. Miss Woods, almost as pale as Kate, stood looking at her, as if try- ing to understand; then suddenly - she sprang to Kate's vide, and eaught her sm. . "Rushy, she whispereel. "Try and be calm! I've thought of .somethin that will help you to get away—to go to Mr, Gordon. But you'll want al) your nerve; and you're shaking !like a leaf. I'm afraid you'll never do it" Kate dropped her hands from her 'are and •rose. "Yee, yes! I will! What is it? Tell Inc. Wait! Give ine—give me some water!" MSS Woodran to the wash -stand and poured out a glass of water and brought it to her, and -while Kate was drinking -it, took a bundle from a drawer and untied it. "Quick!" she whispered. "Put hese on!" Kate stared at her, and at the .black dress and widow's bonnet; then she saw what the other woman meant and tore off her dress. While she was getting on the black one, they heard Dick Reeve moving in the pas- sage below, and presently he called Up to her by name. "Tell hien to wait five minutes longer," whispered Miss Woods; and Kate, moistening her parched lips, called out: "I am not ready. I shall be five minutes longer." "kith trembling hands she put on the bonnet and drew down the veil. She was shaking from head to foot; but Miss Woods brought her some more water and whispered: "You must do it, for Mr. Gor- don's sake." , Kate pressed her hand and open- ed the door. At the threshold she paused and drew a long breath; then she went down the stairs slowly. Sife heard Dick Reeve spring up from a chair as he heard her footstep, and he came out of the room to meet her; but at sight of the figure in deep mourning he drew back and let her pass. Kate's heart almost ceased beating as she passed him and for a moment it seemed to her that she must break down; but the thought that Jack Gordon's safety, his very life, de- pended upon her nerve and self-pos- session, gave her sudden strength and courage, and she walked slowly through the room and into the street and even restrained her burning de- sire to quicken her. pace until she had reached the corner. Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business - Look over your stock of Office Stationery and if it reqiiires replenishing tall Us by telephone 81. The P Poblishieg finest Dick Reeve paced between the paie sage arid the sitting -room impatient- ly for some minutes; then he flung himself into a chair, beating a tat- too with his feet. Suddenly the street door opened and Mordy Jane entered with half a pound of butter in one hand and some bacon in the other. She stared at the intruder for a moment in silence, then she said, drily: "That's right; make Yourself at '0010." Dick Reeve, who had stared back at her, as if fascinated by the gro- tesque figure in its ridiculous bon- net, rose, and said half sullenly, half fiercely: "Pm a friend of Kate Transom; I'm waiting for her." "Oh, you are, are you?" said Mor- dy Jane, sharply. "Sure you're a friend? If yer wasn't so countrified Pd take yer for a writter." She meant an officer from the County Court. "You've got the same pleasin' kind of countenance. I'll tell 'er yer " "She knows it," said Dick Reeve. `She's gettin' ready to comp with Inc.,, "Oh, you're goin' to take 'er away, are you?" said Mordy Jane. "Yes," said Dick Reeve, savagely, "this is no place for her—a respect- able girl—" Meetly Jane put down the buttet and bacon on the table with an ern - 'Ogle slap, and, with her arms bo, turned and confronted him. geeedele, by Your laegwidge, Yolmg man, I should say you1/41 broke out from a lunatiek,,asylum. If this ain't o respectable house, what are you dein' in it, I ehould like to know? You get outside!" Dick Reeve glowered ab her, then went to the foot of the stairs and called "Kate!" No answer came. He waited it moment, then he sprang up the stairsand knocked at the door violently. It was opened by Miss Woods; who regarded him with an affectation ot surpriee mhich did credit to her stage training. "1 watit Kate—Kato Transom!" said Dick Reeve,' "Miss Transom is not here," she replied, plafidly, . "Where js the—where's she gone?" he demanded. "I don't blow," said Miss Woode, With dignitn •rSite may be up• - tai ) nmobogt, Not her ,66d. a moment that there was no place end nothing in It which could con -eat hee, and with a bound he was outside and up the rentaining flight of stales; Monty Jane's voice shrill - up to him: - "Hiluny, where are you ?min'? Thieves, merrier!" Dick Reeve Ineked round Jack's -vont and the ether ono on the same floor, nod came tearing down the :titirs, livid with fury. At the door he turned to shake his clenched hand at Mordy Jane and Miss Woods. His fury was too great for him to speak. Ho saw how he had been tricl«,d. At last his rage found vent in a fearful oath, and he ran Into the street. CHAPTER XXXIX. Jack's work that morning was the euperintendings of a gang .of men who were