fAGE FOPB . GAPE HAY STAR AXD WAVE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, ,9,1 MlLluiai, UiriWCK 21, 1910.

[?] AUTHOR OF "THE OCCASIONAL OFFENDER." 1

"THE WJRE TAPPERS." "GUN RUNNERS." ETC novelized from the pathe photo play of the same name | ■ ' con"""T. ■»!». »T ».m» HIM. I cidct CDionnc I „„~.v.„„i, ..... ... EPISODE

J* On Windward Island. ) f !Tbe sea wind, freshening as the ! pun fell low, riffled the shallower channel waters and struck inland to cool | the heat-baked dunes of Windward j (Bland. i -On the most westerly • lip of that • ^land. shaded by a grove of rustling I pucalyptus trees, a man £nd woman j Stood staring across the beryl-tinted ; ■ea-arm to where the shores of South jCarollna lay low and dim in the dis- . pace. f "you were not made for a life like this.' "/said the man. speaking with that I fall-Toweled softness peculiar to the Italian voice. "It's the only life I've known for ^ pine long years," she answered, without looking at him. ■ "And it's the only life you ever will Jmow,"(he declared with sudden boldBess, "if you refuse to wake pp to the fact that your husband is mad. I am a physician, and 1 know. No sane man brings a woman tofm island like this, to an island that's only fit for clams 1 to island that s only fit

and seagulls, and spends the best years of his life— yes, and her life — Rooking for a nitrate mine that never existed, and -never fould exist in such B place." "But my husband's workmen have tound traces of nitrate," protested Mrs. Golden, fixed in her determination of loyalty. Palidorl. the Italian, laughed softly. "And that nitrate, dear lady, was planted there by Golden himself. For your husband is deceiving you. He's ■©arching for gold, yellow gold, mil- ! lions of dollars, worth of gold. Hut ! |that gold he will never find, for it ■exists only in his imagination." "I cannot listen to words like that." protested the azure-eyed wife; "I will pot!" ' 'That's because you are afraid of ' the truth. Why do you suppose Golden has spent thousands and thousands in j ' paving his miserable island from the ' ocean? Why has he put up seawalls £ and dykes. . and constructed a great £ levee like that to keep the open At- f . Jantlc from encroaching on these j r precious sand fields of his. at every -a b!g!i tide? Why, except to keep the ' pater back from that burled treasure- 1 lof hlB? .And what has all this mad- v peas broyght to you?" "I think I regret only the day that s brought you to Windward island." she p puietly replied, as their eyes met. * . "And 1. too. shall regret that day 8 _ If It means 1 must go away empty banded." "I think my husband would kill you a If he heard you speak to me like (his!" . u

Palldori shrugged a shoulders. He is at least watching us from the porch of the manor house there." an- • pounced the Italian "And that I dust accept as a compliment." "Then we must go back," said the »oman, visibly alarmed. ' "And you go back not believing In Be?" asked Palldori as be walked beside her. "I cannot believe you or believe in you! Even If what you say is true, bow should you know bts maps and papers are worthless V "If you doubt me. I merely ask that *ou hand me your husband's keys. Then I will bring to you a bag of this Chilean nitrate that be keeps hidden pway in his inner study, that he ec&t(ers about in the plantation sands to ■alt his famous mine with. You hesi(ate, naturally. But If this is not true, |wby should that inner room be so [jealously locked and guarded V "It is guarded only because the polden jewels are kept there." was (he triumphant retort; "Jewels worth p king's ransom!" "Yet his loveliest Jewel is not kept tmder lock and key." murmured Palirtori. "Unless you tell me you will bring that key to the shrubbery beyond the manor house I will take you in my arms here, under your husband's eyes'" "Stop!" cried the unhappy wife, as he stepped closer to her. •' "Will you bring the key?" for Palldori knew that Jewels worth a king's •ransom were also worth one final effort. She hesitated, white-faced, as he repeated the command: "Yes." she gasped, as a fair-haired child of six ran lightly from the manor house steps to meet her mother. Palidorl. lighting a cigarette, turned carelessly away and sauntered toward the shrubbery of the eastern point. Margorv. the fair-haired child, chattered and fluttered birdlike about her silent mother as she approached the house and passed inside. But on the wide loggia Enoch Golden, sterneyed and grim-lipped, paced back and forth, seared by the fires of Jealous |- suspicions. He wheeled about and strode into the house. . He passed through the quiet room until he came to his study and rang for a servant. "Ask Mrs. Golden to come here," be commanded. i "She's down In the shrubbery at 1 Hht East point with Doctor Palldori." 1

