Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-09

answered In the affirmative.
"Well," went on the stranger, IF you
will do little job for me there's E so
for you. Next time you descend, go in
to the stewards cabin and look about
you for an iron-bound box, one about
q foot square and six inches deep. A
friend of mine was bringing it over
when. he went down with the ship, and
have gathered that it was there he had
placed it for safety"
"Do you mean a wooden box with
iron bindings?" 1 said, eying the man
narrowly, a peculiar fancy possessing
me that I had heard him speak before
"But why do you want it?"
Because it is mine!" he cried, sud
denly becoming wrathful, land you
know something about it! What do
you know, man? Out with It'll"
eff I should find such box should
send it to the owners, to whom you
could apply, and prove your right to it
to them"
what do you say?" he shouted, blaz-
ing with anger. "The box really be
longs to mel can prove it!-and so
pounds-a hundred-nay, two hun
dred!''
Il cannot entertain your proposal" 1
replied.
Then, before 1 could make any at
tempt to defend myself, he sprang at
me like ferocious brute, hurting me to
the deck half stunned. While still in
this condition and unable to resist, he
slipped noosed' rope around me,
fastening my arms to my sides, and
quickly tied it.
Now" he growled, IF you don't in
form me where you have placed the
box, I'll first gag you, and then rope-end
you until you see fit to do So"
Like fool, I involuntarily turned my
head to see if the box were still safe In
the corner. The man instinctively fol-
lowed the direction of my eyes, saw the
box, and with an inarticulate cry of de-
light, he sprang up and seized it. Hug
cling it in his arms as if it had been "a
much-beloved child, he turned towards
me and said:
eve scored this time, Mr.. Foreman,
and much easier than had bargained
for. You don't know what's in The box,
but III tell you that its contents are
worth huge pile of money to me-"
Then, with a sarcastic laugh, he
swung himself over the side into his
boat, and pushed off, My legs were I'M
bound, 1 was able to stand up, and,
walking to the side, l watched the
notwithstanding boat, and, bit by bit,
there came back to my mind the con-
versation held by that man with the
woman he called mother. l began to
connect his words with his action in
stealing the box. That there must be
some very strong motive behind it was
evident to me. Perhaps the box con-
tanned the lost will he had referred to.
I decided I must regain possession OF
1t, whatever the cost. But how could
do It? 1 could not follow him in my
own boat, because the ropes around the
upper part of my body held me tight
Everything seemed to point to the man
getting clear away, when suddenly /
saw he was making almost desperate
efforts to reach the shore. l looked
around to account for his haste, and to
nv establishment beheld another boat,
propelled by two pairs of oars, APP
preaching the ship from direction al
most at right angles to that which Bry-
an had taken.
With few lusty strokes the boat was
brought under the lee, and one of the
two men climbed up on deck. He die
not seem at all surprised to see the fix
was in, hut he was laboring under the
influence of excitement as he ques-
toned and released me.
"Who has done this?" he asked.
THAT man who is in that boat near
ly halfway to shore!"
"But what did he rope you for|"
Because 1 refused to give him a
small iron-bound box" was my answer,
looking ruefully at the cords which
were now in pieces on the deck.
Great Scot! but he didn't get it?''
The tones of the questioner were almost
fierce with excitement. He saw the
blank look with which I was beginning
to affirm, and it was enough. lie
rushed to the side of the ship and cried
out:
Hes got it! We're too late Curse
the luckl Can we go after him and
catch him?"
NO." replied, she will be on shore
long before you could get there. But
what do you want with the boX?"
"That box was being brought over
from Valparaiso by friend to the gen
, tleman in the boat. We can prove it
belongs to him by its contents! But
help us to recover it, and you shall have
the 5000 reward which we have ad-
vertised."
81 thought moment. My voice
would not carry to the shore against
the wind. How could l attract the at
tention of those at the station on the
cliff? Like flash, and as if some invis-
ibleperson had spoken, came the words:
"By the telegraph"
The thought no sooner occurred to
,, me than FASTENED to put it into prac-
tice, explaining what was going to do
as 1 worked, to Bilson, as the man called
himself. BY the time 1 had set the coil
going the boat and its occupant were
within half mile of the shore, for the
man was still using almost superhuman
exertion.
L sent the inquiring signal, and await
l ed an answer. 1t must be understood
: that we had on board only a transmit
ter, not also receiver, the coastguard
e men replying by flags. A moment
: passed, and no reply. Again and again
r l signalled. Were the men in the place
The seconds seemed like hours! Then
to my great delight, up to the masthead
E fluttered flag. With all the speed
7 could command, sent the words:
eize-box-carried by = man
e nearing-shore-in-boat-he = has
| c4o1au-it "