The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-25
FIVE MILLION POUNDS
BY 7. wEmYss REID.

gone on board in one Of tbs ordinary fishing
boats, leaving the small gig, with its cush-
/ ioned seats and neatly dressed crew, for
Daisy's accommodation
! There was pleasant novelty for both OF
Us in the situation as We sat there on either
side of BranksoTne, who stesred the boat
The oars of the four men who were rowing
rose and fell with the precision of clockwork,
and the light little craft was quickly urged
| over the placid waters OF the bay towards
the spot where the stately vessel lay in the
full bIaz, of the sunshine. The cloud had
passed from Daisy's face now She was
smiling as brightly as she had been won't to
do during those happy days when we sat
together beside the saloon; but l could not
avoid a dim consciousness of the fact that
most Of her smiles were given to Branksome
! rather than TO ms.
Never had | seen a more beautiful spec
/ tacIe of its kind than that which witnessed
when stepped upon the white deck of the
! yacht The vessel was OF great size-prob.
| ably of not less than six hundred tons di
| placement She had auxiliary steam power,
but the long sweep Of her spars, the fine
rake of her three masts, showed that it was
| to her sail power that she chiefly trusted.
Everything on board was ia that exquisite
on board OF a man, war or frst-class
yacht. The decks were as white as we'll
scrubbed kitchen table; the brass of the belt
pins, the binnGcle, the two carFonadei for
ward shone IL the sunshine like FURNISHED
gold. So did the gliding on the molding Of
the deck houses. Some luxurious lounging
chairs and soft rugs were scattered about in
the stern of the vessel; while smart quar-.
termaSter, in proper yacht uniform, kept
watch in the ships waist Everything was
In keeping with the wealth of its owner.
Daisy gave It cry of genuine delight when
she surveyed the deck and gaz9d up at the
towering masts and rigging, which rOse to "a
giddy height above her She seemed 10 put
Off the weight of years in this atmosphere,
and ran, or rather danced along the deck
like child, till she came to the door Of the
after house. Then she stopped, raise1 her
hands in wonder, and called me to her side.
The interior Of this beautiful little room
was indeed "a sight to see. The walls were
paneled in old leather OF peculiar shade OF
orange, with rich designs in dead gold en-
bossed upon it. Here and there was tiny
niche in which an exquisite bronze statuette
was placed, and now and again the fiat sur
face of the panels was broken by an old
Venetian mirror or a silver lamp of antiqus
design. Curtains of some material of deli
cate texture hung in graceful folds by the
SIDE of the windows, the gla Of which had
a subdued tint that harmonized with the
color of the walls. The furniture OF the
room was in keeping with the decorations
There We're cabinets, richly carved, and
couohes covered with oriental embroideries.
Chairs, tables, rugs and stove-all gave evil
dence Of "a cultivated taste and boundless
wealth
did you ever see ything so ioyelyl"
cried Daisy, with all young girl's delight
in the beauty before her "Who will use
this roomP
Branksome laughed heartily.
"My dear, be said "every room on board
is yours-this included But your bou DIR
Is down below, and as a matter of fact, l be-
lieve the intention of the Duke of CairngoTm
was to make this his smoking room
~Oh how sham-fu~ cried the girl.
aSurely less beautifu room tnan this might
DC for reople who want to smoke"
He looked at ma vita broad smile upon
his pleasant countenance at this ebullition Of
feminine feeling | thought now that | had
wronged him altogether in pr0aouncing
against his mouth All his features were In
harmony, and / inwardly decided that he
was one of the most fascinating men | had
ever met with.
At that moment Mr. Mauleverer came on
deck He looked slightly surprised at see
ing me there, hut greeted me with cordial
courtesy It was evidently of Daisy how
ever, that he was chiefly thinking.
@Do you like The Golden Hawk my dar-
linglD he said, in tones which showed that
even he felr some of the pleasurable excite
ment incident to the first Introduction to
new toy Il think the doctor deserves our
thanks for having secured so beautiful a
boat for US What should we have done
without him7"
"Quite as well as you have done with him,
/ reckon, Mauleverer," replied the doctor.
Don't give me any credit for buying this
ship. heard it was for sale quite by acci-
dent, and of course when saw it felt it
would be the very thing for you. But it
was our friend Ben, there, who really settled
the matter. | don't know anything about
shipping, while he knows everything"
He pointed as he spoke to the man whose
appearance had liked so little when saw
him descending the stairs Of the hotel by the
side Of the millionaire. Even row, when in
recognition Of Branksome's words he tried to
look pleasant, thought his face peculiarly
evil one.
@0h, FIinter Is well up in shipping, as we
have all occasion to know" said Mauleverer
"But come, Daisy, you have not yet seen your
palace below, aud luncheon viii soon be
ready"
We all descended the broad winding stairs
OF the cabin companionway, and once again
paisy's irrepressible cries Of delight broke
forth It would have been difficult indeed
for any one to restrain his admiration for
that sumptuous interior. There were state
rooms furnished in delicate shades of color,
decorated with works of art of priceless
value, and fitted with every comfort and
every luxury that the traveller csul1 desire;
there was a dining saloon in which the
stamped leather decorations of the smoking
room on deck were reproduced, but in diff
ferent color. it was difficult to remember
that we were on board a ship. This noble
apartment looked as though it had been
transferred bodily from some Venetian pal
ace. There was a saloon, spacious airy, ele-
CANT in which the embroidered silk panels
of the walls We'd with the covering OF the
couches and sumptuous carpets, in the soft
pile of which the foot sank an inch deep; and
there was houdoir in which the beauty and
magnifcence of this fairy palace seemed to
have eliminated When we reached it |
thought Daisyis face turned pale, as though
she were almost frightened by the splendor
of which she was now the mistress. In my
own heart there was a heavy weight Of pain.
The more clearly the riches of Mauleverer
were made apparent to me, the greater
seemed to be the gulf by which was cut of
from him and all belonging to him.
We had not yet seen everything, however,
that was to be seen on board this wonderful
ship When we left the boudoir, short
eangway, the walls of which were covered
with green plush and glittered with the re-
f. e,i light Of mirrors. led us to door
which Mr. Mauleverer discovered was locked.
What have we herel" he said, turning to
DIR. Branksome
4Ohi there you have the other side Of the
picture" was the reply. "You know, per-
laps, that the old duke had been in the navy
Il his youth, and that up to the end Of his
Gays be was terribly severe disciplinarian
1t seems that he always ms ste1 upon having
g punishment cell made in his yachts, and
was told that he had even been known to
eonfne his own sons when they happened to
offend him.
aAnd is this the celF asked Mauleverer.
pointing to the locked door
at lies beyond it" said the doctor. Hs
produced small key and opened the door.
It showed Us continuation Of the gangway;
but now the walls of the narrow passage
were utterly without ornament l placed
my hand upon them, and found that they
were lined with sheet-iron. At the end Of
The passage was another door, which Brank-
some opened We saw dinly, foS we vera
not provided with any lantern, small,
square apartment furnished IN the plainest
fashions striking contrast 10 the beauty