| acknowledged the old reI Golden leaped to -his feet. He strode. , J white-faced, through the silent house, j hurried on along the narrow garde* j paths, and suddenly slackened his j pace as he approached,tbe thick shrub- | bery beyond. The sound of voices i I came to his ear. Creeping forward he J cautiously parted the branches There. ■ screened from the world about them, Palldori stood gazing down into his wife's eyes. ' * I "J cannot give you the key." he [ hearjHter say. "My husband still has ; it." i "Then what cyi we do?" asked the j Italian. .j "1 will give it to you tonight. It will be safer then." was the quavering answer. "Then you must give me more than I the key," murmured Palidori. jw Golden, dropping back, staggered | away like a stricken animal and heard i no more. His last hope had withered j out. The worst was known. He reentered his home, like a man in a dream. He sat gray-faced at his desl ureain. ne sat gray-iacea at nis aesi

a sweat of agony beading his gre: body Then, alter an hour of siler | wrestling with his soul, the natur: belligerency of the fighting man awal i on.- d in him. Seeing only one cours I before him. he sent curtly for thre | of his" retainers, three huge negroe | whom he knew he could trust. T each of these he handed out a belt an holster containing a revolver. The: he briefly ar.d coldly gave his orders "This isldhd." he grimly announced "makes Its own laws!" j And late that night, when the hou for his intervention drew nearer, h was almost -able- to exult in flndini something against which to contralizi j all his earlier vague suspicions. Hi | moved with both calmness and pre | cision. He showed the quick instinc : of the trained hunter in seeking covei behind the heavy portieres, for thi window beside him command ed a view of both the library' withil ! and the moonlit garden without. And j along the shrubbery of this garden h« detected Palidori stealing, car ; Ting a traveling-bag in his hand and ,a coat over his arm. Through the softly lighted library, a minute later, the figure of Golden's. wife slowly advanced. She crept out through the French windows, which stood open, stepped down into the garden, and passed on through the shrubbery to where Palidori stood waiting in the shadows. The watching husband could see the two come together, he could hear the of whispering voices, he could see Palidori's hand go out and clasp woman's.

A will not go alone. I love you, (and f want you to he happy!" JvyThe woman's answer could not -be beard. But Palidori. stepping suddenly forward, clasped her In his arms, and forced back her head until his lips smothered the cry that rose to n j her own. ^ i It was then that the planter stamped on the wooden floor, not with mere q rage, but as a signal to his waiting I servants. He could hear his wife's ^ ; call for helpy for already his three huge negroes had darted through the ■ bushes and surrounded Palidori. L The Italian, drawing his .revolver g as he wheeled about, found Mb firearm suddenly knocked from his hand. Even before Golden could reach him j" he was seized and overpowered and held & prisoner. The master of the manor, once his path was plain, was '• not given to hesitation. 3 'Tie up that man." was his curt command, "and take him to the manor ' cellars!" 1 ! Then Golden turned to his wife. 1 "You will come with me!" he said, as he pointed towards the open French windows ' It was not until she reached the 1 center of the lighted room that she turned and regarded him with wound1 ed yet pleading eyes. i "You have dishonored my home, and my name. That leaves you only one thing to do. You will go from ' that home." he cried, with increasing passion. "I want you to go, and go now. and never cross my path again!" 1 , W ait ! " she cried, with , her hand on her heart. "LisTen to — " ' "It is too late for words. I said. Un- ' til you leave this house. 1 cannot breathe in it." t "But I did notMng wrong. Oh. God. '' if 1 had only knowr ' If 1— ' . ! "1 want you to go'" he repeatOT. Golden's hand trembled as she ( passed out through the door, but oth- * erwise he gaV^no^ign of the feelings 2 swaying him. \ 1 He took a great \broaib. strode ' across the room, passed down the si- '' lent hall, and threw /open the mas- d sive oak door that l/d to the manor cellars. / j s These cellars |ere a series of , 11 gloomy chambers, klmost dungeonlike I in the massivqeess 0f( their walls, a relic of the older slavV. days Athen 11 Windward island was both k-dtotri but- 11 ing point for the African traders and E a raiding place for the Caribbean free- E' In the largest of these cham- u still stood the time-worn whip- 11

