The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-04
THE SALLIE JOHNSON DERELIC1
An Adventurous Voyage to the Saragossa
Sea.
By Frederic Van Rensselaer, DEFY.
copyright. 1900. by Fred Van r. Dey1

AS hear as | can make cut from the
details you have given me, said capt
Darlington. Applying a lighted match 10
his freshly replt nished pipe. and for
moment vani>an amid the cloud or
smoke which he elected. there Is ABOUT
rs much chance OF cur finding the long
tost derelict as there is OF discovering
the praverbial needle in the much
abused stack Of hay. The records OF
the photographic office have demon
strated repeatedly that earth, nor SKY
nor sea- possesses more erratc or uh-
stable quantity than the wandering Ger
elict of the south Atlantic ocean.
Very true responded the captains
yis-a-yis. whose personal appear ace
afforded instant evidence of what ne
was. retired CAPITALIST. NOT yet past
the prime Of hfe who had attained the
Dnrtly physique, plethoric pocket book,
pEacid countenan1e and easy conscience
ar the successful aud nor oyer-scrupu-
lous business man. His dignity never
deserted him. and yet il WAS always
that easy dignity which IS frequently
mistaken for cordiaiity but which is
never really more than diplomacy.
Merry true" he repeated, after a. mo-
facts. and the information that | pos
sess is one that has frequently been re-
established by those same official hydro
graphic reports The dere.ict did exist
No Ia a, date not yet six months DID, for
she was at that time sighted, identitied
and reuortfd PI.cr 10 that time she
had not been reported for almost year
which is circnnStantial evidence that
she may he presumed te be IN existence
yet. If she is in existence. believe
that you can find her. If YOU discover
her. the $1,000. 600 which she contains
belongs to us. Onetifth to You and the
balance u me. because | undertake TO
meet the entire expense Of the eNpedl-
ton, beside paying you coupeteni sal
AIRY fer your services. | cannot under-
stand why you hesitate Nh,n YOU have
everything 20 gain and nothing 10 lose.
9nd where even the elPnfeI' of personal
danger need not he taken into consider
ation. tor t'annot see that there u any
involved OF course | shall accompany
yau on this voyage.
Richard Darlington swung himself
ont Of the chair III whichy he had been
half hurled. and. striking Il quarter
deck attitude before his companion.
with his feet vide apart as il to resist
the lurching OF IL rolling ship with his
thumbs in the arnholes of his waist
coat. and With his Iipe held firmly be
tween his white and even teeth. said
deliberately. lsut firmly: Il viii tell yon
in one sentence why | hesitate. Ii Is
because you have not told me half the
story When | was i'll the navy | AZ
ways let port with sealed orders which
could not open until was far at sea.
| am no longer in the rayy. and | will
not again. for YOU or any man, begin n
voyage in that way. If you are willing
10 tell me all there is 10 tell, | will
listen. and doubtless accept the comnsS
sion you offer me. Unless you are wid-
ing to do So let us change the subject.
There are others. Capt. Darringtoi,.
who might not bc - arhtrary. said
the capitalist. coldly.
Then apply n them. responded Dar-
ringtcn. As f. ne. VII have moro OF
il upon any other conditions than thos"
have named and the stern eX-naval
officer RELAXED tie attituC. he had taken
and reseated himself in the chair
For several moments Mr.. Gregory was
silent. His hrnws were knitted in deep
thcreht and he drumncd the ends OF
his fingers against one another, keep
ing time with a low, tuneess whtstling
which cscaTed his lips.
VERY we'll" he exclaimed with sud
den impulse ''you sh'l have the story
aS | know it, Afterward. f You will
81 to my horise with me. YOU shall see
the lrCots ef it's verify; all this. how
ever. with the understanding that yon
accept the commission. and we sail with.
i'll the week. or as soon as our prep
arat Ions can he cOmuiotCd.
Darlington made no reply, and Greg
CRY. ect rrtne the silence as implied
consent. continued
You ere aware. Capt Darlington, that
until little more than II year ago. |
was engaged in the South American
trade; anG YOU should know. if you do
not. that my success in tina business
VIZ due almost entirely to the influence