Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-03-14

you aii-all, 1awford. you Under
stand?"
The poor wretch looked down. but
said nothing. "Guess we can take
care of ourselves; anyway, that's our
er you want to be kept a close prisoner
down here. 1t will be mighty unpleas-
ant In few weeks time, calculate.
Mayhap you'll think better Of 1t, Mr..
Wood, tomorrow or next day. Mean
While your comfort will not be forgot
ten Lysanderhere Is an excellent valet
You will prepare q bath for Mr.
Wood
Yes, Colonel McQuahe." replied the
mulatto
Get him some clean clothes
Yes. Colonel McQuahe."
And jest wait on him closely. pune
your sight unless he is here in this
cabin under close lock and key
Yes, Colonel McQuahe."
l found to my surprise portman-
teau, one of my own, with shirt, linen
and one or two suits Of dittoes, had
i'm evening dress. that which had
Worn on the night Of my capture.
was glad enough to change Before
threw off my clothes / felt in all my
pockets and found my watch and my
purse. Nothing was missing except
and In which I had placed the letter
from the New York lawyers announce
ing ny accession of fortune. No doubt
1t had been removed for some evil pur-
pose part of the general scheme of
| fraud.
could find no fault with the mulatto
Lysander except that he was too at
tentive His care was that of keeper
or jailer, tempered with the devotion
of personal body servant. He shaved
me very skillfully, helped me into my
clean clothes, made my bed, tidied my
cabin and brought me what l stood
most in need of, a hot and sufficient
NEAL
Save for one ever-haunting, torment
ing uncertainty. could afford to bide
my time; / might possess my soul in
patience, fairly confident that the right
would come right in the end.
But what of Frida? When should 1
see her again? To win her and be
parted from her all within few short
hours-ft was hard measure, indeed.
And how would she take my disap-
pearance? Would she be grieved, am
noyed, suspicious-what?
These last rather anxious specula-
tons were broken In on by the appear
ance of Lysander, my laconic Taller,
who brought me cup of hot coffee,
with the brief words, Breakfast,
He was presently followed by Colonel
McQuahe and Lawford. They both in
quired most affectionately after NV
health. Had slept we'll, was the food
to my taste, the boy attentive?-all as
pat as though they We're my hosts and
we We're the best of friends ina gina
BILE.
Say now, Mr.. Wood" went on Nc
Quahe, II dew hope you'll change your
decision of yesterday. It was iii con-
sidered-yes, sir. you may take that
from me. See, We've no wish to keep
you here below the whole voyage
we can't let you go on deck unles; YOU
\ promise"-
"What?"
Vest this. You must promise not
4 to try and communicate with any
1 hooker that may approach us, neither
mailing. Also. never to speak to any
soul on board but our three selves:
never to signal or make signs to the
captain or any man Jack of the crew
not that it would help you any, for
they believe You to be sick mentally,
lunatic With disordered senses. brought
to sea for his health. We two are the
doctors Lysander here Is attendant
and keeper. Will you give us your
word of honor as gentleman
TO gentlemen" INTERCEPTED. and
the irony was not lost on Lawford,
| w muse Ietl race grew reader.
AS man to man." corrected Nc
Quahe. II calculate that's good
enough. And don't raise our dander.
or you may hurt yourself"
II will PROMISE" said, "but condi-
tionally I claim to Withdraw from it
when 1t suits me, when and how I
please
LAS how?"
IF l find that am fairly treated, II
circumstances alter. IT,
You see a chance of making your
escape! Waal, sir, when that time
comes we shall take the gloves Off. and
you will feel our FISTS
1t was splendid day on deck, bright
sun, a brisk air freshening Off the
Sparkling sea- We We're under full
canvas--she was a schooner yacht-and
doirg good ten knots, 1 imagined,
down channel. l judged the direction
of our course by the position of the
sun, the movement of the shipping and
steamers going both ways, yet more by
the blue line on either bow.
l have called our vessel a yacht, her
marked on the life belts, brass work
and compass box; yacht. as was evil
dent from her fittings, the clear deck
fore and aft, the abundant brass work,
the absence of hamper. the fairly white
sails. But she was not particularly
| oiApslAtpes NOl as SIlCk anu span, Us
scrupulously clean, as II her owner was
on board; her crew were seemingly
scratch lot. not true yachtsmen, and
the skipper, although alert and sailor
like, was in a shabby suit. not the reg
ulation blue cloth and brass buttons.
Then they arranged me in my chair.
with quite tender solicitude, I admit,
but that was part of the play; gave
me books and pipe and left me, but
not to myself. Two of the three were
always at my elbow or held me con-
stantly in sight. was close guarded.
but 1 hardly minded it. for a sort of
dreamy. luxurious lassitude overcame
me, the reaction, no doubt, from so
many emotions, and dozed on and off
pretty well all that day, Thursday. I
awoke next morning between and Z,
feeling fresh and fit. and would gladly
have turned out to enjoy the invigorat-
ing air on deck. But no one came for
a long time, although rang and called
and clapped my hands. When, after
time, Lysander appeared. he wore n
DISCONTINUED. saturnine look on his
dark, ugly face and went on with his
valeting sullenly and silently till he
left me. BY and by IMwford came in,
anxious and perturbed, as I could see
| by his face and manner.