The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-09-24

incapacitated by old age from retaining
command. What will the merchant with
his bags of gold, which You have made for
him, care for you then ? VIII he take into
consideration the fact that you have braved
dangers and ransacked every cline for the
articles of merchandise he required No.
he will never give it a thought, and the old
shipmaster, the faithful but worn out SER
want Will totter to the door of the sailors
snug harbor, and beg for charity and a
roof over his grey head, unless indeed your
wife and two girl babies can support
you"
The merchant blew a long cloud of
smoke from his lips as he ceased speaking,
and eyed jackson with very peculiar
look as that individual wiped the perspira-
ton from his brow, which had been in
voked by me artful picture protrayed by
the eloquenee of the sharp, shrewd mer-
chant
"Good God J Mr. Failing, I never looked
upon it in that light; but l dare say you
are right But what can l do 2 The eigh-
ty doLla=s get keeps my wife from starry
irg."
Exactly, and no more. Take another
glass - that's right. Your good health.
The Exporter is insured, isn't she ~
"Yes. to her full value"
"And you are to insure the cargo also"
"Certainly; my owners are always very
particular about that"
"Humph How would you like to
pocket fifty thousand dollars, jackson. and
weather on your owners and the poor
house, eh ?''
position p and Jackson's head b:gan TO
spin about as he listened to the artlully-
worded sophis1ry OF the tenpter.
"We can make good thing of it, and
now is your opportunity. Your owners
grind you down, now let them take the
COT luences. although they will not lose
much, but the anticipated profit. 1 viii
furnish you the silk and tea, bat instead of
the best III give you the poorest Don't
jump, man; there's ne harm done yet.
The highest market price viii be charged,
and you shall have twenty-five thousand
dollars tonight, or when you sign tie
regular articles Of agreement as having
received the stipulated quality and quanti-
ty. The other twenty-five thousand shall
be paid when the Exporter goss to the
bottom, and you return to Shanghai from
the wreck. Not a word. man, but
come ashore. Wei! talk it all oyer at my
Office"
And linking his arm through Jacl<son's
he assisted the sh'pmaster to leave the
cabin and descend the side.
The next day the first lighter load of cargo
for the Exporter arrived and b,th bale and
box was ratified rapidly into her caracious
hold. In less than two weeks time the
ship was ready for sea, and jackson, who
had spent The greater portion of his time on
shore repaired on board.
Not until too late did the entangled sea-
ran awake from the deiusive dream into
which he nd been be-uiled by the skiilful
Failing. The snip was loaded, the first
half of the fifty thousand dollars had been
paid, and jackson, by the advice Of the
merchant, did not bank the amount, but
negotiated for the value in diamonds, which
he wore around his body.
Il was too late TO retreat; he had gone
too far; and altIo1gh his conscience
troubled him sadly, still he made mp his
mind to carry out the fraud that had been
commenced.
The Exporter sailed down the mighty
Yangtse with a fair w;nd, which freshened
as the good ship pas, Woo Sung, Every
body on board was in high spirits st the
idea of being homeward bound, with the
exception of poor Jackson, who paced the
deck in moody silence. He had solemnly
sworn never to taste champagne again, and
had firmly made up his mind not to re-
visit Shanghai. for he had learned to fear
the influence which Failing exercised over
him.
He kept to himself. avoided the society
of his first mate and spent most of his time
in the seclusion of his cabin, brooding over
the terrible secret which he carried in his
bosom.
The character of the cargo preyed con-
tinually on his mind, and waking or sleep
ing, he was continually haunted by a
nightmare, He grew nervous and impa-
tent; so much so, that both officers and
crew wondered at the sudden change that
had come over the "old man."
When alone in the dead hour OF the
night, he would pour over his charts, and
strive in vain 70 fix definitely upon some
shoal or reef where he could safely carry
out his intentions, and an involuntary curse
would escape his lips as he felt the pressure
e the belt he wore about his body, or the
features of Failing, which would occasion
ally rise up before him
Favored by fair weather, the feet ship
rapidly plowed her way down the China
sea, and all hands congratulated them
selves ON speedy termination of the voy-
age.
No opportunity had occurred TO sacri-
fee the ship, for Jackson was determined