The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-02-09
when 1 have told him what I have to

He promised to do as 7 wished, and
hurried off, for the steamer was close at
hand.
Yes! There he stood on the bridge,
looking every inch a captain; and lie
handled his boat in a way that made
me proud to think that I was Il sh Of
his flesh. When she was securely
moored the friendly Fijians focked on
board, and he had a handkerchief for
this one and a kindly greeting for that,
until he walked apart with the head
man., II hen I knew that he was BE-
ing told that someone wished to speak
with him.
They stood talking earnestly for some
minutes, and then my father went be-
low, and presently he came, up leading
a man by the hand. The man was
dressed as a clergyman, and from the
way in which he walked, and the curl
GUS In in which he held his face
up, I could see that h. was blind, and
that his surroundings We're strange to
him was clear from the fact that he put
his feet down warily and chung merry
ously to my fathers arm. And I no.
ticed, with some surprise that or my
fathers sleeve. and close to where the
blind MANS hand rested, was a band Of
Grape.
The light from the torches and Ian
terms We're SO glazing that L could e
the blind mans profile as clearly as
though it had been noontide, and I
knew that tire two men walking togeth-
er there We're h two men who, of all
others, Should have been kept asu,der!
I knew that M again I was looking
upon Maurice D'Orville! It was Grt's
will and Gods way, and though doubt
less D'Orville thought that the Evil
One, his master was ordering matters
as he, his pupil, would have them, and
though he was SO close to the man
whom he had come all these miles to
murder, I kl.ew that he would not raise
a hand against him yet.
My father. D'Crvi1le ard the, Ffj'an
chief walked fir m the pier along the
n street, while I followed at a discreet
distance. To my delight, + saw the
supposed clergyman led away to an
other part Of the village than that in
which my host lived. and, waiting IN.
til D'Orville was within doors, I fol-
lowed my father, who had entered the
house where I had been, so Hospitality
entertained.
you wish to see me. sir?" said he, as
7 entered. "My friend, Mr.. Manuel,
will be back in a few minutes, so please
say what you have to say as speedily
as possible" and from the peculiar
way in which he held his hand within
the breast of his coat, I knew that he
could have used his weapon, had the
occasion arisen, in. very quick time.
All my heart went out to him. l
could only utter n word. I stretched
out my arms and cried "Father!"-ana
the next moment he was kissing my
face and gripping nv hands, and Sob
bling out, Jack! Jack!" And there we
stood, looking into each others eyes
with hearts too full for words, and
there we were standing when our host
rushed in.
! "Capt. Tremayne!" hi cried, IT can't
find the man who"
Aid then, seeing how matters stood.
he was for. withdrawing. but my father
stopped him.
"Come in, Manuel" he said. "This is
my son that was dead and is alive
again. I have mourned for him. but he
has come back to me Blessed be the
name of the Lord for this, HIS crowning
mercy!"
I was puzzled at his words then, as I
had been by the badge Of Grape, but I
was soon to learn the meaning of both.
I was the first to recove from my emo
ton.
Listen for one moment, father" !
said. 'The man who came here with
you and pretends to be blind, has CONF
to kill you and me. He calls himself
Maurice D'Orville, but his real name is
Lennon"
Maurice Lennon!" he cried. "Do
you know what you are talking about,
Jack?"
Eyes; I know everything connected
with the Ragged Thirteen" I went or.
hurriedly. II know your danger; but
before we begin to talk we must see
that he is SAFE"
Pardon me-" interrupted the Ffjian,
who had, up till now stood by In 81
lence. Pardon me, Capt. Tremayne,
but you and your son have much to say
to each other. Who is this man OF
whom you are afratd?"
ct am speaking of the man who came
ashore leaning on my fathers arm"
said. land pretending to be blind. He
must not see me until we are ready to
meet him." w
"Good!" said he. "Ill see to that.
Make yourselves comfortable. and I'll
be back presently" and with the ease
and bearing Of the perfect gentleman
he was, he withdrew and left us alone.
"You were surprised" I said. when I
mentioned Maurice Lemons name.
You couldn't have got my lett7r, then?"
mo, Jack. I never had any letter
from you. When did you post It, anc
how did you direct it?"s
When I told him I learned that this
very letter must have been In the mall
bag that was lost when n Of the
shore boats that had put of to the Core
isande %foundered. And, after this ex-
plantation. I told my story, with full de.
tails. ana heard my fathers. and the
first thing he. did was to make clear to
me the meaning Of the words that had
puzzled me, and the symbol Of MOURN
ing that he had torn from his sleeve.
II had q long letter. Jack, some time
ago, giving me a minute description Of
your death, and telling me how you,
were found with the fatal cards beside
YOU. It was written-so the signature
told me-by q certain James Mcguire.
to whom you had been very kind. and
he said you had lived long enough after
you were struck down to tell him my
address. which YOU had accidentally
.HgH9E[Hi@ 49, * 49,.