e*-*o post, the archaic branding ironsr the heavy- oak stocks in which recalcitrants were punished, together with i that flower of Inquisitional ferocity. A the Spanish Screw-Jack, an elaborate tion of the thumbscrew, in which a prisoner's hand could be inserted and slowly crushed tV a pulp. Yet cruel •\ j as seemed these k>!d-time implements ' | of torture. st»lnei| with the tears and ' blood of another country, they were ] nOTnore cruel than the relentless light "] : Golden's eyes as he confronted his I Prisoner, tied and trussed in a black i '>ak chair close beside the old Spanish Screw-Jack. The drunkenness of J : blind rage sang through the planter's veins as he watched his stalwart negroes thrust the ancient branding iron into its brazier of hot coals. That is the hand that polluted her ■ Jodv." his 'heart kept crying, as he commanded the biacks to force Pali- | dori's free arm into the screw-jack. ' ( "And now crush it!" he called aloud. ' ' He waited for some outcry as the • screw tightened- n flesh and bone. ■ But the Italian remained silent Goldj en_- now white to the lips, ordered the negro beside h:m to take up the branding iron ='For that is the face." a voice within the frenzied man's heart kept crying, "that violated her face!" The negro knocked the coal cinders from the glowing iron. Palidori's muscles hardened. Hut still he was silent. "Brand the dog!" commanded Golden. "And after today I warrant Shis • handsome face wflj bring dishonor Into fewer homes!" Once, and once only. -as the heated metal seared the flesh. Palidori screamed aloud. "That's enough. Golden suddenly gasped, as he steadied himseli

'—"Brand tt'e Dofl!" Commanded Golden. 2— Catapulted His Adversary Over His Shoulder. 3 — He Hurried Her Out of the Room.

i, one of the cellar pillars "Now turn him loose. And If he Is seen on this a island, after an hour's time, shoot him c like a dog!" i. A nervous sweat still showed in a 9 scattering of high lights across the 0 planter's sinewy face as he locked himself in his study and stared blankly 1 about the empty room. The wine of » rage had already ebbed from his [ blood. Exultation no longer shone in i his steely eyes. He crossed slowly to • the window and closed it. He failed i to see, as he did so. the 6tricken figure that slunk like a wounded snake out through the garden shrubbery, the . figure that nursed a crushed band. yet. at the brink of the manor garden, turned wrathfully about and held his. unipjured arm above trie head as he 6ajd; "May jay other hand wither off. if you do not pay. and pay a thousandfold. for tbis!" But Golden neither saw nor heard, for all bis being' was centered about his own misery of mind. His face was still buried In his hands when the old negro nurse opened the door and his little daughter, Margorv. in her nightdress and holding a doll under ber arm. crept In to ber father's side. "Where is mamma?" asked the child at her father's knee Golden steadied himself with' an effort. 'Yob have no mamma," he finally said, looking away. "But mamma was here." It was too much for the torn and passion-tossed father. "Take her" away." he cried out to the old regress. For God's sake, take her away! " Yet even when alone again his agony of mind remajned with him. and again he- sat in a stupor of misery . before his desk. * He was roused by the sudden clamor of voices. Ahe rxcitqj cries of running negroes" He stared stupidly about him. _ pulling himself together. he rose and \jent to the window. As he did so a negro, hatless-and coatstaggered in through the study door. « "Someone"* done opened all the slnice gates. The sea's a-floodin' the Golden was already on his feet. "Get' Johnson and .bis men down to East pumps, and start them work- ' ing." he called out. "And you. Stark. , get Stevens and his men out to those . , gates and work them abut. Get ( them shut if you have to swim out to ■

