Johnston McCulley

“ Jack Connor's face grew sober.
"There's a difference," he said. "There are but two classes of women. One class should never be mentioned by such men as us—they're too good. And the other class—what's the difference? This niece of Cap'n Bill's—this Wild Norene, as you call her—scarcely comes under the first class."
Captain Adams's face grew ashen again and he gripped the sides of the table, but made no attempt to get out of his chair.
Guerrero felt sudden fear; he knew Captain Adams was waiting for this Jack Connor to go so far—then the blow would fall. ”

“ Again Guerrero restrained the captain, whispering to him that he could wait for vengeance—that to betray himself now meant to spoil their enterprise.
Morgan and the others were laughing.
"Why, she won't even look at a man," said Morgan. "She's waiting to find one that measures up to her uncle, Cap'n Bill Adams; and she'll have a long wait, I'm thinkin'."
"If what I hear is true, she'll have a long wait," assented Connor. "Won't look at a man, eh? If I was in the woman-taming business, I'd make her look at me. Pretty, eh?" ”

“ Wait until the other business is disposed of; then we can find this Jack Connor and you can kill him. Hold on to your temper! We can find him easily; he'll be about all night."
Captain Adams's lips were set tightly; he looked across the table at Guerrero and nodded assent.
"This Wild Norene," Connor was saying, "must be the other sort. I don't know what her father was, but we all know her uncle. Bucko mate once, he was! Blackbirder, too. Traded in human flesh! His name's a terror in the South Seas. He's been a smuggler; he is yet. He's pulling off a crooked deal right now! ”

“ Adams gasped.
"Sailors must have relaxation after a long voyage," suggested Guerrero.
"This isn't relaxation! They spend two months' wages here in a night, drinking vile liquor, trying to beat gambling games that cannot be beaten. I've been a sailor for thirty years, and I don't need this sort of relaxation. And the women—"
"That tall one who was playing the piano is Sally Wood," said Guerrero. "Every one in Astoria knows her. She has a history."
"I don't doubt it."
"Not the sort you think, señor. She lived in Seattle as a girl. A man won and married her. ”

“ There was no answer; no man's eyes met his. He smiled at them again and motioned toward the bar. The men crowded forward.
"He strikes me as pretty much of a man," said Captain Adams to Guerrero in their corner.
Sally Wood, sitting at her piano, had heard. Now she began playing furiously, and some of the men near the platform began to sing, and the noise broke out anew.
Jack Connor and half a dozen of his friends made their way across the room to a table within fifteen feet of where Captain Adams and Guerrero were sitting. ”

“ Captain Adams showed sudden interest.
"If that story is true, if she is a good girl and can mingle with this sort and keep her goodness for such an object, I pray Heaven she finds the man," he said earnestly.
"There is also another story," continued Guerrero. "There is a man hereabouts by name Jack Connor, a pleasant giant, a happy-go-lucky devil of a sailorman of the usual sort. He is at present out of a place, and is here in Astoria visiting his aged father. He is a favorite of men and women. He drinks with the men—but he has no use for the women." ”

“ Her child is a girl—she keeps the little one in a school. I admire Sally Wood, señor; she mingles here with the scum of the earth, yet is not defiled. She is a good girl; countless men will tell you so. Countless men would fight for her in an instant to avenge an insult. ”

“ Guerrero had ordered liquor, and as soon as the Chinese waiter had gone Captain Adams had thrown his in a cuspidor.
"If our suspicions prove true—" Guerrero began.
"We'll say nothing until we are certain," the captain interrupted. "It's a bad thing to accuse a man of unless there is an abundance of proof."
"And if we get the proof?"
Captain Adams straightened his shoulders and waited a moment before replying.
"If we get the proof I'll attend to the matter personally," he said. "You are not concerned in it, señor, except that you are a sort of guide for me ashore." ”

“ There was agony in the woman's voice. Connor looked down at her with sympathy in his face. It was not sympathy she wanted to see there.
"It is pretty hard on you," he said. "Why don't you give it up? Let the scoundrel go!" ”