STORMALONG

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 18

STORMALONG

llllllllllllllt by 1111111111111 l Boyd Cable

CHAPTER XXIV. It seemed that in facing a blow of this sort Betty was "the better man" of the two, and it was she who argued with the downcast and despairing Nick, flatly refused to consider their engagement broken off, insisted that everything would come right. And at last she fired him to new life. "By heaven, Betty," he said, jumping to his feet and flinging an arm about her, right. I'm a cur to give way like this. We'll fight it through somehow. If shipping is as busy as they say, there must be berths going. Perhaps 111 get another command, or even get it of the Minnehaha from whoever buys her." He hurried'on deck tnen to attend to the ship's business, and Betty ran to the steward and poured ouj the tale to hi™, "You know Robin. better than any' of us," she said. ."Don't you think if we tell aboutthe will he'll keep the ship and let Nfek command her! What's this strahge woman like! Do you know her!", "I do," said the steward glumly. "And she's-the;snag here. I don't like her, and I r ve ; : a notion she's a poor lot that cared less for the lad for what was' coming to him. I'll swear there was more between her and the mate too,, than just the casual acquaintance she said she had when she recommended him to Captain Dunbar for the berth. She?ll certainly raise Cain if Robin'leaves Captain Hausen master of the ship."' It was not a very happy evening aft that night, although it was merry enough in the fo'c'sT and half deck. Betty made ho further attempt to argue that her father would certainly do all that could be required for her and for her husband, because she fully understood that this was a view that Nick could not share—and she admired him the more for it, difficult as it might make matters. She found one gleam of hope, that when Robin heard of the will (and of course he would hear from Williams and the crew, even if Nick didn't tell) and that Nick was refusing the inheritance, Robin would keep the ship and make hinv master. It ought to be possible to arrange ■ that and have it - firmly fixed before Lydia Strange knew anything about it. b But this last gleam was smothered next morning when Robin appeared in a state of upset, and announced that he just bad a wire from Lydia saying she was arriving there that afternoon, had taken the chance of getting a passage jxcross as companion to a distant relative, and was running on to Frisco. "Nick, dear," said Betty, hurriedly when she . had him an instant alone. "Make an excuse to go ashore or keep out of the way, and let me have a quiet talk to Robin. No, I wont say a word about the will; I promise. But there's something queer about Lydia coming— and him not feeling anything like as pleased over it as a man might be and ought to be." Her tactics had due reward. The ship was berthed that morning, and while Nick was busy over the business of getting fast alongside, Betty took Robin aside . and deliberately pumped him, speakmg with a sympathy and understanding which Robin could'not resist. - ' f ~°f w tfa ere was something queer, ?-a 8 Ba "* breathlessly when Itobai departed for thr» depot to meet Lydia a train. "I got =. ~ out of him „ He does not ..j, for that girl, is only stick ins her because he thinks be ought to—.ni l, although he didn't say this exactly, because she would haul him up . for breach of promise, and produce all sorts of letters and things a man k? Robin would die rather than be in a public glare." , Well, I don't see that this helps us much," said Nick, despondently. Youve got those letters from the superintendent in London, showing that she forged that telegram," .said Betty triumphantly. "Can't we scare her off opposing your getting the ship, if we tell her? We'll hand them to Robin, or lock her up for forgery or something?" Its. hardly forgery," said Nick doubtfully, 'and you don't know what a determined little beast that woman is or how she sways Robin." ' . "There's another woman who is swaying Robin," she cried eagerly. "A girl lie met on the boat Home, and that he's really in love with, but darei.'t tell her. He 11 jump at a chance to break with Lydia."

The telegram yarn wouldn't get him , a . > each of promise action," said j L I know the sort of chap he is, and-how he ? d-do anything to avoid that."' Oh, well, weH see," she said, sadly discouraged. "He promised me he'd brmjr her down to the ship at once, i 'want to see her before I advise anything." '/ There was certainly no doubt of what thought of Lydia* Strange when they did meet. Betty's lip curled as she took ur the 'pathetic/ appealing eyes, the baby mouth, the innocent air. Lydia was in her.mind in an instant: A fraud—play the pretty child, but is as hard as-a flint—ten years at least , f,. an she says—and her hair is ciyed. _ They had tea in the saloon together, ana Lydia lost no time in showing/ her mtS b e retti, y decorated although they" "I'm so, so sorry, Ca ; tain Hausen," she remarked, when something wasab°u'the "that we have decided to sell the Mranehalu, if we get a good price. . -* ° t» J eß ' a good price," said "OtWwT vn glance at ller - Otherwise, 111 keep her and send her another voyage."-' "And of course you'll be going to the yi ar '.^l? ta !; n '' Lydia sweetly. "So ™ command. Poor Mr. Williams. I'm so sorry he's too to d ?y . f ? r me to see him." (Williams, having got . liquor somehow, had been dead drunk in his berth since morning, but this was not mentioned:) |)imbar," said Nidc, hesitatingly. "There is something I did on my > that I hope yodH o.k. s When we were bolting from those Germans, and the. men were so sporting over taking the risk, I promised them all double pay from that day to port."" then :tho daws bared. "You promised what?" cried Lydia shrilly, and then recovering "Jt was most generous, captain, see we can't jrimit that expense: jt must come off your ; pay, of course.". - - ~ "My tofcil' pay won't go far," Nick began', when she interrupted. "Thai's your affaii^— certaiidy-not ours;'' Nick's hapkles began torise. "I dont understand that 'ours.' Surely it is Mr. Dunbar's affair," he said stiffly.

