The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-08
CHAPTER XIV.

phore OF Telegraph hill would have worn
itself signaling side wheel steamers had
Il still been In operation. The trans
continental railway was stretching out
up the valley OF the Platte toward the
center OF the continent. but Wells. Fargo
and the pony express charging dollar
letter were the only transcontinentaI
rapid transit OF the day.
Peor'e still went to and from the dis
tant east by way OF Aspinwal and Pana-
ma and the big boats OF the Pacific
Mail were crowded. going or coming,
and one bright June day two women In
mourning were escorted aboard the So
nora and shown 70 their little statsroom,
one a decidedly pretty girl, the other
sad faced. careworn. delicate looking
widow, ten or IL years, apparently the
senior
They sailed with only one friend to see
them off-an aid-de-camp OF the COM
manding general-yet not without much
curiosity on the part OF the younger
woman as to the composition OF the pas
senger list. Even before they were be-
yond the rocky scarp OF Alcatraz-for few
things are impossible to pretty woman
--she had been able TO secure copy and
20 say, with bated breath, TO the languid
invalid. AT least, he's not going on this
ship II might be better II he were
for Miss Geraldine Allyn had not lost
faith in her power 10 charm.
And one reason why the he" referred
TO was not going on this ship was that
the sisters Nevins and Allyn had
booked" their passage nearly two weeks
before, IL being useless to remain longer
on the Pacific coast In hopes OF finding
the fugitive husband. for the consul at
Guaymas was authorized to report the
death. at Hermosillo, through wounds
and exposure, of the gallant but un-
fortunate captain. whose mind must have
given way under his accumulation OF
troubles" A seal ring that Nevins used
TO wear and some letters were all he had
TO leave, and these had been duly for
warded to the address OF his wife. whose
pathetic inquiries for further particulars
elicited nothing more reliable than that
Nevins was dead and buried and that
was the end Of him: The quarterraster
got transportation for them to New
Orleans A sum sufficient for their i'm
mediate needs was placed In their hands.
Another sum which did not receive i'm
mediate acknowledgment was also sent
10 the disconsolate widow. and now they
were going. and that was all.
Going. too. was Loring, though not on
that trip--shaking. so to speak. the dust
OF California from his feet, q silent but
much disgusted man. For nearly FIVE
weeks he had lived a life that would have
tried the endurance of the patriarch o.
Holy Writ and wrecked the sunny nature
OF Tapley. Hounded day after day by
the so-called agent Of the Escalantes,
with insolent demands for property that
was never in Lorings possession. threat
ened with arrest II he did not make resti
tuition or propose an equivalent; sent
practically to Coventry by officials at
headquarters. to whom he was too proud
or TO sensitive to dilate upon his wrongs
or TO toll more than once the straight
story Of his innocence: saved from mill
tary arrest only by the 'stalwart" letter
written by the Yuma surgeon, In response
TO his urgent appeals: comforted measur-
ably by Blake's eloquent but emphatical-
ly insubordinate outburst at the expense
OF department headquarters: unable To
bring to bear for nearly Ave weeks the
mass Of testimony as to character forth
coming from the superintendent and off,
GERS at West Point. and the letters of
classmates and comrades who knew him
and felt that the charges must be false.
our engineer passed through an ordeal
the like of which few men have had to en-
counter.
Then the unexpected happened The
captain Of the Idaho slowly recovered his
mind and strength. and with GONZALES
cence, came keen recollection OF all that
had occurred. He, too. made full report
10 the owners Of Loring's GOODNESS and
determination the night of the wreck. and
was amazed TO be told OF the charges
against that officer.
who says so? Who makes such ac-
cusations7" he demanded angrily, and
was informed that his friend and ship
mate. Purser Traynor was the person,
whereat the big skipper gave a long. long
whistle. looked dazed again. smote his
thigh with heavy fist. and presently
said. Just you wait little" wherewith
ne took himself OF. Tiaynor and the
first officer had been very thick" for a
fortnight or so, though that dinner had
never come or. Traynor and the first
officer had both been promised excellent
berths the moment the new steamer ar.
rived that was to take the place of the
Idaho. But the captain went cruising out
beyond Sacramento. where the purser had
q little nest and brood, and came back
later with tale he poured into the ear,
OF the company, the result OF which wa:
that Traynor was informed he would b,
wise TO seek other employment. ther,
would be no place for h,:n on the new
Montana, and Traynor look first boat fol
the Columbia and got far away from Sar
Francisco.
No specific charges had been laid at hi
door. said the owners when questioned
Nothing had been proved. nothing proba
bly, would be. that they knew OF. but tn
tADtdll Htu cdlicu Win lfbgnoT HtNeTt
years and had views OF his own as 4
that gentleman's integrity. which. whel
communicated 10 Mr., Traynor. did no
seem 70 surprise him and remained un
contradicted.
Then came the captain 10 department
headquarters. The British sailor ha
scant reverence for soldiers OF his ow
land and less for those OF any other n
matter what the rank. and this particu
lar son OF the sea was more Briton tina
Yankee. despite the fact that he ha
sailed the California trade long year
Of his life and had taken out his paper
in the early statehood OF that wonderfl
land. Ever since the days Of Stockton an
Kearney he had fed fat the ancier
grudge he bore the army and steered a
clear Of soldier association an was poss
Bile for a man whose ship was depender
IN great measure on army patronag
Days before his unherarded coming
general headquarters the rumors OF Lol
ing's bravery and GOODNESS the night
the wreck had been hcating about N
building. But the engineer had drawn n
20 his shell He came and went 10 an
from the Office assigned 20 him. workin
apparently over field reports and map