The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-05-06

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 thai which obtained at Manila,
and was told that. as the gobernador
would undoubtedly be glad TO sell at
such price. he might send ashore for
IL whenever he pleased. We were just
coming in from a sail. and saw the
schooner's men loading some OF the
bags into n jolly-boat as we skirted
along outside of Apaps 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 lit
que tiene w"
mo tengo NADIA; but lookl They are
taking away the copra in that schoon-
erl The treasure! IL is packed away
| in the bags. | never dreamed they
would be disturbed until Halstead
came for them. oh. good Lordl how
on earth can ] stop them without Civ
Ing the whole thing awayr"
steer inside Apapa and land at tho
pier. will stop IL very quickly"
"But how? What can you say that
will not arouse suspicion that there 10
something more valuable in the bags?"
81 cannot tell until ask of the har-
Dor master why he does permit IL;
then will think of something. Does
ell Captain Halstead known"
"Of course he does, and expects to
take them next trip"
"Then he would surely give more
than other men for them?"
eyes, yes. So will /. Only keep then
where they are until he comes. Ihave
I'll Say that | spoke TO you Of new
chemical discovery which Halstead
told me about-one which increases
the value of eopra. and which made
him think Of buying this lot on specu-
lation. The treasure will need chem
icals 10 get the corrosion of. any
way"
"Ai. that will do. But you must not
so alarmed appear. Enriquito. Do you
light one OF your cigarros. Smoke as
IL IL did make no difference 10 you.
Leave the rest TO me. Now-viyo-take
there Is ell official-Senor Legaspei
Senior Legaspe, why do los hombres
remove the copra?"
"El capitano gives two dollars moro
than the Manila rate, senorita. /
knew ell gobernador would accept such
an offer. so have given him permits
sion 10 load"
.You have made a 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 IL. Stop
them instantly. ! should regret to
see you in trouble. Senior Legaspe."
"A thousand apologies, senorita; II
shall be as you say. knew nothing Of
the rise in values. and but thought ell
gobernador would be pleased TO sell.
Hola. hombresi 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 az
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 ms 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 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 the
captain. i've had my glass on the
shore for half an hour, and no one has
spoken 10 you but this yellow-faced
chap and the girl yonder. He amt the
gobernGdor, I'll take my oath; and as
for the girl. ! don't allow no damned
native women to interfere in my BUSH
ness"
IL took all the self-control had to
keep from knocking the man down.
His cool appropriation of our millions
was serious enough offense. withou
1 y \
tended 10 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 Garma. gobernadcr of the Ladrones.
] supposed from your colors that you
we're German, but I'm ashamed TO
see that you came from my own coun-
try. You will doubtless see fit TO apol-
ogize TO the lady at once"
WAL, perhaps | war a leetle hasty.
| dunno who you mought be. stranger,
butyer kin tell thur Teddy didn't mean
no ofrense; wimmin's good deal alike
out herein thur islands, an didn't
jedge her right, that's all. But about
that thar coppera; | want n cargo OF Il,
an I'm willn' ter pay er far price. I'll
give the gobernador four dollars more n
thur Manila rate, an he kin pocket thur