The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-03
CHAPTER XI.

she took the furious buffets OF the gale on
the starboard quarter-"the right front"
as Turnbull would have put II had he not
been too III to care fig where she was
hit and only wished she might go down
n that would keep her still. Sea after sea
burst over the dripping deck and tossed
her like a cockleshell upon the waters.
Time and again the bows would plunge
deep in some rushing surge and then, up
nfting, send torrents washing aft and
pour cataracts from her sides. Long be-
fore the dawn the red eyed commander
had ordered the soutnward course aban-
doned and headed his laborlng craft for
the opposite shores. Harbor there was
none north OF the deep sheltered bay OF
La Paz. but there would be relief from
the tremendous poundings of the billows
when once under the lee of old California.
Obedient TO her helm. the Idaho now met
dead ahead" both wind and sea The
rolling measurably ceased. The pitching
fore and aft continued but the passenger
list by this time cared no longer TO dis
criminate. IL was all one TO all but one
OF their number.
Loring OF the engineers, thanks to long
weeks OF illness OF another sort, was
mercifully exempted from the pangs of
seasickness. but the sights and sounds
between decks were more than could long
be borne. and making his way forward
shortly after dawn he had succeeded In
borrowing a spare you wester and pair OF
sea boots from the second officer, and
equipped In these and rubber coat,
leaving nothing but his nose and mouth
In evidence, he was boosted up the mar
row stairway 10 the shelter OF the pilot
house on the uppermost deck-the Idaho
had no bridge-and there he saw the sun
gradually down as the steamer FOUND
smoother waters under the lee of San
Ildefonso
only lightly laaen, the stanch little
craft had well nigh Jumped out of her
boots as the jovial skipper expressed II.
and now, all brine and beaming satisfac-
ton after his long hours OF stormy vigil,
he clapped Loring on the shoulder. COM
plmented him on his possession OF sea
stomach" and ordered coffee served forth
with. They were steaming slowly along
at half speed now, taking breathing
spell before attempting the next round,
and the captain waxed confidential.
What's wrong with that pretty little
niece" he asked. she was bright enough
the day they came aboard on our up trip
Now, the stewardess tells me. she tainted
dead away and has been begging to be
put ashore all night"
Loring couldn't say.
and Turnbull. The stewardess says YOU
were both very kind to her, where her
own people neglected her didn't fancy
that scrub Escalante. Do you know any
thing about him or her own people,"
''Nothing-to speak off, said Loring
Fernandez. one of those young Quay
mas swells, says the mother was own Sis
ter 10 De la Cruz-married against his
wishes when she was a mere girl-died
few years later, and that Don Ramon OF
fered to adopt and educate her little girl,
but only lately would the Escalante give
her up All know is that she's too dash
ed miserable about something else to be
even seasick like the rest of en- You'd
"a been down there with Turnbull II you
hadn't Just had more'n your share OF III
ness" added he, with the mariners q
slight disapprobation OF the landsman
who defies the Initiation OF Neptune.
Very possibly said Loring.
..The purser tells me Escalante gave
him little packet belonging to her--very
valuable-which he ordered Kept IN the
safe until their agent should call for II
at Frisco"
Indeear' said Loring. looking up in
quick interest.
Fact" said the skipper. Now have
some more coffee. I'm going TO turn in
for 10 winks Let the steward know when
you want anything. Nobody else VIII
We've got 10 face some more rollers ar
ter while. / dasn't go inside Carmen
island"
But Loring had something more en-
crossing TO think OF than breakfast or
luncheon. SO there was little pacnet
in the purser's safe was there2 Valua-
bic ard not 10 be delivered except 10 their
agent in Frisco. IL was In Pancha's
name vet not subject 10 Panchas order
why that discrimination? And II was
given the purser by Escalante-brother
OF the Escalante-another brother OF the
accomplished sharper OF Sanchos ranch.
A precious trinity OF blood relations were
these, Small wonder Don Ramon had
opposed his girl sisters union with one
Of their number. Now. what on earth
could that small packet contain. and was
A likely that the valuables were any more |
valuable than those snatched from his |
saddlebags the night OF the assault at
Gila Bend-the watch and diamonds OF the |
late Captain Nevins now vanished into |
thin air. apparently. for not a trace of |
him had appeared since the night he rode |
away from Camp Cooker
In genuine distress OF mind Loring had |
written from Yuma as soon as the doctor |
would permit. TO the address penned by |
Nevins I'm the presence OF the court. in |
forming that vagabond officers wife that |
the valuabes he had been charged TO |
place IN her hands had been forcibly |
taken from him after he himself had |
been assaulted and stricken senseioss,
that every crort had been made 10 re- |
cover them without success; that he de-
plored their loss and her many misfor-
tunes and begged 20 be Informed ~ ne
could serve her I'm any other way. The
doctors had promised him that he would
be restored by a sea voyage. II would be
three weeks probably before be could
reach San francisco. and meantime ne
knew from the captains admission that
she was probably IN need.
mo one wrote Loring. rs depend
ent upon me. and beg your acceptance
as a loan. as a temporary accommoda-
tion or as anything you please. OF the
inclosed draft ut covered nearly every
dollar he happened 90 have 60 his credit
in the bank az San Francisco. though he
had pay accounts stu collectible. II took
nearly ten days for answer 20 reach him.
and Loring hid himself away 10 read Il
when : the letter came. addressed In a
hand he knew too we'll:
Naomi my beloved sister. Ia prostrated
BY her sorrows and snxieties. and I must
Be her aunanuensls--I who would die for