The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17
CHAPTER Xxx.

u alley, r6cnTISleneu lOT pEuueuLidi Ied-
sons the Wanderer."
CHAPTER Xxx.
CAPTAIN FOX ACTS WITH CHARACTERISTIC
PRoMPTNEss
will you remain here, Sir, or go on
board2" asked Frenaulu, whose admlra-
ton for his audacious commander rose
with the latter's confidence.
Wen go on board. Have the boat
ready. In the meantime, must speak
with some Of these people, replied Fox.
will Colonel Graham 60 with you?"
Il think so; he will if he is wise."
Fox waved his hand, and Frenauld
left to obey the order he had just re-
ceived.
DIR. Hedges, who had been watching
Captain Fox ever since he entered the
Inn, now approached him and said, as
he took his hand, Il ain very glad to
welcome you back, Captain"
And I EN- doubly glad to be back,
said Fox, retaining the Doctors hand,
while he held his head down as if think
ing OF something of Importance. Sud-
denly he added: BY the way, Doctor,
have you few moments to spare2"
ALI the time you wish" replied the
Doctor, who was more and more i'm
pressed by the gallant bearing and aris-
tocratic manners Of the Captain of the
Wanderer.
Fox asked the landlord to show him
and the Doctor to q private room, and
then he motioned to Don to follow with
the bag which he had brought from the
ship.
When Don went out the Captain closed
the door cautiously, and said, as he be-
gan to open the bag:
When in New York City few days
ago, I found few trifles, and with Miss
Lea in my mind bought them. l know
she does not like me as yet, but that is
because she does not know me, and
perhaps she retains a girlish affection
about Denham's family, but be it high
or low he is a god sailor, and that is
saying great deal.
And that is saying ALL" said the
Doctor, with yigor. I'VE all believe
that Ralph Dennam is the natural child
OF some one. OF course, he is not to
blame for that, but my daughter shall
never wed a man she knews nothing
about"
Perhaps you are right" said Fox,
ayerting his face to conceal the smile
that he could not suppress at the 9TH
er's absurd reasoning. But / was 60
ing to ask you to do me a great favor. I"
"A thousand OF them," said the Doc
tor, at once.
Captain Fox drew an ebony, inlaid
casket from the bag, and taking o small
key-it looked to be made Of gold-he
displayed the contents.
Great diamond stones that glowed
with the brilliancy Of rainbows mirrored
and held under tropic suns, flashed in
earrings and brooches; emeralds, the
light Of which seemed to fill the room
with cold, green glow that was daz-
Zling, gleamet In wristlets and other
jewelry. And at one end OF the casket,
like disjointed white serpent, there lay
a pearl necklace. worth in itself the
combined fortunes of all the dwellers
in Sag Harbor.
The Doctor knew something of the
value of these things, and dazed at the
concentrated treasure as we'll as dazzled
by it's beauty. he bent his head over the
jewel case, and trembled with excite
ment.
Il secured these things from Bur-
gundian prince, who has recently been
exiled, and came to the new world with
the only wealth left him. The price
was much to him, but nothing, fortu-
nately, to me- l thought at once Of the
beautiful Lea, and bought them"
But surely not for my daughter!" ex-
claimed the Doctor.
"Yes. for your daughter. Now, J
know, beautiful as they are, that she
will refuse them at my hands. She
cannot do SO if you give them t. her
But She Knows I have not the wealth
nor the"
Il know what you would say, my dear
Doctor, but you can tell Miss Lea that
the jewels were given or sent to you for
her by highly valued friend. Keep
back the name, and she will be more
than woman. more than human, il she
does not accept. After she has learned
to love the gems, and it Is love that
grows very fast, she will demand to
know the donors name, then, think.
you can tell her without harm to my
cause.
If Doctor Hedges, good easy man,
had entertained any doubts about the
wealth and high rank Of this nautical
Midas. it was dissipated now.
Here was a prospective son-in-law.
richer than any man in the province
yes. richer than any man in all the
American colonies. His warm beard
and hair seemed suddenly TO become
composed of threads Of gold. He was
handsome before, but now he turned
into an ADOllO before whom the myth-
ical original was dwarfed.
With an invitation from Fox to come
on board the Wandcrer that night, Doc
tor hedges secreLed his rare treasure in
his breast and FASTENED home.
He heard the people still discussing
the murder OF the post-rider, and the
coming of Captain Kidd; but he gave
no heed to them.
When tho doctor left. Captain Fox
threw himself into a chair. and gave