Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-05-17
Copyright, 1881, by Robert Bonner's Sons.

Copyright, 1881, by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER Ix.-(Continued)
Weems then got into the boat that had
been kept in waiting for him. 1t was
now in the afternoon. After reaching
the landing, and as he was passing along
the principal quay, the sound of cornwall
voices, one of which he thought he rec
.ognized, came to his ear from the lnte-
rior of small public house, that was
much frequented by sailors, near the
water side.
He peeped in, and saw Sims, with a
number of stablemen, probably celebrat-
ing his intended voyage.
''Goodn' chuckled Weems, as he con-
tinued on his way. Hes as non-com-
initial as the grave, which is the best
thing l can say of him. Now to see it
the rascal has been playing me any
tricks"
A few minutes later he entered his
room, and looked curiously and suspi-
,ciously around it. No; everything appear
ed to be all right; the heavy bale had
disappeared from the corner, and bale
was still to be seen under the bed, just,
apparently, as he had left it. Save for
the absence of the one bale that had been
taken away, there seemed to have been
no chance effected in the room.
However, something presently impelled
him to swing the bedstead to one side
and examine the bale lying under it. He
$had no sooner laid hands on it than he
gave an angry cry. The bale was not
light, but extremely heavy. He rolled
it out, tore it open, and in few mo-
sments had verified his suspicious of Sims
atreachery There, in the center of the
wool, was the internal machine, with it's
deadly appurtenances, just as he had
packed it up on the preceding night.
''Oh, the rascal! the little, close-Ipped,
monkey faced hound!' gasped the master
villain placing his arms akimbo, and gaz-
ing down, with more cunning than anger,
.on the evidences of his groom's treachery.
ooh, but I'll fix him for this, or my
names not Zacharia Weems!'
He threw off his coat, and at once set
about refastening the deadly bale. This
occupied him more than half an hour, and
it was nearly sunset when he had fin
ished. He then hurried away, and, pro-
curing the services of the same boatman
whom he had employed before, he, with
his assistance, carried the bale to the
waterside, and was alongside Of the
steamship with it before dark.
The purser, however, was, when again
found, disposed to demur at taking on
board second heavy bale, as a private
speculation.
but, my dear fellow, I'm sure you
will oblige me in this matter, as well as
the first, when / shall have explained"
sai6 Weems, taking him to one side and
gently repeating the former pecuniary
accommodation. 'Just have the bale ~
ing down there in the boat put forward
in the hold, to keep the other bale COM
pany, and I shall be eternally obliged
to you. There's good fellow"
The purser, after some further hesita-
ton, finally consented.
Come below and mark the bale," said
he, moving forward, land l will have it
slowed away with the first"
mo; this package will not require any
marked direction on it, as l will pres
emily explain" said Weems, with a know
ing wink.
He then followed the purser, who was
not little puzzled, and remained at his
side until the bale was taken on board
and snugly slowed, side by side with its
predecessor, in the forward part of the
hold.
"Ill tell you what that second package
is for" said Weems, presently. ut con-
tains birthday present for my groom,
Sims, who sails with you tomorrow"
''It must be a deucedly heavy one, then,
judging by the weight Of the BALE" COM
mented the purser.
$50 it is, though L sha mt tell you what
it is" said Weems, with a more knowing
wink than before. "And 1 don't want
Sims to know anything of even its pres
,ence on board until his birthday at =
O'Clock in the evening of which | want
you to promise me to notify him of the
fact, and tell him to run down and take
possession Of the bundle in my name.
"That will cost no trouble, and I'll put
a memorandum to that effect ON fle,'
said the purser, smiling, as he turned to
his desk. What is the date of his birth
day?"
LET me see. You sail tomorrow, which
is the fourth of November, and Sims
birthday comes-just eighteen days later
on the twenty-second of this month.
That's it, the twenty-second! And you
promise to notify him at o'clock p. NJ,
on that day?
Certainly, since you wish it."
<'Goodby and goodnight, then. L may
be on board again tomorrow to see some
friends off.
Weems then took his departure, leav-
ing the purser to think him one OF the
oldest and most generous men he had
ever met.
CHAPTER X.
After regaining the shore, Weems, up
ON passing the little public house near
the waterside, entered it and was fortu-
nate to find Sims stiI there, terrifying
himself with home broiled chops.
''Ah! is that you, Simsy' exclaimed the
master, seating himself at the same ia
BILE.
Yes. sir" said the groom, looking up
with a quick, inquisitive glance. Have
you been to your room again, STRIP
Not T. nor do / intend to enter that
miserable den again in week or more,
as l told you" was the CHEEKY reply.
WAS the heavy package called for, as
expeeted?"
''Oh, yes, sirv' said Sims, once more