The Elbert County tribune., 1902-08-14
u trust auch is only the truth.o any

you have some motive in this action" I"
Il certainly have. Truth to tell. /
believe have seen this gentleman be-
fore, under other conditions. ! shall
know to certainty after | have been
in his society while. Al any rate.
there is reason to hope for the best"
.'Shall we go out and meet him?"
asked Airline.
yes. indeed. The Fates have decld-
ed that Captain Brand and l shall
come together for trial OF strength.
and 1t might Just as well take place
now as later. ! am ready"
So they went out.
The ex-sailor quickly sighted them
and bore down with all sails SET" as
he would have nautically expressed 1t.
Charlie played his part well.
He met the captain in blum.
friendly manner. Just as young man
might wish to receive the father OF a
lovely girl he admired.
Plainly Captain Brand found no es-
pecial reason foe alarm.
He set out TO be even more jovial
and debonair than usual, with the idea
OF creating good impression on
his daughters old friend. whom he
wished to study at close range.
When he set out to entertain. Cap
tain Brand OF the Hespasia was a
bowling success. relating the most as
tonishing incidents connected with his
long captivity In the desert, his perils
on the sea. and the deep fountain OF
love for wife and child that had 'sus-
tained him through all his trials.
Charlie was no mean actor himself,
thanks to the splendid control which
he was able to exercise over his facial
muscles.
Although be now had not the least
doubt as to the fellow being a fraud
OF the first water. Charlie felt that he
owed 1t to Arline's respect for fllial af
fection to prove this fact.
This was the task he cut out for
himself,
He laid his little trap.
Captain Brand was so much engag-
ed with his flow Of oratory and the
charming OF this friend OF the family
that he did not notice the pit so deftly
dug.
Thus. almost without an effort
that ht hhtW
considerable about Valparaiso, in
Chill. and had been there. in the
course of his wanderings. many years
ago.
In Charles mind this settled the
matter. He was confident he knew
with whom he had TO deal. and when
the time came he would be ready to
dare all in defying the adventurer.
While they sat thus. speaking Of
the sights of Antwerp, there came a
messenger from the hotel Office inquir
ing for Mr.. Charlie Stuart, whom a
gentleman outside desired to see.
AS he went. directed by the clerk.
to the spot where he would find the
gentleman who had asked for an i'm
mediate interview on serious business.
he was making up his mind to tell
Peterhoff the whole story and enlist
his favorable consideration for Airline.
so that when the denoument came the
doughty captain could be taken care
Of
Judge of his surprise, then, when,
upon, coming upon the party who
wished to see him. he found 1t was no
other than Artemus Barnaby. with his
honest face clouded with an air OF the
darkest mystery.
1t did not require much prophetic
skill on Charles part to tell that his
erratic friend had news of some i'm
portance for him.
He pressed forefnger' on his lips
to indicate dead silence. when he found
that Charlie had recognized him.
Charlie stood there waiting while
the other crept on his tiptoes to the
corner. in the regular orthodox stage
fashion, and looked this way and that.
to assure himself that there could be
no eavesdroppers near.
Then he approached his friend, his
warning finger still on his lips.
Reaching the other. he placed his
lips close to Charles ea-. and solemn
ly said:
THE coast is clearl"
Il see it is" said Charlie, aloud.
What | am about to disclose to
you. will give you a cruel shock, my
boy"
Shock away then, only make
haste"
Il am about to make a disclosure
that will. regret to say, knock away
the foundations of your belief in hu-
manity."
All that's serious thing indeed
Does this disclosure concern the world
at large or one individual specimen of
manhnd?"
"One shining light"
Then fire away, and be hanged to
you"
Artemus assumed a look of extreme
gravity, although Charlie was sure he
4 heard n chuckle.
"You have met the father of the
young lady of the Steen dungeons. The