unloading one of the huge ocean boats. The cargo was a heavy one. and the largest crane in the docks was raising the great crates from the hold and swinging them on to the quay. Down in the hold men, stripped to their waists, were lugging and putting the crates into position; seed up above on the quay another gang of men were releasing them from the crane chains with which the laborers in the hold had encircled them, and pushing an.d hauling them l.nto stacks. The work was done so quickly, so neatly—considering the weight of the crates—than an on- looker would not have gained an idea of the amount of care and time involved. Sack was the ganger for the day, and it was his duty to see that the cargo was landed without injury to it—or to the men .engaged; and cev- tainly no better man could have been chosen; for he was not only calm and cool, but possessed of that strong personality which commands prompt obedience from those who come un- der its influence. The man at the lever that worked the huge crane, which reared its head and moved to and fro as if it were a sentient creature instead of a thing of iron and steel, kept his eyes fixed watchfully upon jack's face and his ears open for the short word of command that rang out a- bove the surrounding din, the "Heave hoyl" of the men, the puff- ing of steam, and the clank and rat- tle of the black and heavy chains; for prompt obedience was not only necessary to the proper manipulation of the great crane, but for the safe- ty of the men. A delay of a few eeconds in the carrying out of Jack's order, and the long arm of the mach- ine might swing round -too soon, caus- ing the crate it was hoisting or low- ering to strike some man or fall on him, knocking him silly or crushing the life out of him. Jack stood with one foot on a hawser -post, his arms folded across hie knee. He had taken off his coat, for the day was warm, and new and again he found it necessary to direct the last few swings of the descend- ing crate's, which he did with a touch of hit band or the pressure of his strong shoulder. Calm and cool as he looked, his eyes were sharp and every muscle braced up for any movement that right be called for suddenly: and those' who were under him toiled with the unquestioning confidence of -men .who have implicit faith In their sup- erior. A hoarse cry would rise from the depths of the hold announcing that the crate was ready .for lifting; Jack's "Go, now!" would sound &ear and •deep as a full -toned bell; the engineer would respond "Age, aye, Sir!" there would come a puff of steam, the sudden tightening of the black chain; and the heavy load would lin from the place where it had been hidden during the voyage, would hover in the air for a mom- ent or two until jack's voice sounded ayain, sharp and stern, and then gracefully swing round over the spot to which it was to be lowered. "The Forging of the Anchor" has been sung in magnicient strains; "rho Swingieg of the Crane" has yet to be stul'es; it waits for the man who ean see the poetry which lies in the vast strength of the huge frell arm which, like tut elephant, obeys the will of the man who has it under con- trol. Now, jack was so absorbed in this critical and responsible work that Ins could mainly think even of Esther; his eye moved only from the swing- ing crane to its ascending and de- scending loads, and he did not see the tall, black -dressed figure of a woman, who with nervous haste was making her way amongst the cargo plied up on the quay; and it was not until hif heard his nem .spoken close behind him that Ile turned and saw her. He started and etared at her, thitking for a moment that it Was. Miss Weada in her Widow's dress; then I sat, that the White face fsam-. ed by he Wok bonnet, was Itate's. .eieteittetand. .ev from her to the crane, "You here? --Don't come nearer; Stand back! What has happened?" • She shrank back, but drew closer to him the next instant, and, snatch- ing a Ounce at her, as he shoutod "Lower away!" he saw that she Wet4 1,etOhlig. N'i,ioi lnyIhlt::;itlyb.ut that site was 1.1rern "What is it?" he asked, quiekly, putting in his question between his lest and the next word of command, "The man!" she gasped. "It was Diets Reev,;--the has, been to the house—he wanted to take me back with him!" Jaek nodded ann raised his brows. "Oh?