a, — "1a.u t no use. masta." cried the tertl- rifled negro. "Dey's a'ready flooded .h more'n man-deep And we'se all a'goin' y. to be drowned— o Gawd, we'se all a- goin' to be drowned!" 'Get down to those pumps!" tbund dered Golden. "And get those sluice 2l gates shut!" s He had crossed the room, catching d up his hat and coat as he went, and e was already out through the door as it he finished speaking. Twenty steps s • brought him to the loggia railing. And k Golden knew that no time was to be i- lest, for already the sea had crept to if the lip of the* manor garden itself, s "Get down to the wharf-cut and y bring the boats." he commanded. Then a he swung back to his household servants. ordering them to carry abover stairs everything they could seize, e Then, as the wster rose abou£ his [. feet, he suddenly turned and hibAk-u back into the manor house. , "Margory." he called, like a trmn ; gone mad. "Margory. where are you?" - But that call renialned unanswered. , - for the old negro nurse, at the first | I shouts of alarm, had caught up the ( . child and carried her out through the ( • servants' entrance, on the way to the - i wharf-cut where she knew the boats t • to be moored. The child had proved , too heavy for the quivering old arms. • so she had left the girl, with her kit- j ten still clutched to her br.-ast, safe In the doorway of a cotton-shed, while » she herself figgrred out on infirm [ old less to seize an empty punt drift- . ing by on the rising water But the J current was too strung tor her. and . as the negress and boat were carried away the v.uior rose .still higher about . tbe child's feet. Yet. thinking more c of her frightened kitten than of her . own peril, as the flood crept closer

"n the child clambered up the broken tlm1® bers of the cotton-shed to the roof. m h terc 8he sat' ca",n8 forlornly i0T Golden, In the meantime, raged ie through the flooded manor house a- threatening and storming and com7 mantling his servants to find his child. >f He was still deep in that agonized s search when three of his old servn ants appeared with a small surf boat 0 and called frantically for him to come, d while there was still time. e Golden, water-soaked and wild-eyed, t refused their help, ordering them e away and proclaiming that he would l. find bis daughter. Hut as he stumi. bled amid the drifting wreckage and i. fell against the boatside the negroes s dragged him aboard and pushed off. for already the water had weakened the manor foundations and the walls were falling about tbfem. Their progress was slow. It was t with difficulty in those wild currents that they threaded their way amid the 1 levee timbers, outbdlldings and melan- > choly debris of the plantation. More - swiftly-moving, in fact, was a second 1 boat which one of the negroes sudI denly caught sight of. Goldeg. rousing himself at bis serv1 ant's shout, saw that this second craft. I rowed by a bearded white man, was^7 bearing down on a nearby cotton-shed. At the same moment that he caught sight of bis daughter Margory on the roof of this shed he made out the figure of Palidori himself directing tbe movements of the bearded man so frenziedly rowing the boat. "My child— they will kill my child!" gasped Golden. Open laughter showed on Palidori's sinister face, as with his sound arm he held the struggling figure in white ■ close to his side. "Have no fear of that." he called back across the swirling water, as his 1 bearded confederate bent to tbe oars. 1 "She will live. But she will live in a way that will leave you praying she ' bad died!**' < • • • • • • • i Twelve Years Later. * Casavanti. the cadet, was a firm up- t colder of tbe pregnancy of apparel. c He believed in keeping up appearances. He even reveled In Lis appel- a Jative of the Beau Nash of the Tenderloin. His clothes were of the lat- n est cut and from tbe folds of bis nor- d elty cravat always flashed a "shiner" ti of the first water. There was, accord- 0 tngiy. almost a note of condescension d la his manner as be received "Slim" d i °

■ Legalo in h|s meretriciously sumptn , I ous sitting room. Par "filim," whatever his aspirations in crookdom, was I still a mere underling. "Who sent this?" demanded Casa- j vanti as he took a note from his vis- i 1 itorc hand. "Legar." was the answer. The cadet j puffed languidly at a cigarette as he : opened the Cote and read it. The girl I spoke of will come to- ; night at twelve. You will find her a ' flower that .s ripe for the jficking. And once the flower gets in your hands 1 want it kept there. — Jules. Casavanti restored the letter to its • envelope.- Then he stood thoughtfully regarding nis visitor. he asked. "Not that I was wise to." was Slim s prompt reply. "Then see that you get as quietly j away!" Slim Legato, accordingly, kept a weather eye open as he emerged to the* street. Nothing -suspicious met e.«;v. It was not until he had de6cer.<%j i the steps and reached the j curb that a c'osed limousine, running as quietly as a irozen' river, flowed along the pavement little more than paces away- from him. At the ; corner it turned sharply and stopped, obstructing the crossing. Th> debonair Slim drew up. blinking susp -"piously a. -he mysterious ve- ■ hlc!<\ Thep h- blinked even harder. [ from the open door window of the ; takably bect^wgd to him. And the re- . the fact that the drawn car curtains { eonci ale 1 everything . hut that mvs- i Slim promptly decided to investl- , ! to investi-

