Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-04-17


vaders and prevent them from leaving
the vessel; he addressed but empty
air. for the spot that had just held tho
Spanish crew knew them no longer.
The CLEAN OF golden coins rolling
about the deck was enough to make
them even forget their allegiance to
the young King. and. needless alike of
entreaties and hard imprecautions,
they set about scrambling for the
coins.
There were fierce fights over some
OF the gold boys. where two men set
about securing single coin; and at
another time and under different con-
ditions the mad scramble might have
presented certain elements OF humor
in the eyes OF Livermore and the
artist.
Just now their one desire was to
shake off the society of these sad
seadogs, and leave them to fight 1t out
among themselves.
Accordingly, forward movement
was begun without delay, and they
managed to reach the side OF the ves-
sci where hung the rope that had been
Of such signal assistance in helping
them aboard, about the time the sail
ors again gathered in a threatening
crowd
The marquis lowered Mazette into
the arms OF the stout lads waiting be-
low. Then came Fedora, assisted on
both sides, and such trust did the la
dies feel in those brave hearts that
had risked all these dangers in their
behalf that they forgot to exercise the
first privilege of the feminine mind
and scream as they were lowered over
the rail into the darkness below.
AS the Spaniards. urged on by their
valorous officers, who took good care
to keep in the rear, showed signs of
making rush, the nabob again with
coins he had in his pockets. and, hav-
ing corraled them, opened another flu
SHADE.
And again 1t was a grand success
nothing could Withstand the power of
gold.
Taking advantage of this depression,
while the men chased the rolling
discs, the captain was assisted down
the rope and the marquis followed.
AS the man from Scotland Yard
started to follow, one of the steam
er's officers made a slash at the rope
with his cuchillo and severed 1t.
Luckily the detective was kept from
going overheard, and the fragment OF
rope, found later on. was seized by
Overton as a memento of this remark
able adventure.
Nothing now remained to hold
them. so the boat was pushed off and
oars unshipped.
In their course toward the other
steamer they had occasion to pass
around the stern OF the one which had
been the theater of such recent tragic
events.
From a portfolio. evidently opening
from the cabin, came several shots;
but. owing to the darkness covering
the water. the bullets went wide of
their intended mark.
Evidently the enraged senorita real
lied she had played her last card and
lost the stakes, for they could hear
her wild shrieks ringing over the calm
bay long after they regained the deck
Of their own steamer and were on the
way out to sea-pernaps the wretched
Juanita, who had wagered so much
and lost all in the game of love, had,
in truth, become insane over her
troubles; at least they hoped and be-
lieved they would never see her more.
And the Marquis OF Montezuma, as
he stood with Mazette's little nand In
his own, looking back at the foamy
wake they left behind, found that the
last atom OF bitterness had left his
heart, and then and there he took
upon himself pew vow, which the
angels doubtless joyfully recorded.
that from this hour In the future, to
the father and mother Of little
Jack" his namesake, he would be
a brother in spirit and in deed; and it
need hardly be said that any one who
occupied such close position to the
heart of the American Nabob would
never again know want in this world.
THE END.