Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-08-14
ShOuIJer
CHAPTER XVI,

u!s' HeetihS TINS man, who proved
nltseit weak and faith.ess to his trust
~ tAe presence OF gold, Fox offered to
take him to New York on the Wanderer;
but as the pirates plans became
matured he changed his mind, as he
found o.her uses for the man.
HAD Thrasher gone to sea on the
"ahderer, as he was more than willing
TO DO. he would have been tied up in q
shotted bag and dropped overheard the
first chance, tor Fox believed in destroy
ing his useless tools,
Capt. ain 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 tn, cruiser, Sea Hawk, and by
the easiest means to rid himself OF such
OF the officers and crew as did not en-
list under piratical standard.
Alrt ady the reader is familiar with
the identity OF Captain + K with the
OF the Adventure Galley.
There Was scarcely one species OF
villainy In which he was not proficient
and where he failed, he founi most
willing cOadjutor in Guy Frenauld.
good specimen Of RALPH Denham's
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. SO that it became
an easy matter to forge a letter from
Captain Denham.
such letter was forged and given to
Thrasher-with due Observation-Disclosures
before the Wanderer sailed.
The better way to carry out these in
structions. Thrasher was given large
sum OF money, with promise Of
fabulous amount II he succeeded.
He was to prevent, by death as a
preference, any other post-rider from
getting through the forest to the town
OF Sag Harbor. He was free to asso-
ciate any other man Of like character
with him, but he was advised against it
II he could get on alone. At a 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 Condit, who had just
come out with his wife aud Ellen, recoS.
nized the post-runner as he came up
the walk
Hello. my man, where do you como
from?" asked Mr.. Hedges, in his
|
From New York" was the reply.
given in the voice OF one much ex-
hausted by the journey.
Have you letter for me?"
You are Lieutenant Hedges?"
Il am"
Then, sir, have 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 a chair, and
Mrs. Condlt went of tor glass Of cur
rant wine.
Thrasner had not been thirty miles
from the town; during his absence he
had companion OF ike kidney watch
ing the road for genuine post-riders.
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; it
bore the design Of the provincial i'm
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 limpid
lake does the fol age overhanging its
banks.
Is Ralph well?" asked the Squire, I'M
able to stand the uncertainty.
He appears to be-" said Mr.. Hodges,
his eyes still on the paper.
ANY bad news?" from Ellen.
Il can't exactly say"
rs it unusual?" 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 five and forty years
of my life, mostly spent at sea where
surprises amt uncommon. I'll tell you
about it after bit" said Mr.. He'd ges,
with 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
Sit in the Middle Cars.