| Lydia's voice began to shrill tgain I "Robin, am I to sit in your ship and be insulted? Perhaps you'll explain that ! your affairs are equally mine." Robin tried to smooth her ruffled plumes, but she would have' none of it. Clearly she was out to pick a quarrel with Nick, and" make it impossible for him to continue in command or employment there. "I don't understand why Miss South remains on board," she flung in acidly, after a few more comments on "qur affairs." "Don't you think it would be as well tf fehe went to an hotel ashore, instead of making scandal on your ship!" At that; lgick flamed. "What do you mean stormed. "The only possible scandal Mrould be by evil-tongued scandalmongers with dirty minds. If you—" She jumped to her feet, pale with rage, with the baby eyes cold and hard, the pretty mouth set and vicious. Robin sat, twisting and embarrassed, trying vainly to hush her as she,shrilled her wrath on Nick, and concluded violently: "Turn him and her off our ship this instant, Robin. Do you hear, Mr. Hansen—you are not wanted here. You can go—now this moment." "Your ship," Nick snapped savagely at her. "I'm mighty glad you've ripped open like this, you—you— Never mind. Now, let me tell you this isn't your ship—isn't Mr. Dunbar's ship. She is my ship. lam owner as well as captain of her, and if anyone goes ashore this instant—it is not me, but you." She sat glaring at him in speechless rage and amazement, watching with starting eyes while Nick produced the will and handed it to Robin.

I d meant to tear that up," said Nick curtly, "when I knew you were alive, because your father only made that will supposing you dead. But now I'm sticking to the last letter of it. Everything your father owned is mine, and 111 keep every penny of it. Just let me read that out to Miss Strange." He took and read the will over, folded and pocketed it. "Here's some other papers you may see," he said, and tossed the Superintendent's packet over. Robin read and flung the telegram and papers to Lydia. "You did this," he said, harshly.

Then Lydia let loose. She raved, she shrieked things about Betty and Nick that would have brought Betty to hysterics of rage, but for the' satisfaction she' was feeling to hear the woman so completely give herself away to Robin for what she was, and the keener satisfaction -with which she watched the disgust growing on Robin's face as she raved. "That'll do, Lydia," he said, at last, sharply; when she shrieked out what they would do to Nick, how they would fight the will, have him arrested for forging it, expose him and his lady passenger. • "That'll do. There's no question of fighting the will, especially now I've seen that foi-ged telegram. 'The ship and property are yours, and that's all there is to it, Hausen. I'm going right to the agent's to tell them, and cable to the firm at home."

Then it was his turn to feel the edge of Lydia's tongue. So ugly was it that Nick rose hurriedly and drew Betty from the cabin, leaving Robin without witnesses to his embarrassment. Fifteen minutes later Lydia stamped up on deck, flung a last abusive taunt in Nick's direction, and flounced ashore. Nick and Betty drew a long breath, looked at each other, and went down in silence to the saloon. Robin rose as they entered, stooped and picked up a ring from the floor. _ "She's broken it off," he said with a' sigh of unmistakable relief. "After she found I was sticking to it, I wouldn't dispute the will, and hadn't a cent to fight it, anyway. Then she let rip it wasn't me but what I was worth ■ she was after, and flung my ring in my face. What a woman, and, oh, Lord, what an escape!" "I think so," said Nick gently. -"And! now that you're rid of her, 111 tell you! P, y e< * bluff about sticking by the wiU deliberately— to try her out. I did not mean it, of course. * All your fathwr owned is yours. I'll tear up the will here and now." Robin checked him hastily. "Lord man, you'll find yourself in quod if you do. It s a most serious criminal offence to des£rpy a will. But look here, if Wu mean what you say—and I understand you re tho sort that would mesa it—lll

play the game by yon. Well split even on the inheritance, if you liirp. Take equal shares of everything; and if you won t agree to that, I won't touch one cent, but leave the will to stand."

Nick hesitated a moment. Then his hand shot out and the two men gripped. Betty didn't stop at that. With tears of happiness overflowing, she her arms about both of them,. in turn: and kissed them.

•A. month later the Minnehali& was again passing through the Golden Gates, this time outward bound for Australia Mid Home. Nick stood on the poop, with Betty by his side, a few of the old hands amongst the crew busily engaged loosing and sheeting home the sails, and Bluegum on the foVsle-head superintending the casting off of the tag's hawser. Those others of the old crowd who ere .,l°° res^le ss and too eager-to be in it to sign on for another v lone voyage were returning to England with Kobm, but had come out with him in the tug to give the old ship a send-off. The tug circled and fussed round heading for the shore, both crews cheermg wildly. Nick called for three cheers for Mr. Dunbar, and the Minnehaha's roared it vociferously; for old shipmates, and got another pealing yell in answer. But the Minnehaha's efforts were a mere whiter to the cheer that rose to Robin's call: HaSr CheetS f ° r C * ptain and Mrs - The old crowd on the tug, the old and newurthe ship, yelled themselves hoarse .that, and again to the yell from Bluegum, away forward: CpUia A last yell, a blare from the tuir's apart* tw ° v eßeela began to draw .Hlywds, there" shouted Sir- ST 1 emerged suddenly and swunghis huge -bulk into the main shrouds. His deep voice rolled out some new. lines to an old chantey, and from ship and tug the chorus lines Tose with ft yen i (The End.*) ' . e