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

y
us point. There was a Brazil
schooner came in last night, laden with
bananas. The captain has friends in the
diamond mines up among the noun
tains."
"You don't mean"
Mrs. Dixon laughed--a shrill, excited
laugh.
"It's really quite interesting to visit
those odd little foreign vessels" said
she. 'T'll take you there, dear, if you'd
likep
"Is that the way you got your dia.
monds, Luella"
"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 a
hurry TO get back to Rio Janerio. II we
go at all we'll have to go tonight"
"But it's Ralph's late night at the
bankr' hesitated Dorothy.
"All the better. He mustn't know a
word of it. Men are so ridiculous about
such things. never would have.breathed
a word to you if had supposed you
would betray mew
~ won'tl l won'tp cried Dorothy,
her cheeks flushed, her dark eyes spar
king. "Oh, Luella, do you think my
poor little seventy-five dollars will buy
anything fit TO look at2
"Great bargains are sometimes OBJ
tained in that way" nodded MIS-. Dixon.
"But, good gracious, is that eleven
striking2 And me due at my dressmak-
ers at half-past ten. 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 a 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
him. 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-a 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-stacks seemed to overshadow
them like some outlandish sort of forest.
A stunted lad in tattered garments
trottel along in front of them, whistling
as he went, and now and then casting a
backwack glance to make sure that they
had not lost their way.
Presently he plunged into a crazy old
house which seemed to balance itself on
the black tides below.
Mrs. Dixon followed-so did Dorothy
Imray, after one startled glance around.
They descended flight of ruinous
stairs, crossed rude gangplank, aud
found themselves on stupenduously
dirty vessel, smelling of tar and onions,
and rocking back and forth with tine
swell produced by the ferry boats that
came aud went at intervals.
A humpbacked little man in tarnished
velvetecn sat on a bucket turned upside
down, holding lantern which be swung
toward II cabin door beyond.
"Ha, Glacomel" he uttered, "Ze sig
nora she come to see re parrot an re
cockatoo! She is welcome. Walk Eat
way, please"
Aud Dorothy and her friend descend
ed into low-ceiled, dirty place lined
with cages of numberless shrleking
foreign birds, aud a jocund- looking
young man with a mandolin sluug around
his neck was leisurely picking out tune
by the light of a smoke blackened lamp.
He looked at Mrs. Dixon, who nodded
her head, while Dorothy stood trembling
and little sea-sicE1 at her side.
He laid down the mandolin, bowed
not uugracefully, to Dorothy, aud clos
ing the doors with vigilant care, opened !
l shallow cigar box which lay on the
.able.
All at once the air seemed to flash into |
icintillations of light. Dorothy started |
back with slight exclamation.
Not loud word was spoken as, guild |
I'd by Mrs. Dixon's advice, Dorothy |
selected five many-faceted stones aud |
aid down her little roll of bankbills. |
Her heart beat loudly, her pulses seemed
o race in a mad scamper through her
yeins as she thrust the diamonds into the |
BOSOM of her dress. She did not hear
What Sazeda was saying-the murky
,abin swan before her eyes.
"Im afraid you feel the swell of the
waves, dear" whispered Mrs. Dixon.
'Lct us get out as quick as we can"
In the same instant curious express
ion passed across Sazeda's handsome
ardonio face. The cigar box vanished
IS if by magic-the captain disappeared
llso.
"a custom house fellow" whispered
he little hunchback, madly swinging
lis lantern to aud fro. san ashore
quick, signoras!'
He thrust the cage of dropping white
nacaw into Mrs. Dixon's hands. She
lodded shrewdly, and pushed Dorothy
cross the plank toward the sCairs. In
Ter haste, however, the young woman
tumbled.
"Quick," cried Luella - "quick! |