Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-07-13
stained, and hie saddle bags over his
shoulder.
CHAPTER XVI.
INoLINATIoN yEngus DuTY.

ON first meeting this man, who proved
himself weak and falthless to his trust
In the presence Of gold, Fox offered TO
take him to New York on the Wanderor;
but as the pirates plans became
matured he changed his mind, as he
found other uses for the man.
Had Thrasher gone 10 sea on tho
Wanderer, as he was more than willing
to do, he would have been tied up In a
shotted bag and dropped overheard the
first chance, for Fox believed In destroy
ing his useless tools.
Captain Fox found in Thrasher just
the man to aid him in one OF the
grandest schemes he had yet plotted,
which was no less than to get possess
sion Of the cruiser, Sea Hawk, and by
the easiest means to rid himself OF such
OF the officers and crew az did not en-
list under his piratlcal standard.
Already the reader Is familiar with
the Identity of Captain Fox with the
traitor and pirate, Captain William Kidd
Of the Adventure Galley.
There was scarcely one species OF
vlllalny In which he was not proficient,
and where he failed, he found most
willing coadiutor in Guy Frenauld.
A good specimen Of Ralph Denham' 8
handwriting was obtained In that
officers reply, accepting Fox's invita-
ton to sail In the Wanderer to New
York.
Frenauld was an adept in the imita-
ton Of handwriting, 80 that 1t became
an easy matter to forge letter from
Captain Denham.
Such letter was forged and given to
before the Wanderer sailed.
The better way to carry out these in
structlons, Thrasher was given large
sum of money, with promise Of a
fabulous amount IL he succeeded.
He was to prevent, by death as
preference, any other post-rlder from
getting through the forest to the town
OF Sag Harbor. He was free to assoc
ciate any other man Of like character
with him, but he was advised against 1t
II he could get on alone. At certain
date he was to appear in Sag Harbor,
with letter from Captain Denham to
Lieutenant Hedges, and this date had
now come.
Mr.. Hedges and Valentine Dayton, as
we'll as Squire Condlt, who had just
come out with his wife and Ellen, recog-
nl2ed the post-runner as he came up
the walk.
Hello, my man, where do you come
from?" asked Mr., Hedges, in his
anxiety, going out to meet the courier.
From New York, was the reply,
given in the voice Of one much ex-
hausted by the journey.
Have you letter for me2"
you are Lieutenant Hedges?"
Il am"
"Then, sir, have a letter for you
from Captain Ralph Denham, Of the
cruiser Sea Hawk.
Thrasher came up on the veranda
and took the saddle-bags from his
shoulder, and Ellen got him chair, and
Mrs. Condit went off for glass Of cur
rant wine.
Thrasher had not been thirty miles
from the town; during his absence he
had companion OF like kidney watch
ing the road for genuine post-rlders.
So anxious was Mr.. Hedges for news
from his we'll beloved Captain that he
was about to stoop down and help
Thrasher to open the pouch, when the
latter handed him the letter.
All, there could be no doubt about its
genuineness; there was the dear fell
lows handwriting, and the impress Of
the seal on the wax was all right 1t
bore the design Of the provincial inn
press.
Mr.. Hedges realized how anxious the
people about him were to hear from the
Captain, but he was too good an officer
to read aloud an official communication,
the contents Of which he was not famil-
lar with.
AS he read the letter, all eyes,
Thrasher's included, were on his face,
which reflected his emotions as llmpid
lake does the foliage overhanging its
banks.
rs Ralph well2" asked the Squire, un-
able to stand the uncertainty.
He appears to be, said Mr.. Hedges,
his eyes still on the paper.
Amy bad news?" from Ellen.
Il can't exactly say"
Is it unusualp" asked Mrs. Condit.
Unusual? Well, yes; upon my soul,
1t is the most unusual and altogether
the most extraordinary thing that ever
came up with in the flve-and- forty years
of my life, mostly spent at sea where
surprises amt uncommon. I'll tell you
about 1t after bit, said Mr.. Hedges.
with a glance in the direction OF
Thrasher, to indicate that he was the
obstacle that prevented his telling them
all about it at once.
TO BE CONTINUED.