The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13

quire my searching for heirs OF the
original owners. This didn't trouble
me very long, however. The risks Hall
stead and l had undergone, and the
way we had worked the problem QUITO
a successful result, seemed to give.us
better claim upon the money than
anyone else-even our fat and schem-
ing friend Sebastiano.
So the days slipped along through
April into May, while rested and
learned what it was to have beautiful
woman's personality creep into the
deepest corners of my heart. Then
one morning there came acloud which
threatened disaster to all our hopes;
and but for Dorotea's position and
ready wit this narrative would be
merely one of fruitless adventure. A
schooner came sailing into Apra-one
of the island schooners which trade in
cocoanuts, bechede-mer, and other
products-in search of water, poultry,
and any cargo there might happento
be in the place. Noticing the bags of
copra under the shed, her captain of
fered the harbor master a. higher rate
than that which obtained at Manila,
and was told that, as the gobernador
would undoubtedly be glad to sell at
such price, he might send ashore for
it whenever he pleased. We were just
coming in from a sail, and saw the
schooner's men loading some of the
bags into jolly-boat as we skirted
along outside of Apapa island. Ny
face must have been absolutely color
less, for Dorotea laid her hand upon
my arm and exclaimed:
"Iadre de Dios, querid'o, what is It?
que tiene W."
"No tengo NADIA; but look! They are
taking away the copra in that schoon-
er! The treasure! It is packed away
in the bags. 1 never dreamed they
would be disturbed until Halstead
came for them. Oh, good Lord! how
on earth can stop them without Civ
ing the whole thing away?"
"Steer inside Apapa and land at the
pier. Twill stop it very quickly"
"But how? What can you say that
will not arouse suspicion that there is
something more valuableiin the bags?"
81 cannot tell until / ask of the, har-
Dor master why he does permit it;
then I will think of something. Does
| ell Captain Halstead know"
| "Of course he does, and expects to
take them next trip"
''Then he would surely give more
! than other men for them?"
Eyes, yes. So'will I. Only keep them
where they are until he comes. Ihave
it! Say that spoke to you of a new
chemical discovery which Halstead
told me about-one which increases
the value of copra, and which made
him think of buying this lot on specu-
lation. The treasure will need chem
icals to get the corrosion off, any
way
"Ai, that will do. But you must NOT
so alarmed appear, Enriquito. Doyou
light one of your cigarros. Smoke as
if it did make no difference to you
Leave the rest to me. Now-vivo-taks
the frown from your forehead. Come
there is Ell oficial-Senor Legaspe
Senior Legaspe, why do los hombres
remove the copra?"
sci capitano gives two dollars more
than the Manila rate, senorita.
knew Ell gobernador would accept sucl
| an offer, so I have given him permits
sion to load"
'sYou have made a mistake, senior
the gobernador will be greatly dis
: pleased. The price of copra has rise,
very much, and the stranger captain,
/ thinks we have not heard of it. Sto
: them instantly. I should regret t
see you in trouble, Senior Legaspe."
: "a thousand apologies, senorita;
L shall be as you say. Iknew othing @
e the rise in values, and but thought {
' gobernador would be pleased to sci
: Hola, hombres! The copra is not fo
!, sale. Take those bags out of your boa
e and bring them back"
l. The sailors looked at one anothe
e and then grumblingly began to do {
n they were told. The schooner's cal
l. tain must have been watching throug
=. his glass, for inside of five minutes
= dropped another boat into the waite
= and came ashore as fast as his me
l. could row. Hailing the harbor-maste
VI in bad Spanish when he was within ca
IS shot,he asked what the devil was I'll
e matter, and why his men were tallin
j. the stuff out of the jolly-boat. L
Is gaspe was smarting a little under til
l. sharp trick he thought the captainha
d played upon him, and was very shol
r in his reply that 1.-THE gobernade
4. would not sell, and that was all the1
IS about it,
d Who says he won't?" shouted ii
re captain. tive had my glass on tt
l. shore for half an hour, and no one h;
.e spoken to you but this yellow-face
d chap and the girl yonder. He amt tt
W gobernador, Ill take my oath; and 1
g for the girl, don't allow mo damnt
e native women to interfere in my bus
n ness"
n 1t took all the self-control had
n keep from knocking the man dow
k His cool appropriation of our million
id was serious enough offense, witho
the gratuitous insult to the girl l j
e, tended to marry. stepped in fro.
50 of the fellow and looked him owe
D. Then I said: