The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-04

wandering derelict Of the south At
lantic ocean,"
Very true" responded the captains
NlS-a-ViS, whose personal appearance
afforded instant evidence of what he
was, a retired capitalist, not yet past
the prime of life, who had attained the
poTtly physique, plethOric pocketboOk,
placid countenance and easy conscience
of the successful and not overscrupu-
loCs business man. His dignity never
deserted him, and yet IL was always
that easy dignity which is frequently
mistaken for cordially, but which is
never really more than diplomacy.
Very true" he repeated, after q mo-
ment's pause; nevertheless, facts are
facts, and the information that 1 pos
sess is one that has frequently been
re-eSEablished by those same official
photographic reports. The derelict did
exist up to date not yet SIX months
old, for she was at that time sighted,
identified and reported. Prior to that
time she had not been reported for
almost a year, which is circumStantial
Evidence that she may be presumed TO
be in existence yet II she is in eX-
iStence, 1 believe that you can find her.
If you discover her, the $1,000, 600 which
she contains belongs TO us-One-fifth
TO you and the balance to me, because
/ undertake to meet the entire eX-
pense of the expedition. besides paying
you a competent salary for your ser
vices. L cannot understand why you
hesitate. when you have everything to
gain and nothing to lose, and where
even the element of personal danger
need not be taken into consideration,
for I cannot see that there is any in
volVed. OF course. I shall accompany
you on the voyage"
Richard Darlington swung himself
out of the chair in which he had been
half buried, and, striking a quarter
deck attitude before his companion,
with his feet wide apart as if to resist
the lurching of a rolling ship. with his
thumbs in the armholes of his waist
coat, and with his pipe held firmly be-
tween his white and even teeth. said
deliberately, but firmly: Il will tell
you in one sentence why I hesitate. II
is because you have not told me half
the story. When l was in the navy
always left port with sealed orders,
which l could not open until l was far
at sea. / am no longer in the navy,
and l will not again. for you or any
man, begin voyage in that way. If
you are willing to tell me all there is
20 tell, I Will listen and doubtless ac-
cept the commission YOU offer me. IN
less you are willing to do so, let US
Change the subject"
There are others, Captain Daring
ton. who might not be so arbitrary,
said the capitalist. coldly.
Then apply to them" responded
Darlington. las for me, I will have
none Of il upon any other conditions
than those 1 have named" and the
stern ex-naval officer relaxed the at
titude he had taken and reseated him
self in the chair.
For several moments Mr. Gregory
was silent. His brOws we're knitted in
deep thought. and he drummed the
ends of his fingers against one another,
keeping time with a low. tuneleSs
whistling which escaped his lips.
VERY well" he exclaimed. with sud
den impulse. you shall have the story
as / know It, Afterward, il you will
go to my house with me, you shall see
the proofs of its verify; all this, how
ever. with the understanding that you
accept the commission, and we sail
within the week, or as soon as our
preparations can be completed"
Darlington made no reply, and Greg
ory accepting the silence as implied
consent. continued:
You are aware, Captain Darlington,
that until q little more than a year ago
I was engaged in the South American
trade. and you should know, If you do
not. that my success in that business
was due almost entirely TO the infiu-
ence that possessed with the foremost
men of those revolutionary countries
with which I did business. IF there was
a concession to be obtaired I could al
ways secure it against every COMPETE
tor. Even the private affairs OF many
of the great men OF those revolutionary
countries frequently came under my
personal care. Such men as Blanco,
CrespO, EZeta, Balmaceda, Acosta OF
Peru and others VINO were their politi-
can opponents and enemies consulted
me. or left their private fortunes in
my Lands for safe keeping or distribu-
ton when about to organize q fresh
revolution. They knew by their own
experience and by the experience Of
Others before them that the trust would
be fulfilled. 1t is in such a manner as
this that I became possessed OF the
knowledge Of the existence of the for
tune in gold that is now floating aim
lessly about the southern currents of
the Atlantic ocean, concealed in the
hold of a water-logged derelict, and
without human being, save myself
(and you, now that have told you Of
it), aware of its existence"
He paused as If expecting some CON-