gate But h - also- decided to advance ■foot on tiie " runniugbbard. however, and thrust & pcrtfv inquisitive head into the hooded gloom of the car. that car began to move forward again. Yet | before it passed from his reach the ■ gloved hand thrust into his own an en9 On this envelope* was clearly in- ■ scribed : "Dr. Ludw.g Palidori. Care of Jules Legar," I and beneath these words Slim s beI wildered eyes made out the ucmistak- ■ able emblem of a laughing .mask. What S it meant was more than he could tell. So inscrutable did this "mystery seem, in fact, that Slim, after one'minuto of deep thought, promptly yet delicately slipped the blade of his penknife along the gummed flap of the I envelope and forced It open. On a I single sheet of paper he found Written I the cryptic wordst j "Remember the Hammer of God. I which smites, and crushes whom It I smites!" Slim, the gay cat and gangster, puzI zled much over this message as be I restored It to its violated envelope I and adroitly repealed the flap. [ "Now. who tell s gettin' his little I knocker out f*r the Doc?" demanded I that bewildered worthy of himself as I : be made his guarded way back to the I underworld rendezvous which was I known to bis confreres as the Owl's ■ Nest The Owl's Nest proper was an unsavory cellar room In one of the most unsavory sections of the lower East

side. Years before It had been a wine t. cellar; presided over by a Neapolitan r of Mano Nero affiliations, until a federal sboo-fly, in sesarch for "oolnera." i had been found stilettoed behind one > of its casks of Marsala, whereupon , the Neapolitan had vanished and In . due time the Owl herself had taken I possession of the quarters. With the'advent of Jules Legar. the t mysterious center of a mysterious cir- , clo of evildoers about whom, she knew, it never paid to be too lnqusit five, life had become easier for her. i Her cellar. Inconspicuous in a dls- [ tricl so crowded with equally dubious . warrens, had proved precisely the type I of quarters the leader of the new ciri tie was in need of. And as Legar hlni- , sslf stepped down into the cellar, adI vanclng tilth his peculiarly padded i tread as softly as an animal steals into its lair, the Owl remembered that i ! the hour of h.er reward was not far distant. For she had proved a Jealous guardian of the fair-haired girl whom Legar saw 45t to keep hidden so long from the wprld. It was plain to see that Legar was accepted as a leader by the half dozen dips and gangsters and moll-buzzers Into whose midst he had so quietly slipped. "Where's Legato?" he curtly asked as he glanced fibout the circle. That question answered Itself, for even as it was put Legato himself slipped down into the dim light of the Owl's cellar. "What's this?" demanded Legar. as the new-comer, without speaking, handed the letter of mystery to his chief. "That's what I want to find out," was Slim's retort. "A gink- in a Fit' avenue go-cart hands me this and , speeds off." 9 i Legar tore open tho envelope. His i eyes narrowed as he unfolded 1 the sheet. , "The Hammer of God again!" he 1 said with a sr.eer. But a troubled look into his face as he stood study- 1 ing the message and the envelope in ( which that message had come. Then j he laughed. But it was a laugh with- f out mirth. "Palldori?" he muttered. "Why riiould I know anything about 1 man*amed Palidori?" "Then we'll strike before the Ham- - does!" be announced, with sud- g determination. And with a gesof impatience he commanded the j to take him to the girl, the hidgirl on whom still hinged bis j of vengeance. "McTlgue." he a called he went, "get Tatano |

