The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-12-05

N ~ me, SalQ captain Daring
ton, applying lighted match
to his freshly replenished pipe and for
moment vanishing amid the cloud Of
smoke which he elected, "there is
about as much chance of our finding
the long lost derelict as there is of dis
covering the proverbial needle in the
much abused stack Of hay. The rec
ords Of the photographic Office have
demonstrated repeatedly that earth nor
sky nor sea possesses a more erratic
or unstable quantity than the wander
ing derelict of the south Atlantic
ocean,"
Every true," responded the captains
vis-a-vis, whose personal appearance
afforded instant evidence of what he
was, a retired capitalist. not yet past
the prime of life, who had attained the
portly physique, plethoric pocketbook,
placid countenance and easy con-
science of the successful and not over.
scrupulous business man. His dignity
never deserted him, and yet it was al
ways that easy dignity which is fire.
quently mistaken for cordiality, but
which is never really more than diplo-
macy. every true" he repeated after
a moments pause. Nevertheless facts
are facts, and the information that l
possess is one that has frequently been
re-established by those same official n.y.
geographic reports. The derelict did
exist up to date not yet six months
old, for she was at that time sighted,
identified and reported. Prior to that
time she had not been reported for al
most year, which is circumstantial
be in existence yet. If she is in ex-
istence, l believe that you can find
her. If you discover her, the $5,000,000
which she contains belong to us-one-
fifth to you and the balance to me, be-
cause I undertake to meet the entire
expense Of the expedition besides pay
ing you competent salary for your
services. cannot understand why you
hesitate when you have everything to
gain and nothing to lose and where
even the element Of personal danger
need not be taken into consideration"
Richard Darlington swung himself
out Of the chair in which he had been
half buried and, striking q quarter
deck attitude before his companion,
with his feet wide apart as If to resist
the lurching Of rolling ship, with his
thumbs in the armholes of his waist
coat and with his pipe held firmly be-
tween his white and even teeth, said
deliberately, but firmly: 81 will tell
you in one sentence why'I hesitate. 1t
is because you have not told me half
the story. When was in the navy,
always left port with sealed orders
which l could not open until was
far at sea. am no longer in the navy,
and l will not again, for you or any
man, begin voyage in that way. If
you are willing to tell me all there is
to tell, l will listen and doubtless ac-
cept the commission you offer me.
Unless you are willing to do so, let us
change the subject"
'There are others, Captain Daring
ton, who might not be so arbitrary"
said the capitalist coldly.
Then apply to them," responded
Darlington. "As for me, l will have
none of it upon any other conditions
than those l have. named" And the
stern ex-naval officer relaxed the at
titude he had taken and reseated him.
self in the chair.
For several moments Mr.. Gregory
was silent. His brows were knitted
in deep thought, and he drummed the
ends of his fingers against one another,
keeping time with a low, tuneless
whistling which escaped his lips.
VERY WELL" he exclaimed. with sud-
den impulse, "you shall have the story
as l know 1t. Afterward, If you will
go to my house with me, you shall see
the proofs Of its verify. All this, how
ever, with the understanding that you
accept the commission. and we sail
within the week or as soon as our prep
arations can be completed"
Darlington made no reply, and Greg
ory. accepting the silence as implied
consent, continued:
"You are aware, Captain Darlington,
that until a little more than q year
ago was engaged In the South Ameri-
can trade, and you should know, If you
do not, that my success in that busl-
ness was due almost entirely to the in
f1uence that possessed with the fore.
most men of those revolutionary coun-
tries with which l did business. II
there was a concession to be obtained,
l could always secure 1t against every
competitor. Even the private affairs
of many Of the great men of those rev.
olutionary countries frequently came
under my personal care. Such men as
Blanco, Crespo. Ezeta. Balmaceda,
Acosta Of Peru and others who were
their political opponents and enemies
consulted me or left their private fQW
tunes in my hands for safe keeping or
distribution when about to organize a
fresh revolution. They knew by their
own experience and by the experience
of others before them that the trust
would be fulfilled. 1t is in such a
manner as this that l became possessed
of the knowledge of the existence of
the fortune in gold that is now hoat-
ing aimlessly about the southern cur
rents of the Atlantic ocean concealed
In the hold of waterlogged derelict
and without human being save my
self land you, now that i have told
- A.