Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16
FOUND AT LAST.

stern and incorruptible guardian that she
only dared to give timid glance about her.
Still she knew the sailor lad was in safe
hands and deemed it best not to alarm the
honest Zach at that moment by any show
of weakness. A tremendous task was
awaiting her and it behooved her to give an
earnest of her ability to face and accomplish
it, if she expected to inspire others with
her courage.
Thanks to the hearty cooperation of the
Government, 80 picked men, well armed
and well mounted some of them half-breeds
and speaking the dialect of the natives,
were soon enrolled for the expedition. Mrs.
Allaire contracted to pay them high wages
with bounty of several hundred pounds
upon their return, no matter what the out
come of the expedition might be. The men
were to be under the command of Tom
Marks, an old and experienced officer Of
the provincial police, with Zach French
for his lieutenant, but above Tom Marks,
above Zach, above everyone, came Mrs.
John Allaire, the veritable head as well as
the actual heart and soul of the expedition.
1t was agreed that the expedition should
rendezvous at Farina Town, the terminus of
the Adelaide Railway, where Mrs. Allaire
was to join it day or so before the start
which was to take place some day in the
second week ofSeptember. Several pleasant
nor General and Mrs. Allaire. The former
thought himself in duty bound to set fully
forth to that lady the dangers, the difficult
ties and even the slight hope of sue
cess awaiting such an expedition as the
one she was about to set on foot and which
to make successful she had already scattered
her money with lavish hand. Everything
was to be done to gain and preserve the
good will of the savages through whose
domain they were to pass. Valuable pres
ents were to be bestowed upon the chiefs
and their head men.
81 shall hesitate at nothing, your Excel |
lency, 1 shall shrink from no sacrificed e1-
claimed Mrs. Allaire. "What your in |
trepid pathiinders accomplished in the in |
teres5 Of civilization and science shall do |
to rescue my husband, who, to-day, is the |
sole survivor of the crew of the Dread |
naught. Since the day he sailed from San |
Diego, with all the world against me, I |
have persisted in my belief that he was
alive. Now we know that he is. Now all
that is needed to reach him and take him
from the hands of his savage captors is de-
votion to the noble task we have set our
selves. Onr motto is NO Step Backward
and with Gods help we shall bring Captain /
John Allaire home with us!''
The moment that stern but honest keeper
was away from Molly's side her thoughts
reverted to the sailor lad who had taken
such a strong hold of her heart. She had
been careful not to breathe to Zach the fact
of her failure to open the package delivered
to her by the old seaman, or to confess to
him her lack of courage to do SO. Why
should she long to ring the death knell to
the first happiness that had come to her
after so many years of sorrow? OF one
thing she was thoroughly convinced, how
ever, no matter to whom the boy belonged, |
ne was no ordinary child; his innate grace
and gentleness, his instructive refine
ment proved this, to say nothing
of his handsome, high-bred features and
resolved not to give him up. What sun
shine and joy would he not bring to their
home when once the full gentleness and no
bility of his character had been brought out
by their love and watchful care? How could
] ohm help loving such frank, manly sailor
lad? Yes, Godfrey would take Walters |
place in that fathers heart. he would help
J ohm to bear the awful loss which awaited
him on his return home to San Diego
Molly's mind was fully made up. In |
spite Of the scowl which she knew only too
well would wrinkle the brow OF honest Zach
French when he heard of it, she was re-
solved to adopt Godfrey as her son, as
Johns and her son, educate him as such
and surround him with all the luxury and ,
refinement which her great wealth justified.
When evening came she sat down and wrote i
| few lines to the Captain of the Brisbane, /
him to send the sailor lad to her |
n the morning. SunmoRing servant she ]
placed the letter in his hand and directed
him to take it at once to the Captains !
lotel. The man turned away and had
'eached the street door when he was ac- |
.osted by a tall youth dressed in ,
he picturesque costume of the !
Australian trapper, corduroy smock frock '
,elted at the waist, trunks of the same |
Material, leather leggins and broad {
trimmed felt hat turned gracefully up on