Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-09-20


"a desire to see in print the map of
the country where he had so long been
a prisoner. and to have his recollec-
tion of names revived.
The voyage was on the whole, a
stormy one, but to Charlie it ended all
too soon.
AS they neared the shores of Amer
lea the old captain seemed to lose
goodly portion of his loquacity, and be-
came unusually reserved.
Artemus flattered himself that he
was the main cause of this collapse
but Charlie was rather inclined to be-
lieve Capt Brand had started in to
work up some new scheme looking
his daughters gold.
Charlie hoped to discover how this
fellow-whom he believed he had
known as Capt. Kledge, and Artemus
pretended was a third-rate actor
named Frederick Davenport Macauley
had ever come into possession of the
facts connected with Capt. Brand of
the lost ship Hespasia.
The fog hung about them exasperat-
ingly, and the monotonous hoarse-
throated whistle kept up it's warning
notes until they were close to Fire Is
land Light, when suddenly the vapor
gave way and the shore of Long Island
appeared in view, already showing the
first signs of spring.
Charlie had perfected what few ar
rangements remained. They would all
go direct to the old Windsor, and there
await the coming of Aleck, when an
interview between him and Airline
must result in happiness all around.
1t seemed simple enough, yet none
of them for an instant suspected what
tremendous things awaited them in
this magnificent capital of the New
World or the forces which might yet
be arrayed against them through the
energy and scheming of the man who
would not accept defeat.
Here, then, the last dramatic scene
was to be placed. Here Charlie was
to win his bride, or lose her forever
in this city of restless energy, of won
derful buildings and unequaled magni-
ficence, Charlie and his enemy would
come face to face for the last time.
Heaven be on the side of the right
and strengthen the arm of this war
rior bold who dared all in defense of
what was innocent and true.
Capt. Brand had almost reached the
end of his rope, and would doubtless
husband the remainder of his re-
sources for one last desperate, mas
terful stroke by which he would win
or lose all
AS usual. there was the customs
trial to be passed through, but when
the gantlet had been successfully run
they were free.
The great and wonderful city
stretched before them.
To Airline it was all new. and the
sights that were strange to her eyes
she found to be numerous, from the
lofty buildings to the electric cars that
dashed along at an apparently reckless
speed.
Capt. Brand accepted everything
philosophically.
He had seen the world; his check
cred career had embraced every
cline. and the startling events that
had fallen to his share would have laid
the foundation for a very fair second
edition of Munchausen or the Arabian
Nights.
Airline was deeply concerned about
wayward Aleck, whom she had not
seen in so long time.
His whole future was at stake.
If she missed him now, all might be
lost.
Yes, this had been wearing upon her
mind so long now that it affected her
nerves. There may have been some
thing more, which neither of them sus-
pected-a premonition of the startling
events destined to take place in their
experience; for some minds seem
gifted with an almost supernatural
power to anticipate coming changes,
even as the mercury in the ba-
rometer's tube indicates a change in
the weather hours before it occurs.
Taking a carriage, they. were all
speedily located at the reliable old
Windsor.
Upon inquiry Charlie learned that
some one had called for him only the
day before, and he was constrained to
believe it must be the young fellow
who had been his companion in the
Antwerp Jail, and whose escape had
rivaled that of Monte Cristo.
This was good news.