The Mena star., 1899-08-10

of copra upon the stomach of the man nearest me. He was sleeping so sound 1 " that l had to try a heavier piece. which startled him with a grunt of sur | prise and pain. In about three sec onds his eye fell upon that faintly il- luminated wax figure, and, with howl of terror that made my own nerves jump he ran for his boat as if he were trying to break record. His com panon wasn't more than five seconds after him, and the two fought like mad men in their attempt to shove off and get away. To make the effect per manent. I grabbed my dummy, and. holding the lantern so that its rays would be reflected back upon it, glided swiftly after them. The horror of the hing had reduced their cries 10 in- articulate gasps, and they worked like demons to get out where the wind would fiji their sail; so, as it was low tide, l waded after them, holding Br'er Miguel high enough to give i him the appearance of walking upon the water. l never knew who the men were, but the story was all over town before noon; and for more than a week the entire native population was afraid to stir after dark.
 When finally waded back to shore, it was getting gray behind Tiniquio, so l lost no time in slowing my friend un- i der several layers of copra bags, where he was likely to be undisturbed, but where could get him in short order if his services should be required again. Then, hurrying back to my proa, dumped the cargo of specie overheard in four feet of water, where it could easily be found whenever there should l be an opportunity for secreting it.
 This affair so thoroughly awakened me 10 the danger of delay that l re- moved all the remaining treasure from | the wreck in one big load, next trip. l Standing for the last time in the laza- retto of Nuestra Sonora de Sevilla, 1 four fathoms under the Pacific, felt as though l were saying good-by to an old friend; for I shall probably never see her again. There was something wonderful in the way she had guarded 1 those millions for me all the years since they firstdisappeared under wa l ter, and I speculated little as to whether strict honesty wouldn't re- quire my searching for heirs of the original owners. This didn't trouble me very long, however. The risks Hal stead and l had undergone, and the way we had worked the problem out to successful result, seemed to give.u 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 1 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 1 threatened disaster to all our hopes; and but for Dorotea's position and ready wit this narrative would be l merely one of fruitless adventure. schooner came sailing into Apra-one 1 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 1 fered the harbor master a higher rate i than that which obtained at Manila. and was told that, as the gobernador would undoubtedly be glad 10 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 a 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 :? 1 que tiene Vi?
 "No tengo nada: but look! They are taking away the copra in that schoon- CT! The treasure. IL is packed away l in the bags. l never dreamed they would be disturbed until Haistead came for them. Oh, good Lord! how on earth can I stop them without giv- l ing the whole thing away?'
 "Steer inside Apapa and land at the pier. will stop it very quickly
 But how? What can you say that will not arouse suspicion that there IS something more valuab ble in the bags? 2"
 "I cannot tell until I ask of the har- Dor master why he does permit if; l then will think of something. Does el Capitan Halstead know"
 "Of course he does. and expects to talre them next frip.'