The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-11-12
Captain Fox, who desires me to take
back your nm sWor"

Captain Fox, who desires me to take
back your an swor.
Captain Denham was inc lined to like
Frenauld, and his dislike of Fox-he
imaginod-was caused by the feeling
that he was or mi.ht become rival.
All fear Of this being dissipated by Lea,
he felt, as Is ever the case with gener-
Gus natures, OF going to the other ex-
treme.
Frenauld remained back, smoking and
conversing with the officers of the Sea
Hawk, who were gathered under an
awning on the quarter deck.
Before opening the letter, Ralph Dom
ham, followed by Valentine Dayton,
went down 10 the cabin.
After glancing over the note to mako
sure that he could communicate It's con-
tents TO his subordinate, without any
breach of etiquette, he read as follows:
ON BOARD II. NJ, s. CRUISER WANDERER,
OFF SAG HARBOa. June 10, 1906.
My DEAR CAPTAIN DESHAM: l have
been informed ty some Of our friends
ashore that you are ordered to New York
at once, without your ship. Strangely
enough. the Same post brought me an Or
der. commanding mo to New York Bay
with my ship, on or before tho 10Th inst
The trip by land Is long and tedious,
while expect in this weather to mako it
inside of twelve hours on the Wandercr-
going mp the sound and through Hurl
Gate. or He'll Gate. as 1t is now being
called.
Permit me to say there is q cabin at your
service on board tho Wanderer, and If you
will honor me with your presence on the
short cruise. my officers and self will en-
deavor. at least in part, to show our ap-
probation of the kindness We have re-
ccived at your hands and the hands of your
friends, since coming into the beautiful
bay. and meeting these most hospitabie
people Hoping for a favorable reply at
the hands of Mr.. FIenauld, telieve me with
much esteem, very sincerely.
Your humble, obedient servant.
WILLIAM Fox,
Commanding II. NJ. s. Cruiser wanderor.
To Captain Ralph Denham, H. NJ s. Pro-
yincial Cruiser, Sea Hawk
What do you think Of that. Mr.. Day
TOM" asked the Captain, when he had
finished reading the letter aloud.
Il must say think 1t very handsome.
Captain. or course you will not say
mo- to such an offer? 1t is most for
tunate think to have a ship like the
Wanderer to bear one to New York. in
stead Of going through the woods and
over the sands on horseback" replied
Lieutenant Dayton.
Even IL the offer were not tempting,
/ should feel inclined to accept, to show
my appreciation Of Fox's kindness.
Then you will 60 on the Wanderer,
captaini"
to that effect; Frenauld Is waiting fol
my answer
Captain Denham sat down to desk,
and quicking penning his reply, sent II
up by Lieutenant Dayton.
And thus it came about that Captain
Denham sailed away in the Wanderer.
Had the powers Of darkness deliber'
ately planned to aid Captain Fox and
Colonel Graham in their dark schemes
matters could not have worked better
into their hands.
Colonel Graham was not a demonstra-
tive man; on the contrary, he was COOL
self-possessed, suspicious and cynical.
But when Fox read him Ralph Denham's
letter accepting the Offer, Graham
sprang from his chair, and in his mo-
mentary exultation, seized his COM
panion's hand, and cried with an oath:
Now, we have him, sir! we have
him!"
LII was T6pOTtcu SOls
would return to New York on the Wan
derer, but the people expressed no sur
prise when the vessel sailed away with.
out him.
The night before the morning when
the ship sailed away, Col. Graham, who
still made his headquarters ut the inn,
was taken alarmingly i'll, and DIR.
Hedges, who was called in to attend tc
the case, bled him freely.
The illness was trick to give an ex.
cuse for remaining behind, but there
was no trick about the doctors lancet
Bleeding was then thought to be apana.
cea for every i'll, from a toothache te
Asiatic cholera, and the doctor left his
patient so weak that he could not move
if no would.
It was decidedly dangerous to fool
with doctors in those days, when bleed.
ing and blistering killed the weak, anC
tested the powers of the strongest.
Squire Condit was the only person o,
note in the town that did not visit the
sick man, but the people all thought the
Squire eccentric.
A few days after the Wanderer sailed
away, Dinah, the old black woman, lit
orally forced her way into Col. Ora
ham room.
The rather startling disclosures thai
the old woman made. and the remarka'
BILE conduct of the invalid must form
the subject of the next chapter.
iro an cONrrNurnt