The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-09
CHAPTER XII.

Ramon, the guide, reported himself
next morning. His little, round, sallow
face was beaming with delight, and there
was a twinkle Of satisfaction in his small,
black, beady eyes.
Good news, senior milo" he began, I
have heard of our man."
of Yriarte? Capital? But how?" I
inquired.
three-masted xebecque from the Canaries
by name Bartolomeo Delgado, sailed
with him several voyages to the Havana"
Bartolomeo was brought in, atrue type
of the Southern sailor, short, squarely
built, black as q Lascar, in q blue-and-
white striped jersey thrown open, show
ing his brawny, hairy chest, on which
lay o little ~Agnus Del" hanging from o
ribbon round his neck.
. He stood silent md stolid till he heard
the chink Of the dollars as I counted
them out on the table, and then declared
himself mine body and soul.
He knew Captain Yriarte2" I asked
through Ramon.
SECURE. OF course; I made many
voyages with him to the Havana in the
Dos Hermanos."
who were the owners? Does he re-
member? Ask him that, I went on.
G:-Why not? Rich merchants Of the
Havana-Cooch & Izquierdo."
- Again, that name, fresh corroboration;
exactly what I wanted to know.
And he thinks the ship was lost at
seal"
At this question the sailor pursed up his
lips sideways and turned out the palms
of his hands, q gesture indicating utter
ignorance, and said:
aDsos sa6e' God knows). "she neve,
came back to Cadiz."
The captain did, though, and you have
seen him, you admit. When and where
was this?"
The man hesitated; but the money was
not vet his, and I insisted on an answer.
"Yes-here in Cadiz. I think SO, that
is to say.
In the port?"
mo, at q posado; a wine-shop on the
wharf, the sign of The Salt Goldfish q
house we sailors use.
"Did you speak to him?"
At first Delgado would not allow that
he had, but when pressed he admitted
that the captain and he had drunk a pint
Of wine together.
And he told you where he had been all
these years."
Away yonder-in the Havana"
Always in the Dos Hermanos?"
-Quien sGbe? I suppose So"
Till she wa lost? Did he tell you
how it happened? Where?"
NO" This was q lie. I felt sure, from
the way in which it was said. But he
told me he never meant to 60 to sea
again." 49,
why not? Had he made his fortune?"
@Oh. no; but he had enough to live up
on. He had good friends, too. They
would not let him want, he said"
Did this refer to Mr.. Sarsfeld, and
some contemplated scheme of extortion?
Friends; relations, ! suppose, in Ca
diz? Do you know them9 Who are they2
Rich?"
His mother lives; but she is certainly
not rich"
What is her address,"
"She belongs to Puertocito del Rio, q
| village down the coast a few miles,
I promised myself the pleasure Of an
early call upon the Sonora Yriarte, but
just now the English mail arrived, and
as they brought me in my letters I dis
missed Bartolomeo, with his reward.
Mr.. Smart had written to me a letter,
answering my telegram more at length:
Il had no difficulty in sending you the
information you sought, for just whom it
reached me our friend, Captain Fawcett,
had called, and was sitting with me. BE
had come to put me or guard, he said"
Fawcett volunteering assistance to the
police, I thought to myself. How strange
He is not wrapped up in you, 1 find.
You will probably think you know why,
Yes, he suspects you of having set the
girl against him, Of having cut him out
with her; but he suspects, or pretends to
suspect, you of more than that. Do you
know, Mr.. Leslie, he almost persuaded
me? I began to think we were pretty
flats to let you get away to Spain. 1t was
he who first reminded me that we had ne
e1tradition treaty with that country
The s%coundrel! Does he dare to &c
cuse me?
Il was wondering whether you had
gone there on purpose to give us the sliI
when your telegram arrived, and l felt ]
was near doing you an injustice. Was j
probable you would wire to me like tina
If YOU were not acting on the square
But this .Fawcett is q clever, artful chap
l can tell you; and he put the case very
we'll. Why had you made yourself sc
busy, why so anxious to help us run II
the criminal-puttipg us on the track frs
of this person, then that, and all wrong
ly-except to divert suspicious from your
self? Why had you been SO fierce against
Mr.. Sarsfeld? Why threaten him"
started rs I read this part Of the let
ter.