The Mena star., 1899-08-17
Copyright 1897. by J. B Lippineou Col

1T. l could see they were rather enjoying destination; evidently the skipper was q thorough brute at sea. He was speeches. with rage; but, as I had the advantage of him, there was nothing to do but pull off to his schooner and sail away She was just standing out past Orote when the carromata jolted up with the colonel and his two lieu tenants. Dorotea saw that Legaspe was likely to get wigging for allowing the visitors to leave before her father saw hem, and shrewdly put an entire ly different light upon the affair by say ing-in English, for my benefit:
 Padre mic, you the Senor Enrique must thank for protecting me at the risk of his life. In bruto capitano did land from la goleta and did order his men to take away the copra, telling the Senor Lepaspe that he would pay but mere nothing; and when did say that he could not have it, he in- suited me. Then the Senor Enrique did give him five minutes 10 go away before he killed him, though the bruto did have seven men from his goleta."
 We'll, that settled the stranger, and made me the biggest man on the is- land. The gobernadors right arm went over my shoulder and his left under my right, in a twinkling; then, after three pats on the small of my back and moment or two of ecstatic silence, he reversed the arms. left over my right shoulder, etc, three more pats, more silence, kisses on both my checks, then an endless string of ex- lifelong obligation to me. had seen the thing done many times before among people of the Latin races, but being kissed by a man was, to say the least, a novelty. Even Legaspe ex- pressed himself in exaggerated terms concerning the way in which I had called the captains hand; and, as no mention was made of his supposed mistake, he was our very humble serv- ant. Lest other dangers of a similar nature should threaten it. however, DoroteD mentioned to her father Hal stead's assumed intention of buying the copra at a high figure, on specula- tion, and suggested the advisability of placing a guard over it at night The coloneI's cupidity was aroused, and the guard was set; but, owing to Br'er Miguel's ghostly influence, the most he could make his men do was to pa trol the shore each night in a proa. As it was likely to be three-months' job, the soldiers didn't relish this; but they had to obey orders.
 It was the 9th of May when we came so near losing the copra. On the third morning after Halstead was to appear, if every thing had gone right with him; and as the time approached l became strangely apprehensive-so much so that l found it difficult to maintain an air eff careless ease. In fact, had it not been for Dorotea, l might have be- trayed my real interest in Guajan dozen times. But with each day that passed it became more evident that I had no rival in her heart. Sometimes she would speak with dread of Hal- stead's return, and breathlessly ask me to promise that I would surely visit them in Granada the following spring. Still, July was yet so far away that my departure seemed only dim pos sibility to her-a something which she must not even think about. I won- dered little what she would say when she knew, and how the colonel was go- ing to feel.
 1n1 fat11x Inv this time, and had resumed his investi- gations. Bearing the old fellow really no i'll will, one day suggested to him the possibility that Santa Rosa might be eight CT ten miles to the eastward of the charted nosition; and on the evening of May s he burst into the patio, where we were at dinner, with his oily countenance fairly shining He had been out in his big proa all day, and at last had been successful. There were exultation, greed, many things. in the look he cast upon me; but the rlan had suffered disappointment and illness. and the Lord knows I didn't feel like begrudging him this bit of good luck. I listened to him, con- pratuIated him heartily upon his great discovery. and prophesied great things for his book. until midnight--a child could have seen that had no nersonal interest in the reef-then l said goodnight and went upstairs.
 Stepping quietly along to the door of Dorotea's room, gave few faint taps upon it. and in a moment her voice asked:
 .sn..t.... fi..,,a off