—Ready below? Lower! Let her got—. Dick Reeve! How did he find—" "I don't know. He would not toil me. 011, Mr, Gordon, he knows where you are—he will follow you —I gave him the slip—this dress of Miss Woods—;" Jack nodded. "Hold hard it momenti-e-Ready! Let her go I" "He will follow you here and find you. You must fly. Oh, • for God's sake, go at once! You know the dan- ger—the dreadful danger!" Jack looked at her—he could only spare a 'second. "What are you talking about, Kate?" he asked, swiftly, in paren- thesis as before. "Why should I fly?" "He knows!' she said, in as low a voice as she could. "He knows—he threatened that if I did not go with him he would— Ah, why do you still pretend net to understand?" She wrung her hands. Jack's face flush- ed, but he had not time to speak for a moment or two. "See here, Kate," he said, hurried- ly, in between orders, "this is not the first time you have hinted at my being in some kind of danger; and hang me if I know what you mean! What is it Dick Reeve threatens me with?" She drew quite close to him, so close that her Epee almost touched his face. "He—he knows what—what took place that night in Vancoart Woods! Oh, why do you hesitate? WHY don't you go while there is time?—Ah, too late, too later She broke og with an agonised cry that rose above- the shrill of the escaping steam and the clank of the chains. "He is here— look!" s Jack looked in the direction in which she was gazing, and saw Dick Reeve springing over some bales and coming in their direction. Jack saw that the man's face was flushed and has eyes bloodshot, and he thought that Dick Reeve was drunk; but as he came nearer Jack saw that the man was in a towering passion, and catching Dick Reeves' eye as they rested for an instant on Kate, Jack also saw, as it were in a flash, the cause of the trouble: Dick Reeve was jealous of him. Little thingshe had heard at Vancourt, but which had not struck him at the moment of hearing them, recurred to him now. Dick Reeve was in love with Kate, and, eaturally enough, thought that she had gone off with him, Jack. It would be difficult, at any time, to remove Dick's suspicions and to, allay his passionate temper; but it was impossible to • de so under such circumstance as the preent; -with the big crane swinging to and fro, with the din .of the docks in the air, in the presence of the men crowding about., like bees Sa a hive. Jack foresaw trouble; for Dick Reeve had murder written plainly in his swar- thy face; and Kate—well, he could hear her panting with terror at his side. But Jack was always cool when danger threatened, especially when it was threatened by a fellow- man; so as Dick Reeve blundeved like a mad bull over crate and bale, Jack nodded with a friendly smile, and, when Dick had come near enough to hear through the din, said: "How are you, Reeve? Don't come too near; this thing's get en awkward knack of dropping round on you un- expectedly," Dick Reeve pulled up just out of reach of the crate which was swing- ing in the air, and with heaving chest and fleshing eyes glared at Jack's cool countenance. "Curse you r he gasped, at last. "I've found you—you can't escape me. I've got you here, I've got you both together. Come out here, in the; open and fight me like a man; you're O lying, sneaking hound as enticed a girl from her home, 'Look at her, what you've made of herr He pointed a shaking finger' at 'Kate, who, in a half -fainting condi- tion., was leaning against it hsvser- post, her eyes wndering fearfully fro mono to the other. .jack's face flushed, but his voice was cool andsteady, as ho said: "You're making a mistake, Reeve —Are you ready down below?— making a hideous mistake,. It's true Yen find Rate and me thgethee— Let her go !r—but it's only by aceie dente t met het iii London, here— ,. Steady, there I— if you wait until I'm off duty I'll explain the whole natter to you—" "You mean you'll give me the ;hip," said Dick Reeve. "You lia, and you know it! Look at her, thero! 11 sho doesn't earl-, for you, why did iho play this triek on 100; why didn't como with mo Mstead of comites to you? I know why she came—to warn you. But it's too late. I've got you. Como out Imre, in the open, and fight like a man, or I'll open my mouth wide and charge you, here, with everybody to hoar." "I really should quite enjoy hal7. Ina' a Mill with you, Reeve," said Jack, cheerfully; "and I'm afraid it's the only way of knocking tho sense into you; but, you see, I'm on duty here and I can't leave. If you'd only he obliging enough to wait for a quarter of an hour, I will take a turn with you and as long a One as you •like." Notwithstanding the cheerfulness of his tone there was an ominone look in his eyes which filled Kate with dread. She sprang to him and clasped his arm. "No, no!" she implored. "You shall not!" The sight of her distress on Jack's account was too smuch f or Dick Reeve in his present condition. He sprang on a bale, and, shaking his fist towards Jack, cried out: "This man's a murderer! I charge him with murder! I saw him do it!" Jack's voice rang out: "Ready below there!" then he glanced at Kate nuickly. "Is he mad or drunk?" he asked. In the din no one but Jack and Kato had heard Dick Reeve's accusa- tion. Jack's indifference maddened the man, and, with a kind of snarl, he sprang at Jack. As he did so, •the order to swing the crate issued from Jack's lips; round it came with a kind