The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-02

three men made their appearance Mt Pros
pect Cottage and were received by Mrs. AL
laire ia the parlor on the ground floor
Captain Willis" said she, after they had
which was unrolled map of Northern
Australia, "bs pleased to make report on
the expedition"
Mrs Allaire listened with the deepest iu-
terest. uttering no word of comment, with
her clear and hopeful eyes riveted upon the
speaker. As the captain in his report en-
tered upon the portion relating TO Browse
Island she insisted upon the greatest par
ticularity.
Captain Willis, drawing from his pocket
medallion furnished by dampness, placed
it in her outstretched hand. 1t contained
portrait of Molly, Photographic miniature,
now almost faded out. She had given it to
John on the sailing OF the Dreadnaught
and ii had been found by Willis men
in a corner of the cave upon second
examination OF the place. If this silent
witness testified to the presence OF Captain
John among the survivors was not the con-
clusipn inevitable that he had persisted with
the others from want and exposure?
Had we reached here fewyea sooner"
said Captain Willis, perhaps we might
have found John and his companions-some
OF them still alive"
Yes. perhaps" sighed Andrew Hollister.
YES" lie continued, "it was there that the
Molly's Hope should have been sent in the
first place. but who could ever have thought
that the Dreadnaught had been wrecked on
an island Of the Indian Ocean?
" No one." replied Willis; at least not
from the route he was to have followed, and
which he did in reality follow, too, for the
Dreadnaught was sighted to the south of
Ce!ebes Island. Captain John, having lost
control of his vessel, mist have been swept
through some strait into the Timor Sea and
driven upon Browse Island"
Yes, that must have been the way it
happened" added Zach.
Captain" said Mrs. Allaire, you have
only done what you should have done in
searching the Malasian seas for the Dread
naught, bat ii We had only gone to Browse
Island on the first expedition-ah, yes, il we
had only gone theref
Then with a sudden change in her manner
and with that same hopeful ring in her
mains of five of the casLaways on Browse
Island, but what do you think has become
of the nine others. for besides Captain John
and his mate. Harry Shelton, there were
twelve ordinary seamen on board the Dread
naught."
''It's mystery" replied Willis.
But not to mev exclaimed Molly. 81
know, but | ask you what you think"
Perhaps they persisted when the ship
went to pieces on the reefs, said Captain
Willis.
You think, Their, that only five of them
reached the shore alive"
Unfortunately, that seems TO he the only
explanation" answered Mr.. HUllsier.
Il don't agree with yuu," came from
Mrs. Allaire. why should not John,
Shelton and the twelve men have been able
to get safely ashore? Why should not
nine of them have been able to leave the
islands,"
But how, Mrs. AIlaire?' asked Captain
Willis eagerly.
BY putting off in a launch, built out of
the remains OF the wreck"
Mrs. Allaire," said Willis. Zach will
bear NE out in assuring you that from the
condition in which we found the debris of
the wreck, the thing would have been I'M
possible"
az But the ships boats"
Admitting that they were not battered
to pieces. they would not have been staunch
enough to reach the Sunda Islands or the
Australian coast
And still, remarked Andrew Holllster,
" If nine of the castaways were able 10 get
off the island, why should the other five
have remained there?"
In my opinion" added Captain Willis.
If they ever left the island in boat they
either went to the bottom, or else only
reached the coast TO be siaiu by Australian
savages."
The brave woman didn't finch at these
terrible words.
Zach" SAID she calmly, what do you
think of what Captain Willis has saida"
Il think, replied French, with shake
of the head, Il think that if it was possible
for things TO turn out this way, il was pos
sible for them to turn out in other ways"
And, therefore" said Molly. my DO
sition is that We really know nothing of
what has become OF nine men not found on
the island. As for you and your crew, Cap
tain Willis, you have done everything that
brave and devoted men could have done"
Il wish that L could have done more,
Mrs. AllaireP'
We are going to leave you now, my dear
Molly said Hollister, thinking that it was
useless TO prolOng the interview.
lis we'll, my dear friend" answered
Molly, with sad smile. :" desire TO be
alone for while; but whenever Captain
Willis wishes to confer with me concerning
John and his companions l shall be happy
to see him."
Il shall be at your command, Mrs.
Allaire," replied Willis.
And you, Zach" added Molly, "bear in
mind that my house is yours
Mine@' repeated the seaman. But
what's to become OF the Molly's Hope?"
The MOlly's Hope?" echoed Mrs. AL
laire. as il astonishcd at the question.
'Your Intention no doubt is, my dear
Molly said Mr.. Hollster, that if an op-
portuDity occurs to make good sale Of"
What, sell the Moly's Hope" cried Mrs
Allaire. mo, Mr.. HOLSTER; never"
Mrs. Allaire and French exchanged
glances. II was plain that they understood
each other.
To be continued nsrt Sunday.
Copyright, 1891.