Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-11-27

THE
TEXAS
CRUISER
-RY


ocoococ2ooooo
Snow him in" said st. Mare; and in
few moments more the servant return
ed, followed BY Jilok Tudel!
All. Tudel. Back once more. I'm
glad
''Ay-back again, Antonio" returned
the pirate, taking his hosts profered
hand, but I've had a narrow ehance OF
| it"
-'Eh, how's thatY'
I've been a prisoner to a regular Yam
kee cruiser-a man-of-war. They took
my brig, and took me; but you see
managed to escape; aad l did it just in
the nick of time, too, for in another
twelve hours | should have been in a
Yankee prison at Galveston"
There was a peculiar shade passed over
st. Mares face, but Tudel did not notice
it. A keen observer would have imagin-
| ed from that look that the host was not
excessively pleased with his visitors es-
cape. But whatever may have been his
feelings in that respect, they We're quick
ly subdued and kept out of sight.
! But what were the circumstances r
he asked, earnestly, for he was anxious
| to Know what adventures the other had
had
TuGel recited the details of the murder
and his escape.
But you have not told me yet whe
! captured you-only that it was a Yam
kee," said st. Mare.
"Ah, yes. Well, it was Texan craft,
called the Lone Star"
The Lone Star?' repeated st. Marc,
with quick start, but one which his
companion did not notice 81 thought
she was a small schooner"
| "Yes-I believe there was a schooner Of
that name in the Texan navy once; but
she must have been lost or condemned
and her name given to a heavier craft.
What was the Yankee captain
name?"
| "Howard-Clarence Howard-they call
ed him. But why do you look SO startled
and shake your head so? Do you think
was captured by contemplate Yankee
| schooner?
St. Mare saw the opportunity to evade
| the real cause Of his emotions, and he re-
| solved to profit by it, even at the ex-
| der spot; so he replied:
| well, Tudel-to tell the truth, it did
seem to me that you might have 0een
! captured by a schooner, for you came Sc
nigh admitting it yourself; and then
| knew that there was a schooner Of that
name bought by the Texan government
on purpose for this same-a-what did
| you say his name wasp
! Howard"
"Ah, yes-Howard."
"Why, confound your stupidity, St
Marc. tell you it was a brig-and as
heavy in every way as a French corvette
! There may have been Yankee schooner
of the same name, as / think there was,
but she's either lost or condemned, OF
perhaps sold'
ST. Mare knew now that his guest was
! lying, for his every look and tone showed
| it, but he chose to take no further no
| tice of it.
Never mind. Jilok," he said, with a
light laugh. Il only meant to tease you
a little. OF course you, with your noble
crew back of you, would never be cap
tured by a simple Yankee schooner"
Tudel gazed hard into his hosts face
as this was spoken, but he could find nc
look of double meaRng there, and he pass.
ed on TO a more important question.
"Well, Antonio" he said, with a slight
shrug of his shoulders, ''there was one
spell that feared our pretty Irene would
lose her husband-by the mass, but / had
narrow pass; however, here / am, as
said before, and now how is the dam
sel?'
''She is well, Jilok."
"And how about her love for me now,
do you think?"
I'm afraid shc don't love you we'll
my old friend. Yet | suppose you
wouldn't give her up"
Give her upr' repeated the pirate
with some show of surprise-ask me to
give up my own life! Give UP Irene
throw away the brightest jewel in the re-
public? Never, Antonio-never"
30, / didn't suppose you would.
only mentioned the matter so that there
should be no misunderstanding on the
subject"
That's all right. have made up my
mind that I'll stay at home awhile now
and l may as well have a home of my
own as not. l have plenty of every
thing. With what you have in your
hands, l have over half million of dol
lars, and that is something, you know
Certainly; that is great deal. And
now how long before you would like to
marry?"
20, most any time, say some time next
month. 1 suppose these women like to
have notice of these things"
Yes; and l should think that would be
notice enough"
Here Jilok arose and commenced "a
walk about the room, examining the blG
oil paintings that hung upon the WI $
One OF the pictures represented Wealth
and Poverty" There was the repre-
sentation of beautiful female. mounted
upon a splendid and richly caparisoned
Andalusian charger; and near by, with
her dark, shr.veled hand extended, as il
for aims. was miserable looking, back
bent old woman.
by TIE mass" uttered the pirate. stop
ping at this picture and then turning te
his host, ''this puts me in mind of an old
bag who intercepted me as | was on my
way to my vessel just before | sailed
the last time from this place. She is call
ed Calypso the Wanderer. Have you ever
seen such a woman?"
'Yes," returned st. Marc. shuddering
in spite Of his effort TO seem unaffected
"Ha-have you? And what did she
want with your"
why. she seemed to be crazy; am a:
near as could make out her meaning
she wanted me to be very careful of my
child. But what did she want with your
"Why-bless her old back, she told me
not TO presume to make Donna Irene st
Marc my wife. She even went so far a:
to threaten me with some dire calamity
IL dared to disohey her. BY the mass
| can't help shuddering now when think
OF her. But where did you see her."
'She came here to my own house and
her errand was the same TO me as to you
She swore l should suffer il gave Irene:
hand to you"
But what and who is she. do you sup
poseg'
TIN sure can't tell"
But you don't suppose she has any
power TO carry out her threats, do you
St Marc?"
sNe I do NOT Az any rate I am ready