The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-12-09

custom house, you see--and he has given
us q point. There was a Brazil
schooner came in last night, laden with
bananas. Tho captain has friends in the
diamond mines up among the noun
tains."
"You don't mean"
Mrs. Dixon laughed shrill, excited |
laugh.
"It's really quite interesting to visit
those odd little foreign vessels" said
she. "Ill take you there, dear, if you'd
like2"
''Is that the way you got your dia-
monds, Luellaw
"Ask me no questions, and I'll tell
you no lies, "merrily retorted Mrs. Dixon.
"You have the same chance that did.
It's the duties on these luxuries that
makes the cost. Captain Sazeda is in q
hurry to get back to Rio Janerio. II we
go at all we'll have to go tonight"
"But it's RaIph's late night at the
bankl" hesitated Dorothy.
GAN the better. He mustn't know
word of it. Men are so ridiculous about
such things. never would have, ,,breathed
word to you if l had supposed you
would betray mel"
~ won'tl l wontl" cried Dorothy,
her cheeks flushed, her dark eyes spar
king "Oh, Luella, do you think my
poor little seventy-fve dollars will buy
anything ft TO look at9
"Great bargains are sometimes OBJ
tanned in that way" nodded MIS-. Dixon.
''But, good gracious, is that eleven
striking2 And me due at my dressmak
er's at half-past ten. l must go, Dor
othy. Remember I'll call for you at
seven. Not minute before dark, you
know. Sazeda will send up the cabin
boy to show you the way. Put on your
waterproof, and wear your oldest hat and
veil, and make some excuse to Bridget.
Mind, sharp sevenl"
All day Dorothy Imray went about
her occupations like one in a dream.
The strange, fantastic nature of the ad-
venture appealed to the romantic side Of
her being.
She longed for diamonds as desert
wanderer longs for cooling fountains.
She could tell Ralph that she had hired
them, that some of their relations up in
Canada had bequeathed them--she could
make up any sort of story to pacify
hin. The rent must wait. Aunt
Rhoda would surely be in no haste about
her black brocaded gownl
And Dorothy fell to thinking in what
shape the stones-precious sparklers
from far Southern mines-should be set.
Seven o'clock came-s raw, smoky
twilight. filed with fine, drizzling rain
! and Dorothy aud Mrs. Dixon were
picking their way along the narrow,
half-lighted streets on the edge of the
| wharves, where the wind was full of
saline odors, and the crowded masts and
. smoke-staclSs seemed to overshadow
them like some outlaudish sort of forest.
A stunted lad in tattered garment:
trottel along in front of them, whistline
r as he went, and now and then casting O
r backwack glance to make sure that they
had not lost their way.
Presently he plunged into crazy ole
house which seemed to balance itself OF
/ the black tides below.
Mrs. Dixon followed-so did Dorothy
Imray, after one startled glance around
They descended a flight OF ruinoui
t stairs, crossed \ rude gangplank, auC
: found themselves on stupenduously
dirty vessel, smelling of tar and onions
r aud rocking back and forth with tn
: swell produced by the ferry-boats tina
s came aud went at intervals.
a A humpbacked little man in tarnisheC
Q velveteen sat on a bucket turned upside
J, down, holding lantern which he swun!
s toward cabin door beyond.
u "Ha, Glacomel'' he uttered, ''Ze sig
nora she come to see re parrot an q
v cockatoo She is welcome. Walk zai
way, please. "
n Aud Dorothy and her friend descend
ed into low-ceiled, dirty place line;
with cages of numberless shriekinj
:, foreign birds, aud a jocund-lookini
II young man with mandolin slung aroun'
d his neck was leisurely picking out tun
: by the light of smoke -blackened lamp
g He looked at Mrs. Dixon, who nodde
h her head, while Dorothy stood trembling
/. and little sea-sick at her side.
He laid down the mandolin, bowe
ie not uugracefully, to Dorothy, and clo'
70 ing the doors with vigilant care, opene
y shallow cigar box which lay on th
!, table.
All at once the air seemed to flash INF
7, scintillations of light. Dorothy starte
d back with slight exclamation.
Not loud word was spoken as, guid
n ed by Mrs. Dixon's advice, Doroth
ID selected five many-faceted stones an
y laid down her little roll of bankbill'
Her heart beat loudly, her pulses SCENE
l, to race in a mad scamper through h'
t, veins as she thrust the diamonds into th
RI bosom of her dress. She did not hes
what Sazeda was saying-the murk
lt cabin swan before her eyes
&c "I'm afraid you feel the swell of ii
waves, DEAR" whispered Mrs. DixoI
e. "Let us get out as quick as we can"
a. In the same instant curious EXPIRE
e. sion passed across Sazeda's handsou
sardonic face. The cigar box vanishe
i'd as if by magic-the captain disappear
u also.
te "a custom house fellow" whispere
the little hunchback, madly swlngiu
his lantern to aud fro. "All ashor
ne Quick, signorasl'
u He thrust the cage of dropping viii
macaw into Mrs. Dixon's hands. 81
to nodded shrewdly, and pushed Dorott
across the plank toward the s6airs.
W her haste, however, the young woml
stumbled.
r "Quick," cried Luella - "quicl
N KULatts tha ,,,.tfar With uOu2U