The Mena star., 1899-08-17
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK. !


 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- lation. The treasure will need chem icals to get the corrosion off, any way"
 "Ai, that will do. But you must not so alarmed appear, Enriquito Do you light one of your cigarros. Smoke as if it did make no difference to you. Leave the rest to ne. Now-vivo-take the frown from your forehead. Come, there is el official-Senor Legaspe! Senor Legaspe. why do los hombres remove the copra?"
 "El capitano gives two dollars more than the Manila rate, senorita. I knew el gobernador would accept such an offer, so I have given him permis- sion to load"
 You have made mistake, senor; 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 I should regret to see you in trouble, Senor Legaspe"
 "A thousand apologies, senorita; it shall be as you say. knew nothing of the rise in values, and but thought el 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 grumblngly 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. Railing 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 iolly-boat. -Le- gaspe was smarting a little under the sharp trick he thought the captainhad 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. Eve 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 wonder. He ain't the gobernador, I'll take my oath; and as for the girl 1 don't allow no damned native women to interfere in my busi- ness"
 1t took all the self-control l had to keep from knocking the man down. His cool appropriation of our millions was a serious enough offense, without the gratuitous insult to the girl in tended to marry. l stepped in front of the fellow and looked him over. Then I said:
 This lady. sir, is Senorita de Garma only daughter of his excellency. Col. De Garma. gobernadcr of the Ladrones I supposed from your colcrs that you were a German, but I'm ashamed to sec that you came from my own coul- try. You will doubtless see fit to apoi- ogize to the lady at once"
 The mans cold. fishy eyes met mine for a second or two before he spoke; be seemed to be sizing me up. Finally he drawled out:
 "Waal perhaps l war leetle nasty. I dunno who you thought be, stranger. butyer kin tell thur teddy didn't mean no ofrense: wimmin's good deal alike out here'n thur islands. an l didn't jedge her right. that's all. But ahont that thar coppera; I want cargo of Il, an I'm willin' ter pay CT fa'rprice Ii give the gobernador four dollars moren thur Manila rate, an he kin pocket thur difference; but don't cal'late ter leave Apra without it"
 Pm afraid youll have to. happen 10 know the stuff is worth good deal more than the price you name; ana, rather than let you have it, I'll buy IL myself on speculation
 "Oh, ye will Whats ter purvent my layin' down my money here on thur sand an teIlin' my men ter put it aboard? I reckon you an that oago ain't goin' ter stop me-
 "That's where you make another ms take. Senor Legaspe sent for the gob- ernador an hour ago, and hell oe here with the officers of his stall very snort ly. h the meantime. if you or your men iav finger on those bags, II shoot you without a seconds warning q was playing for millions. and meant what l said.) "More than that, as you have grossly insulted the senorii". ! ' kin you if you stay another h'e mn