The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-14


best thing to ask. She has abducted the
sultan of Surabaya, the rajah Of Tavoy,
Vesey of Hongkong and half a dozen
Chinese mandarins at least. She has
robbed the Vectis Queen; the Ooloomoo,
and that with the governor of Hongkong
on board; stopped the Oodnadatta only
three months ago in the Ly-e,-moon
pass, when she went through the bull
lion room to the extent of over mil
lion and half, almost under the cruis-
ers' noses"
"But what mission does she accom-
plish with this vast wealth when she
has accumulated it, do you think, Mr..
.Ebbington?' said the quiet voice of
Mrs. Beecher from the depths of her
chair "Does she do no good with it at
all?'
"Gcodl" that wretched being replied,
quite unconscious of the trouble he was
heaping up for himself. "Why. she
never did ha 'porth Of good in her life.
No, I'll tell you what she does do with
it. It is we'll known that. she has a rem
devious somewhere in the Pacific, a
tropical island, they say, where scenes
are enacted between her cruises that
would raise bushes on the cheeks of an
Egyptian mummy.
You are evidently very much preju,
diced against her, !" l answered holly.
Nov, have heard some very different
stories, and with all due respect to you,
Mr.. Ebbington -
But fortunately at this juncture my
presence of mind returned to me, and,
servant approaching to take our empty
coffee cups, was able to seize the OPP
portunity and bring my riotous tongue
to a halt When the boy had gone, Allie
turned the conversation into another
channel, and after that all was plain
sailing once more. To add to our enjoy
ment, about 10 o'clock another servant
came to inform Mr.. Ebbington that a.
gentleman desired to see him in the
smoking room, and accordingly, bid
ding us good night he went off to in
terview him. Mrs. Beecher then made
an excuse and retired to her room, leav-
ing us alone together.
"Alie," said reproachfully, "if
anything had happened just now you
would have had only yourself to blame
for it. That mans insolent lying was
more than I could stand. In another mo-
ment if that servant had not come in I
believe l should have lost control Of my
self and ten chances to one have ruined
everything. Why did you do it?''
Because wanted to find out how he
was in the habit of talking about me-
That was why. y
.sBut do you think he was really in
earnest? May it not have been only a
mask to prevent any one from suspect
| ing that he is your agent in this place?''
"No. He meant it. Of that there can
be no doubt. The man, can see, for
some inscrutable reason hates the real
me with his whole heart and soul. and
the treachery he is preparing now is to
| be his revenge. Couldn t you hear the
change, the grating, in his voice when
4 my name occurred? All, Mr.. Ebbing-
ton, my clever man, you will find that
it is very foolish policy on your part
to quarrel with me. y
4 "When do you mean to make the at
tempt to capture him?"
"On Friday evening-that is, the day
after tomorrow. The new admiral will
be here on Saturday morning at latest,
and I must anticipate him, for have
learned that Ebbington received note
from the authorities this morning, def
nitely fixing the hour for the interview
at ! o'clock. He need make no arrange
ments, however, for he won't be there. .
It will be an awful moment for him
when he realizes who you are. would
not be in his shoes for all the gold Of
India"
"You would never have acted as he
has done, " she answered softly, turning
her head away.
This was the opportunity for finding
out what she intended concerning my
self, SO drew little closer to her.
"Alie, said, "the time has now
come for me to ask you when you wish
to say 'Goodby' to me. have done my
professional work for you, and on Fri