Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-06-07

tions were rife as to the nature of the
promised presentation.
! At last the longed-for hour approached.
| Dinner had been over for some little
| time, and the frst-cabin passengers, to-
! gether with Mackenzie and his little boy,
We're gathered aft very much as on the
preceding day, only that it was now after
sunset, and a strong, invigorating breeze
was ruff1ing the calmness of the sea.
Ladies and gentleman" said the pur-
| ser, suddenly appearing among them, &C
companied by the captain and the first
and second officer, and with broad
smile on his face, II think | can prom
| Use you all some amusement, if you will
| take the trouble to step below and In
| the vicinity of the forward hatch. 1t is
quarter to eight, and | am about to
present Mr.. Sims with the present l
spoke of. 1t is heavy bundle, con-
tanning I know not what, and he will
| have to dive in the depths of the fore
| hold for it."
When they reached the bottom of the
steps leading to the lower deck forward,
| the large open Space of which was illum-
mated with ships lanterns hung here and
there, novel scene presented itself.
| ing, in laughing or smiling groups, sail
ors, soldiers and nearly all the second
cabin passengers as well, seventy or
Leighty persons altogether. Standing on
an elevated dais, improvised out of sew
eral biscuit boxes laid side by side, in a
serenely self-complacent attitude, was
Sims, so entirely wrapped up in his vul-
gar egotism as to seem entirely unaware
of the sport that was being made of him.
''How much sport they are making
merely out of the absurd little mans
yanity!' said Miss Muir to Dunmore.
''Yes, and how the little man alone
seems to be accepting it all as real ova-
ton in his honorv' was the reply.
''Mr. Sims" said the purser, doffing
his cap with pretended obsequiousness,
and making signal by which all the
spectators became likewise uncovered, it
is now nearly eight Of the evening, and
this being the twenty-second OF Novem-
Der, I am commissioned to offer you, at
precisely that hour, a birthday testlmo-
~nial on behalf Of a particular friend of
yours who is unfortunately absent"
MANY thanks, Mr.. Lambton,' SMILED
Sims, with suave condescension, and yet
at the same time evidently good deal
surprised. ''It happens, however, that
this is not my birthday"
"How? Not your birthday, you say"
exclaimed the purser, surprised in his
turn ''Bless me! l should not have
thought that Weems would have misin-
formed me on such a point
''Weems?" repeated Sims, in an aston
ished yell, and exhibiting such fright
ened change in his demeanor that roar
of hoarse laughter went up around him.
"Great heavens, Mr.. Lambton! you're
not in earnest? 1t wasn't Weems who
commissioned you to present me with
| testimonial?'
but it was Weems, and no one else!'
cried the purser, suddenly startled out
of his sportiveness, while all the rest be-
gan to see in the groom's real terror an
occasion for something else than merry
making. HE put the bale in my charge
on the day before sailing, saw it slowed
away forward, under his own direction,
! directly alongside of another similar bale
that he had shipped during the earlier
| part of the day. / was to apprise you
of the presence of the second bale at
this hour, to make you a present of it.,
and send you down to inspect its con-
tents. 1t now awaits you there. Bless
me, Sims! what is the matter?
| The groom had tottered off the impro-
vised platform, and was kneeling at the
edge of the hatchway, peering now into
| it's depths and now into the startled faces
of those around him, while at the same
time wringing his hands in an agony of
speechless, CHASTITY fear.
.'Weems has tricked me! Get out the
! balesr' he at last found voice to scream.
Zone of ems stuffed with clockwork and
Dynamite! Out and overheard with EN-!
| The machines set to go off at eight pre-
cisely! Hurry, hurry! Weems' diamonds
are only cheap pebbles! He's plotted to
blow up the ship for his insurances!, Out
with both bales! Overheard with emf
He had continued screaming out his
terrible warnings even after every one
around him was put into terrified action
by his first words. The officers and crew
seemed to have comprehended their aW-
full significance by sort of intuition.
s'Lower away! Out with the bales "!
Numbered the captain, who was brave
and collected man in any emergency. Set
| the donkey engine in motion, Mr.. Cleats!
Stand by the running gearn
The passengers standing on the steps
| leading up had started, with the rest, into
| frantic motion at the first alarm, and
were rushing up, with Eastwood in the
lead. But Miss Muir, after taking few
steps, paused, grasping the rail.
..Our vague suspicious are becoming
realized she whispered, turning her
white face to Dunmore, who had re-
NAMED at her side. go on without me,
Mr.. Dunmore. / shall have to pause for
breath. =
For answer he snatched her up in his
strong arms, and bore her up and away,
as if she had been a baby.
STEADY, there shouted Captain
Weathersby, still giving his orders at the
edge of the hatchway with the utmost
| coolness. MAN that tackle, Mr.. Brown.
Clear gangway, Mr.. Guy. Here come
the bales-be ready to-
He was interrupted by the ships bell
giving the first of the eight o'clock taps
and seeming to echo through the entire