The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-05

to appear that they had been travelling at
the time Of his cousins mysterious death.
'He had finished his whole terrible
work, had brought his collapsible boat OH
deck, and was about to launch it, when
the one thing upon which he had not
counted suddenly happened.
1.-THE one creature which he had not
not thought it worth while to waste time
in destroying, since it could tell no tales,
was an enormous gray balloon which had
for years been a travelling companion of
the eccentric Man Without a Country.
1t lived in a large iron cage on the deck Of
the Xenia, and was often allowed to come
out, for though it had great strength,
and flew into savage passions if
leased. the huge creature worshiped it's
master, and was absolutely obedient to
him. It was sly and clever beast,
mischievous sometimes, though it was no
longer young; fond Of bright colors, de-
lighted with jewelry, which it would steal
If it were allowed to rove about and also
addicted to purloining any clothing which
it could find.
'Your father had not given a thought
to the baboon in its cage, and, unfOr-
tunately for him, had chosen a spot to
prepare the bodies of his victims for their
graves under the sea within sight of the
animal. Seeing its master lying help
less, and finally being thrown overheard
by Anatole, the chef. SO Infatuated the
baboon that it began tearing at the locked
door of it's cage. The murderer had
something else to think of, and did not
realize the creatures strength, which was
temporarily doubled by it's rage for re-
venge. Just as your father was about to
! launch his small collapsfble boat. and
trust to the mercy of the sea-. the baboon
succeeded in breaking the door of its
cage, aud before the man 1t hated could
defend himself. or even try~to escape. il
had sprung upon him, killed him, and
flung his body into the water, the boat
following.
It suppose you were not unprepared t.
hear that your father was dead? H
| risked a good deal, you know. You
| mother. no doubt, was anxious, when new
came to Tangier that the derelict Xeni
had been taken to Gibraltar, yet she ha
| no privata news. She arranged a rathe
| clever scheme by which, with one stroke
| she gained an excuse for getting on boar
| the Xenia and having learnt certai
| things concerning Miss Eve Markham
secured her as hostage in order to max
her own terms with the. self appointed de
| tective who might prove troublesome.
she had been satisfied with a little infol
nation, trusting for the rest to her imae
nation, she would have been wise. Sf
found out that the collapsible boat, whic
she knew had been concealed IN PACK
ing case, was gone from its hiding -plac
This gave her hope; and it seemed we
to leave the sxenia while I, who had SON
authority on board. was ready to gi,
her the chance. Her mistake was in a.
ranging a second visit, in the hope
making more MISUNDERSTANDING
valuable papers; a visit which was to I
unknown to me. She. too, made her plal
without counting upon the savage and r
vengeful creature which had destroyed h
husband. Probably she did not eve
know of its existence, and could certain
not know tbat-freed from it's cage wi