THE INN ON THE BEACH

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11540, 27 November 1900, Page 3

THE INN ON THE BEACH

n. The house of David Copeland, fisherman, and of Mrs. Copeland, tavernkeeper, was not by any means of the comfortable and picturesque character which drew people to gpond their summer in Mrs. Holloway's inn. To an upper room, furnished with two cots, the fishers had carried the wrecked strangers. Their appearance and their manners, when the doctor had revived them somewhat, were not such as to conciliate either their hostess or the medical man. "Dagos," said Dave. "At least one on 'em is, an' the other looks brother to the devil. No wonder Mrs. Holloway didn't want 'em at the inn. Howbe, they have saved something from the wreck, an' a poor man can't afford to turn away money." One of the strangers was more badly hurt by the surf than the other, and he remained fretfully in his room. The other was able to wander about a little, frightening children with his bandaged head, and repelling men and women by his furtive looks and sullen answers. Ted Guest made his way, as the sun went down, to the Copeland tavern. It was Christmas eve, a very still evening, chill and groy. He had left the Holloways at the inn preparing fo: Christmas and the wedding which was soon to follow. Jack Beaumont was called away on business, to return 011 the morning, and mother and daughter were alone. Old Ted was wretched in heart. He stood near Copeland's collecting his thoughts, and shivered under the cloudy skies, as the night jlosed in. He had been faithful to her for pears, hoping for his reward. Now, when it leemed almost within touch, this—thing must pome back from the dead, and he had promised to take him to her. There was little of tho Christmas joy 111 old Ted's heart. Mrs. Copeland showed him the room. It was dark save for a candle's light. Tho skipper closed the door, shutting himself in the room. The m.in*from the wreck was clone, his faco at tho window. Ho turned swiftly around. "So you've got back, Holloway, you scoundrel !»' said Guest. The man bounded up at the name,' and in an instant hail drawn a revolver. " Put that away," said the sailor, sharply, but lowering his usually jolly, roaring voice. "Don't you know me? Don't you know four old skipper, Ted Guest?" , Tho man gasped, and there was a minute's pause. Then he laid the pistol oil the bed, Bud came forward with a laugh, holding out his hand. •' Guest," ho cried, " what brings you here? By .love, but I am glad to see you again." "Guest pushed aside tho hand. " I'm not at all glad to see yon!" he said. "What ill-fortune brought you here? What wickedness have you been up to since 1 helped you—not for your sake—to escape justice before?" The man gave a growl in the shadows like 9, sullen bear in its cave. "What ill-luck brought you here?" he marled. And now you have entered my room unasked, have you nothing to say but to recall the past? If you have not. you might as well leave me alone, as you found jr.e." '• Holloway, chance has thrown you upon the beach where I live, and I wish it had thrown you on it dead. You know I would not he here for your sake, or because 1 want to see you myself. Before [ say why I came here I want you to tell me what you've been doinc since you disappeared, five years ago.'' "You," growled the man, you want to know? You've wanted to know everything since ever you first meddled with my affairs. You interfered about my marriage; you made trouble for me after my marriage. You bent my wife's mind against me. You helped me to get away, that I might leave you free with my wi— "Silence! you blackguard!" yelled the captain. "You—you scoundrel! Don't say a word against that best— What right have you to defend my wife?" " The right of a man!" cried old Ted. '"The God-given right of a man to protect all women against such as you! Stand back. Holloway! I don't care that for your pi?lol! Touch it and I'll knock your brains out!" " Psaw, Ted Guest!" he growled. " Let this thing drop. What do you want? If it were not for one thing, of course, I'd know what brought you." " Uoota night, comaradoes," said a voice ftt the door, and the other man entered, the same who had prayed on the smack on tho night of tho storm. " Never mind him." said Holloway. "He does not understand much English. He and I—you see. I repose special confidence in such an old friend" (he sneered), " have had to get away from Cuba best we could. I don't know whether the Spaniards or - Americans wanted us wdtst—we played with both. That's why we'ro here. Now, es I was saying" "If it were not for one thing. What thing ?" "Why, that Dolly's dead. If she were not I should say she sent you. I heard of Dolly's death four years ago." Ted Guest did not reply. If this were so, if the man really thought his wife dead— then? Surely there was no use in bringing him to Mrs. Holloway. " But," said the outcast, with a sudden thought, "there's Katey. I'd like to see Katey, my little girl. Guest, look here. I can see by your eyes you know where Katey is. Between us, let there be no feeling. Mv friend here and I oro in the blackest of holes. Where Katey is you know that I'll soon find out. Give me some money at once to go west, or I'll ask it from her." For an instant the skipper grasped at this chance to get immediately rid of the scoundrel. A railroad ran a few miles away. He pulled - out his watch to look at the time. He was near the candle, and the foreign rascal was close behind him, walking. Guest pulled a roll of bills half-way from bis pocket and then shoved them back again. No ! this wa3 not keeping his promise to Dolly Holloway. If alive he had said lie would bring her husband to her fo. Katey sake. Good. Let the villain have the chance the white-souled woman would give him. Guest had promised her. He drew himself erect. The foreigner was close behind him. "Holloway," said the skipper, almost gently, "Dolly is not dead. I came to give you another chance, to bring you" The butt of a revolver swung in the air and crashed 011 the captain's head, and he fell. The Cuban was at him instantly, rifling his pockets of the watch and bills. For all his trouble he had found very little money on Guest, and the watch was not of great value. " No enough a," he cried. Holloway came to his senses. "You've done it now, Jose," said "re, with a reckless laugh. "We arc bound to get away to-night at all risksfar away. How about the other thing '! Did you scout ? Is it safe ? Only women ? Then we'll have to make a try. What time is it ? Let's get out of this quick, then ? Dolly alive ? If only I could find her I would be safe ? Come. Jose, softly now !" With soundless lips the snowflakes kissed the earth, and kissed tho sea, dying on the kiss. None of the villagers were abroad that bitter Christmas eve, but from some of the cottages came voices of merriment, and in the little lonely church at the far end service was being performed, the midnight service. The tiny organ piped its best, and the fishct folk sang and prayed of forgiveness of sin, and peace and goodwill on earth to all men. To all men ? Could there ever be forgiveness foi such as those, creeping over the snow in the shadows of trees and fences ? They crept softly on with tho velvet feet of wildcats. It was. almost midnight now. and they were close to the inn. A light yet shone from a window in the top of the house. Confound it!" muttered Holloway, " who is awake so late ? I can't wait much longer or I'll be frozen to death. Let's try it right away." The other shrugged his shoulders, and soon they were beneath the windows, creeping about, feeling their way. "O rot!" said Holloway again; "we'd better smash in at once. You said there were only three "women. I wonder what they are. anyhow. You're dead sure there's money?" "The fisherman who talkee muchee say plenty." )( "Didn't hear their names, did you? " No needa names." "True enough. If we can only raise enough here we'll be far on our west by morning. It's a chance, but there s nothing else to do. Gfcme on—this is a pantry window, I guess." "Sh—hat's that?" There came from villngcward a crunching of hasty stumbling feet on the road. " A drunken fisherman," said Holloway. For an instant there was silence. Then a window glass fell in fragments on the snow. 3olloway passed into the inn. The approaching feet sounded more loudly and nearly. One voice hailed another. "Wait!" called tho Cuban. " Como back." "Come back be blowod!" a fierce voice snarled from within. "I tell you it's a drunk fisher— He interrupted his own words by giving it horrible veil, as, on the instant, a pistol cracked inside the house. The Cuban fled. A moment later old Ted Guest and David Copeland thundered at the door—Ted with silt and bleeding head and raging eyes. The door was opened, and the captain ran straight into Dolly Holloway, who carried a pistol. "Are you hurt?" ho oried.