and the taxi and be ready. ' • Yet he showed no exultation as he ■ followed the I hobbling Owl along a j darkened passageway and up a flight ! of wooden stairs leading to the floor ! above. | Bent over's (able beside the barred window he saw a girl, a girl still in her teens, a girl with a look of inalienable innocence still in her mourn- ; ful eyes. And Legar. as he crossed to the table, saw that she was good to gaze upon. Yet at the sight of him she shrank back, letting the locket which she had Just tied about her neck fall from her trembling fingers. "Don't cower that way!" commanded Legar. "I haven't come to beat you. I guess the Owl gave you enough of that" "Then why are you here?" the questioning eyes seemed to ask him. "J've come to tell you I think you've had ahout enough of this sort of thing. It's going to be stopped, and you're going to see the world ! " "You're going to set me free?" gasped the incredulous girl. "Free as a bird!" announced the ironic Legar "And with as fine feathers as any bird that ever flew!" "I'm to be free?" she repeated, still dazed. "Sure! So get your things together, and do it quick. There's a taxi waiting downstairs. That taxi will carry straight to my friend ^Casavanti. Casavanti is always kind to women, amazingly kind." He stood, ferret-eyed. and impassive, watching the girl as «she feverishly gathered together her meager belongings. He hurried her out pf the room, then along the passage and down the narrow stairway and out to the street where the taxi waited.

ce There McTlgue sat ready for her. 3 - That wortlbf remained sjlent. however, as a sob or two shook the girl's ld body and a !1cht of exultation shone 31 from her timorous eyes. She too reet mained silent- as they threaded their 10 way through the darkened streets and drew up before a brown-stone house. Up to tho door of this house McTiguo n" led the still wondering young woman. 1 There his finger played cryptically cn ! the electric push hell, sounding Casavanti's pass signal, and a moment ®- later the door mysteriously opened and the girl found herself alone. Even lt before the door could close behind her '• a silent-running limousine swung up y to the curb and a hurrying figure stepped from its runningboard. But j before that figure could mount the !" | steps and reach the house entrance 0 the heaVy door had swung shut again. , And the wide-eyed girl, following a n • footman in service uniform, mounted ' the stairs to Casavanti's private '• room. 11 Casavanti. as he looked up and saw her. let the cigarette fall from his thin- *" lipped mouth. 6 "The Doc was dead right." he said 9 under his breath. "She's a flower, all right!" V 0 ♦ Then. stiM watching the girl, ho 1 said aloud; "Are you afraid of me?" s "No." was her answer. e "Then come here." he commanded. s But~ she still stood gazing wonder9 Ingly about the room. A suspicion that all was ndt as it should be had - crept over her. * "Why was I sent here?" she de1 tnanderi n« PfiQnvantl st as white faced,

ie" stepped closer to her. n "For this." he replied, as with a d- sudden -movement his arms went out and encompassed her shrinking body, i® She fought and struggled In that con■a taminatlng embrace, but her strength o was not equal to her captor's. Casa- « vanti. bending ber body close to his, cupped bis impassioned lips over her 0 parted Hps. It was several seconds bet- fore he lifted his head. ® Before be did 60. however, the closet i- door on his right opened and a figure r- stepped noiselessly out Into the room. 't was the fgure of a man who wore ' a laughing mask. 0 "One word, you hound, and it's your '- last!" said the quiet-toned voice be- ■- hind the mask. But the revolver reI- mained pointing at Casavanti's head 1 as the stranger took the girl's hand - and backed slowly towards the hall l door. . He groped for the door handle. f leveled his weapon and 6till watched * • Casavanti. But the door, he dlscov- ' ered. was locked." Perplexed, for one ! short second he turned and looked for the k®!'- But in that Instant the tense1 limbed Casavanti. beholding the re- ■ volver" barrel waver from its target. ■ saw his chance and leaped for bis ' The force of that impact sent the : tpysterious intruder staggering against the- wall and the revolver itself clattering across the floor. The girl kcre«med in terror as the two contending figures foughj and writhed about the room. HurrylnJMteps and voices were already sounding from outside the locked door, and Casavanti. knowing the slimness of his chances, was battling like a wildcat. But the man ih the mask. With an odd and quite unexpected movement of the body, brought into play that farailiarrjiu-jitsu trick of catapulting an adversary over his own shoulder, depending on the force of the fall alone for any final result. And the fall ir. this case was not a gentle one. Seeing that Casavanti did not moVo where he lay. the- stranger took the doorkey from the stunned cadet's pocket and called out for the girl to him. A moment later theV entered the and drove quickly away. "1 guess that's one on Legar!" mur--aured the still breathless man in the mask. "Who are you?" demanded the young woman. I'm only a hammer," was the sudienly sobered reply. "The Hammer it God " (TO BE CO.VTINTnCDj