Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-10


Ebenezer's only child, be was keenly disap-
pointed, for the daughter of the wealthy
banker was, he feared, beyond his reach. In
| spite Of this his attentions were not dimin-
ished, and before the day was at an end he
! adored her. She received his little services
with marked favor, he thought, and even 50
Der reflection could not prevent him from en-
PERTAINING hopes which any one but a lover
| would have considered wild
Mary often drove down for her father, and
| it generally fell to Franks lot to take mes
| sage out, asking her to wait, or 10 call again,
which furnished opportunities for a pressure
Of the hand and & few words. bic was not
endowed with an undue amount OF vanity;
but be could not help seeing tAat on these oc-
| cssions her eye frightened and vivid blush
spIang to her check, and he could not help
thinking that, if his happiness depended on
her it would not be long deferred But the
social gulf between them sept his lips sealed.
The events Of the evening would probably
bring him pronRotion, and be wondered II
they would bring him nearer to Mary. His
thoughts few from her to fale robbery, and
back again, until sleep deserted him, and his
brain grew dizzy.
Suddenly thought flashed through his
mind: and, ia the midst OF the dark room, on
the walls, on the ceiling, there appeared be-
fore him, as in letters Of fire, a remark CT
Seeleys, uttered months before.
Some of the clerks were discussing the az
rest of a dishonest bank clerk, and Seeley
said, laughngly: IF fellows will DO that
kind of thing, they ought ct beast TO show
some common sense III their method of es-
cape. If he had gone to some quiet seaport,
hired or bought yacht, and sailed quietly
of, he would now be enjoying himself il
| safety"
The tone, the cynical laugh rang in Franks
ears, and 1t occurred to him that Seeley
would probably adopt some such course.
Twenty miles away, ora q branch line stood
NOrthport, a yachting center, and Williams
might easily, on the previous day, have ar
ranged for their fight.
Early on Sunday morning he called on
Mr.. Grub TO inform him Of this idea, which,
by being dweit upon, had becomea corvic-
ton. As Frank entered the bankers study
Mary left it, her face pale and her eyes red,
and Mr. Ebenezer himself sat Gstlessly in q
easy chair looking haggard.
above ell, " said the latter, when Jackson
had finished what he went there to say, Isl
lence about this wretched affair is necessary
for the present. do not mind telling you
that it has occurred at a rather unfortunate
moment as we shall be obliged % get accom-
mediation, and to pay a heavy price for it.;
and if the story of the robbery leaks ont pre-
matureiy, We may be ruined. u
The Young man Yves fiattered By the conf
dence, and, as no looked at the weary face
and heavy eyes, eloquent Of anxiety and
sleeplessness, and remembered Nary'S trou-
bled features feeling Of wrath against those
who caused ali this grief possessed him.
After a short silence Mr.. Grub said:
"Perhaps you would net mind running
over to Northport yourself and making in
quiries. / have faith in your shrewdness,
and shall give You letter TO az old friend Of
ours, magistrate there, who viii help you
If necessary Here is some money, and re-
member, my lad, that time is Of vital inpor-
tancen
The trust made Frank color with pride
His first hope was that fortune might make
him instrumental in saving his employers
from disaster; but he may be pardoned if
there also entered into his mind q wish to
earn a smile from Mary, as well as her
fathers gratitude
a few inquiries among the Nortbport police
and the loUngers of toe beach satisfied him
that his surnises were correct. Some days
before two gentlemen, whose description tai
lied with that of the runaweys, bought Is
small schooner yacht from local builder.
The crew were ordered to hold themselves IN
readiness, stores were shipped, and the new
owners arrived by the last train on the pre-
viouS night They met the seller on board,
paid the purchase money, and at once sailed
+ i O. months cruise thew said
Il have an urgent message for them said
Frank to an old salt Would it be possible
to get fast steamer here and overtake
them:"
We'll sir, eff ZEE could borry that thur
craft" pointing to q small, rakish looking
steamer, whose brass fittings CLEANED in the
morning sun, yes. They must "a gone
south; and herll 60 nigh on TO twenty knots
an hour"
Frank locked lon%ingly at the vessel; and,
upon hearing the name of tho owner, his
heart bounded. It was the person TO whom
Mr. Grubb's letter was addressed.
Il fear yours is a wild goose chase, said
that gentleman, when the young man had
told his story and explained his object
However, the Grubbs are dear old friends.
and the Lorna is at your service Come with
=
ter"
In little mora than an hour the Lorna was
steaming swiftly out Of the harbor, and
Frank, standing on the bridge beside the cap
tain. felt almost intoxicated as the vessels
head rose and fell, aud a fresh breeze blew
across the sunlt sea- Tanning his hot brow.
There was a hight nnr'west wind all
night" remarked the captain; land if We
say they're eighty or ninety miles ahead we
shan't lie far out l don't suppose wen over
take her before dark, the captain went on,
so we'd better take it easy, lest we might
pass em in the night"
They left their course several times in or
der 10 make Inquiries Of passing vessels
Some had not seen "a thirty ton yacht
schooner rugged, green below the water line,
and with a bread gold stripe" Others
thought they had, and gave such contradic-
tory information THAT IL was OF no benefit.
As the sun went down dark clouds arose To
windward and it became wet and stormy.
All through the night the wind moaned the
waves swirled and Kissed about the Lorna's
bow and fell N masses on her deck. ana tbs
rain fell heavily al intervals. Five pounds
man. Frank had SAID. ii we overtake
herr Ee had promised the captain and the
policeman whom he had brought with him
liberal grauitiee If the chase ended success
fully; he himself was too aEllated to think Of
repooe. Accordingly. throughout the night
ali were on the alerc, peerinG into the dark
ness as the vessel slowly pursued a ziszaG
course.
A Wild goose chase indeed, I fear, Jack-
son said. SoProwfuIlv. aS morning broke find
ing him cold hungry and exhausted.
Never fear. sir" replied the skipper