"No, no," she answered, trembling but firm." I could not sleep, and heard a noise at the pantry window. I have to protect Katey and Maggie, you know, and sleep with a pistol. • I thinkl'm afraid I hurt the burglar.'" -'4 Guest , rushed on and found him prostrate' the man who had so strangely been thrown by fate at his wife's door, at the inn on the beach. Dolly followed, but Guest met her before she saw and led her back. "Don't look, please," he said. " Do you know who it is?" " Yes," said Guest, softly. "Why do you look so? 0, have I killed him? * Is he dead." "Yes, dear, he is dead." Dolly was sobbing now, and shaking. "It was for Kate.y's sake," she cried, hysterically. "I had to protect her. Poor man. 0 the poor man! But. Ted, it was my duty—say it was my duty!" "Yes, dear, yes," said the skipper, tenderly. "It was your duty." The wedding, that was to have been so merry, between Jack Beaumont and Katey Holloway, had to be postponed, for the landlady of the inn was very sick after her adventure with the burglars. When she was better she insisted upon the youngsters being married at once, when the skipper, who had been merely stunned and a little cut by the pistol blow, gave away his old sweetheart's daughter. When the lovers got back from their honeymoon they found an amazing thing had happened. - Dolly Holloway' hah was almost white, and—she was married to Ted Guest. No word has passed the lips of either to say how the skipper ever told Mrs. Holloway whom it was that she shot on that Christmas eve when burglars broke into the inn on the beach.