The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-02-04
CLARENCE HERseRT NEW.


J. B. Lippneou Col
qulre my searching for heirs of the
original owners. This didn't trouble
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-eyen our fat and schem-
ing friend sebastiano.
So: the days slipped along through
April into May, while I rested and
learned what it was to hive beautiful
woman's> personality creep into the
deepest corners of my heart. Then
one morning there came u cloud which
threatened disaster to all our hopes;
and but for Dorotca'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, beche-de-mer, and other
products-in search of water, poultry,
and any cargo there might happen to
be in the place. Noticing the bags Of
copra under the shed, her captain Of
fered the harbor master higher rate
than that which obtained at Manila,
and was told that Us the gobernador
would undoubtedly be glad to sell at
such a price, he might send ashore for
It whenever he pleased. We were just
coming In from sail, and saw the
schooncr's men loading some Of the
bags into q jolly-boat as we skirted
along outside of Apapa island. My
face must have been absolutely color
less, for Dorotea laid her hand upon
my arm and exclaimed:
'Madre de Dios, querido, what is It?
que tiene w"
mo tengo NADIA; but look! They are
taking away the copra in that schoon-
er! The treasure! It's packed away
in the bags. never dreamed they
would be disturbed until Halstead
came for them. Oh, good Lord! how
on earth can I stop them without CIV
ing the whole thing away?"
"Steer inside Apapa and land at tho
pier. 1 will stop it very quickly"
"But how? What can you say that
will not arouse suspicion that there is
something more valuablein the bags?"
II cannot tell until ask of the har-
Dor master why he does permit it.;
then will think Of something. Does
ell Captain Halstead know"
"Ot course he does, and expects to
take them next trip"
'Then he would surely give more
than other men for them?"
eyes, yes. sowill1. Only keep them
where they are until he comes. have
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-
lGtion. The treasure will need chem
icals to get the corrosion of, any
way" g..
"Ai, that will do. But-you must not
80 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-take
the frown from your forehead. Come,
there is ell oflcial-senor Legaspe!
Senior Legaspe, why do los hombres
remove the copra?" .
eel capitano gives two dollars more
than the Manila rate, senorita. I
knew el gobernador would accept such
an offer, so l have given him permits
sion to load"
"You have made mistake, senior;
the gobernador will be greatly dis
pleased. The price of copra has risen
very much, and the stranger capitano
thinks we have not heard of it. Stop
them instantly. should regret to
see you in trouble, Senior Legaspe."
"a thousand apologies, senorita; it
shall be as you say. knew nothing Of
the rise in values, and but thought Ell
gobernador would be pleased to sell.
Hola, hombres The copra is not for
sale. Take those bags out of your boat
and bring them back"
The sailors looked at one another
and then grumblingly began to do as
they were told. The schooner's cap
tain must have been watching through
his glass, for inside of five minutes he
dropped another boat into the water
and came ashore as fast as his men
could row. Hailing the harbor-master
in bad Spanish when he was within ear
shot,he asked what the devil was the
matter, and why his men were taking
the stuff. out OF. the jolly-boat. Lee
gaspe was smarting a little under the
sharp trick he thought the captain had
played upon him, and was very short
in his reply that "the gobernador
would not sell, and that was all there
about It,"
"Who says he won't?" shouted tho
captain. 1--WE had my glass on the
shore for half AN hour, and no one has
spoken to you but this yellow-faced
chap and the girl yonder. He amt the
gobernador, III take my oath; and as
for the girl, don't allow no damned
native women to interfere in my busi-
ness"
1t took all the self-control had to
keep from knocking the man down.
His cool appropriation of our millions
was serious enough offense, without
the gratuitous insult to the girl In
tended to marry. stepped in front
Of the fellow and looked him over.
Then said:
"This lady. sir, is Senorita de Garma,
only daughter of his excellency, Col.
De Gar1na. gobernadcr of the Ladrones.
] supposed from your colors that you
were a German, but I'm ashamed to
see that you came from my own coun-
try, You will doubtless see At to apoi-
ogize to the lady at once.".