of grim precision; the huge mass struck Dick Reeve, half blind with rage and fury, and knoched him over the quay. It was done se quickly, he disappeared so instantly, that not a soul save Jaak and Kate, " sw the • accident; and the passing of a tug which was just leaving the dock drowned the noise of his fall. It was impossible for Jack to leave his post at the moment, .for his doing so would endanger a number of lives; so he had to stand and give the word of commend, restraining Kate, who seemed about to rush to the quay's side. Direetly the crate was safely lowered, and the crane at a stand- still, he shouted: • "Hold hard, all hands!" and sprang to the edge of the quay. Diek Reeve was nowhere in sight; • but Jack guessed what had happened and that the unfortu-nate man had been sucked under by the wash of thv tug. Presently he :sew him ria, to the eurfaee, and Juelc dived in and 1 twain fin" him. Like most country- ; men, Dick Reeve could not swim a stroke, and as Jack approached him ; he tried to make a grab at his res- cuer; but Jack put aside his arm and 1 seized him by the back of his coat. As he did so, he saw the blood 000- ing from a wound on Dick Reeve's forehead, and an instant or two after wards felt the man turn, as it; were, to a dead weight. He knew that Diek Reeve had fainted. Nothing worild have been easier if they had been in the open sea, than to tow the man ashore; but they were in the swirl of the tug, which, all uncon- scious of what was going on under its grimyhull, was puffing and snort- ing on its way. Jack fought hard, but every stroke he took seemed to send him still fur- ther into the miniature whirlpool; and he began to think all his troubles would be ended and that it would not be at all necessary for him to go out to Australia to solve the prob- lem of his life, when aeman on board the tug chanced to catch sight of the two figures in the water, and shout- ing. an order, brought the vessel to a standstill. A boat was lowered, and Jack and Dick Reeve were haul- ed on board.. Jack was nearly gone, and had to lie down to get his wind, and Dick Reeve lay as lifeless a$ a log. When Jack came fully round, his.first ques- tion nos: "Is he dead?" He was informed that Dick Reeve was alive, but apparently badly in- jured. A crowd of men had collect- ed on the quay; but Jack had only e.yes for Kate Transom, who was kneeling on the edge waiting for the boat. He landed rather stiffly and shook the Water from hint as a stret- cher was brought for Dick Reeve and was accompanied by one of the dock policemen. , There was not 1 much excitement,bemuse aceidents at the docks are by 110 means fare- quent. Duk iteetre was restored to consciousness, and Jock an Kate acs compunied him in a eab to the hoe- pitel. On the war he ep.mod his eyes new 011.1 again and lboked from one to the other with a strange oxpres- shin on his face; an exereseion of doubt and something like sullen re- morse bet he said nothing; and when litter Jack and Kate were admitted to the ward laid stood beside his bed, he, after looking at them fixedly for a moment, eleeed his eyes and turned away us if lie did not intend to speak. (To 13e Continued). _ . BUSINESS CAWS TFIE industrial Mortgage and Savings Company, of Sarnia Ontario. ori, propnrea to atikittiootioo money on Mortortges on gond hinds. ordeqtritig money on 161.10 tom -tong. wi please ottply to James Comet, t,ottforth. Ont., who will fur RHO Other ilIVISCIAltrt3. The industrial Mortgage and Savings Company aszaw kameav AGENT FOR fire, Automobile and Wind Ins. COMPANIES For Brussels and vicinity Phone 647 JAMES M'FADZEAN Agent Hawick Mutual fire Insurance Company Also Hartford Windstorm and Tornado Insurance Phone 42 Box 1 Turnberry street, Brussels MO, SUTHERLAND & SON LIMITED .r,PescrzeogXeB' CEPAZ.P.S7 ONTO.B.16, D. M. SCOTT Zhiaayabtp 4CPCZTQX.S.511 PRICES MODEIIATE Vor references consult any person whose sales I have officiated at, Phone 2828 T. T. M'RAE M. B.. M. C. P., la M. O. M. 0. R., Vilinge of Brussels, Physician, Surgeon, Accumaheur Offloe at residence. opposite Melville Obarah, William street. Tr. .11. &arm." BARRISTER. SOLICITOR, • CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC Esx o - BRUSSELS —U1-6 t' 75.1 !sit t 11? Have you, Mr. Business Man, the time to get out and call On all of your customers and prospective customers each week? If you could do so, it would be a fine thing for you and for your business. The next best thing to a personal call from you is to send out your business message each week in THE POST, which covers the Liocal com- munity and will carry your message to old friends and new friends, alike. Advertising in THE POST is an economical, efficient way to reach the people in your trade territory and let them know of the buying opportun- ities offered in your business estab- lishment. ott:4.4a20074n7.7P7.074,4v.v.