New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-21

but 6G6 has Just ealleO from havana
THAT did not prevent her from beiu
loaded in the States with 20, 600 gallons
first class spirits, or rather water, whic
was charged on the manifest as such. IT
real whisky has already been passed out I
the government warehouse, secretly, whic
causes the government consequently to los
Sc tax on each gallon of whisky.
conceal the loss, the liquor-that is til
hogsheads-had 10 be transferred to anotht
port. If it arrives the fraud will be disco'
cred. The shipper, besides. who has bee
paid by his consignee for genuine merchaI
disc, and had. lastly, his cargo insured i
his own name, has thus three powerfl
motives why this steamer should neve
| reach port"
The lieutenant, who had been pacin
slowly up and down the deck in slippers
smiled and muttered an oath. You ar
| rlght-the Florida reefs and breakers hav
very bad reputation. and are very danger
GUS for vessels that are not wanted on tn
surface"
In pron ouncing the words, his long bear
and eyes, and dark olive skin seemed 4
acquire darker tinge, and such a laugh a
might have set off the face Of any of tn
old buccaneers, shone over his.
II mt know what they propose to d.
with us now" said the insurance agent
"the business Of the wreckers was nIuok
more brisk before the war; still, sums u
| $1,000 and upward have been paid seyera
times of late, in spite Of the insurance com
| panies; bat you seem tn know everybody on
board. Who is that fine looking, rathe,
| mysterious looking young lady who was
| ain"Lg the last to come on board e.
| "Dld you ever hear of an old inge,siero
| who has had, and his father before him. a
! deposit of $500, 900 slowed away, unused
for two generations Well, this young
lady lis one of the family"
"a little queer. amt it. that she should
be- travelling on such ship s'this without
protection :"
pears to be chaperonipg her. but who, likely
as not. will end By robbing her of her
money and vaiuables, and taking leave at
the first port Here the captain laughed in
such way as left the impression that he
only regretted not having some chance him
self.
The above conversation had been COM
menced 10 Spanish, and told with tue
-hruss and signs which indicated that
much was ssitt about the vessel and
captain. which could not be proven. and
which was not proper for every body to
hear. 1t continued on q little while in
reference to tbs probable extent OF the
danger. and while practically disbelieving
the suspicious which their own words indi-
Gated would soon Do realities, they yawned
themselves off to bed.
ave Maria," heard the Lieutenant
nutter to himself as he moved off, II must
cultivate this captain Of the Ocean Bird
he appears to have as easy an affair on
hand AZ mine, ana with much lees
bother"
wv, at affair is that of yours :" inquire d
she Old Insurance agent; but q sHd ,nic
l 'ngh, and 5nenos soehes was the GUY
reriv.
was, after some fearful meditation upon
iEelr CONVEX saton, about 10 retire also,
wh' L my attention was attracted toward
the elderly lady passenger whom l had be
tore noticed upon the boat. She evidently |
VI ia disposed to enter into conversation,
1t seemed TO me from her manner, while |
the words which had just overheard, or a |
natural shJDess about meeting Strangers,
made me ilttle inclined to reciprocate her |
wish.
My selfish impulse was, however, over
'ome. Introduced myself with as much I
courtesy as one not much accustomed 10
'ociety was able -talked of q mad inc br;ate
Sho had just jumped overheard, and of the
prospect of any detention OF Que baggage
y the cuatomhouse authorities at Key
Nest.
key West -4hat is exactly where shall
cave the stea ner," she said, with an air of
hesitation.
fear Of getting myself involved caused
n" again to hesitate, but the moment after
offered to make myself useful in assisting
49, with her Fl Cts to the shore.
Il had thought at first of speaking to the
ap-atn; hat you sec that that is impossible
:" be frauk with you, / have, like mary
ther refugees from the island, been com
elIe.i to dispose Of everything at a mo
aeni's notice have it all with me in coin
mi diamonds. l kept it from being kuowa
D the Spanish detectives for fear of robbery, |
ut fear now that they have their spies on
GARD, who, at the moment Of leaving. will
lake some charge against me, more or less
tri US, to secure my detention
IL re the speaker limited that the man, |
b. had just left, watching her closely, cali
y himself a Lieutenant, Was in reality IL spy |
/ something worse, and that she had d.
ague suspicion that he would in some way |
ttenpt to POSSESS himself of the diamonds |
question.
"Why not let them make such a charge,
I'd have it disposed OF at Oro-2"
But 81 izure Will be equivalent TO loss
ssIdos L have with me a young lady
At this ROM Mt the cabin door opened |
ID u figure whose graceful contour stood |
'vealet by evening zephYrs approached !
ih that ttepidatlon of step which marks
~ inexperienced voyager There was an
II aOlipH III nor stlT anu movements as she |
tned over the railing aud gazed pensively {
'er the waters that made me unconscious
The elderly speaker and what she had |
~ about her chest of diamonds.
Ehn noble bearing and mournful black ! |
. left me IN no doubt that the figure now
'tore M, was the same that had attracted ! Z
Y ate ntiOn earlier in tbs evening.
What | ~ished to add before interrup- e
1n," said the speaker, with II motion IF I
Il
H. already explained. may be troubled by I
~ sutho,i,ite I would, therefore. beg
~ 10 Ray TO them from me that have +
itn me only my personal effects and orn d.
eiif-- no iuerChan dist"
'Any ass- ance I can render" L
& ihahk you; then there is this Fourg t
dy with ue' | 4
'boes she get off also 7" 4
"N", she continues ON to Florida; she q
nuId be very miserable to be left alon. if | t
9 not so occupied by private grieis as
make her II monolnaniac. As it is, l l
arce believe she will know l am not on u
g stes n1or until she arrives at her desti
.tioD." f
II WAS just remarking VIVA. a eingularlv b
.st!enea. haii-ghpstly look she has, for Que A.
young and Of no inccnsiderable beauty.
, sir kuessy" II
"No-some great family misfortune grow
: oW of The unsettled condition OF the o
troubles family Iuiued- h
erybody dead. Even the young man
,oln she was to have marie d. she b ieves u
have been garroted. She expects to find it
-t his b1dy has already been carried over 3,
the coast. Bat she Is coming this way L
u IL word about my getting of"
re1naIhed a few moments longer without IL
J word being spoken on the part of the 81
W "oIDers, ant her manner showed 81 lit
disposition to conversation that soon 1t
.r II tired to sleep; or rather, an the Ia
lnkfn orgies were nov at their fuil heigh
ouid have said | Withdrew to my c;.oin el
1t the break OF day We arrived al the So
' West landing aud | hast-ned, ~ far o