The Washington times., 1904-06-05

thorities. But since 1t was what It
was-Gibraltar. the meeting place and
exchange OF the best and worst among
mankind-nobody thought II worth while
to pry too closely into his neighbours
affairs lest the attention should be mu-
tual.
Courtney's was not the only bust
ness in Gibraltar that fiourished in de-
vious paths and in defiance OF the port
regulations.
Trade must go on. and where it has
been convenient for generations TO for
get the ordinary laws of commerce.
each man must be his own law and must
overreach others in order not to be
himself Overreached.
In Courtney's case there was little
ground for those inclined toward spec
ulation to go upon. and the old man
saw TO IL that this little was made
less wherever possible. Though he had
lived for twenty years In the town.
he was known 10 but few OF his fell
low-residents. and these few. for good
and sufficient reasons. were inclined 70
keep their knowledge to themselves
To the traders. OF all nationalities
and of none. whose ships piled the
Mediterranean and the Straits. the
man had long been familiar.
When they dropped anchor at dusk,
off the narrow point that curved out
from the great promontOry and made
the bav a quiet and sheltered spot.
they would wait for his silent sloop.
black 10 it's very crew. to come along
side. They would save their choicest
fabrics for him. knowing that no Iack
Of caution on his part. no c1re.ess
error would ever involve them In
trouble with the harbormaster.
Few. even Of those who thus had
dealings with him, knew Courtney's true
name. To them. one and all. ne was
known as the Cray Fox OF Gibraltar
How this name originated II would
be difficult to say Certainly u vas
scarcely accurate to describe Courtney
as a pirate in spite Of the peculiar en-
terprises in which the black sloop some
times INDUCED on her own account When
business Of the ordinary kind was dull
There was. however. a certain aptness
in the title which made II agree with
the old mans appearance and the repu-
tation he bore among the captains
Therefore he remained the Gray Fox,
and vas likely so TO remain TO the end
of his trading days in Gibraltar.
Many stories Of his bloody and hair
raising exploits were spun by the
Younger officers Of the ships that put in
at the little port. but when IL came %
the matter OF facts they were all forced
to admit that they knew absolutely
nothing concerning the past OF this re-
marka BILE man.
In the town itself the mystery con-
corning him was no less profound.
He seldom appeared upon the streets
never by day. Those who had business
/ 70 transact with him came 70 the tall
warehouse with the blackened walls
/ that stood behind his residence
Apparently there was no connection
between these two buildings. In real
| ity the tangled grape vines that grew
/ in the garden behind the house screened
| a stone walled passage that led from
] one to the other
II was the same with all Courtney 5
affairs. The sloops that rocked idly in
the water all day long in the shadow
Of the warehouse seemed never TO have
any other occupation. The strapping
black fellows who formed their crews
were always TO be seen lolling about
the decks or sleeping in the sun
| When the safe cover of darkness en-
veIoped the Rock. however. the sloops,
/ batlike. spread their black wings and
sped away TO the great ships from over
| seas that lay at anchor in the harbor.
And always. before the morning light
/ dawned, these same Informed night
birds came winging back TO the pier,
shaping their course by the lantern
! that CLEANED through the star-shap ped
aperture IN the roof Of the warehouse
/ Oftentimes. too. the walls Of the
bleak building itself echoed with
sounds remarkably like the unshipping Of
/ cargo. But in Gibraltar those who had
! no concern abroad remained behind bar
red doors after nightfull and those
{ whose business sent them astir were
well content - leave others TO their
/ own devices even as they wished them
/ selves that others would leave them.
] While the eye might be deceived as 20
/ the relations between the house with
barred windows and the windowless
warehouse, there certainly was no con-
nection between the latter and the shop
upon the main street Of the town where
a smooth-faced Moor and many Moorish
assistants dispensed all manner Of mer-
chandise at most attractive prices.
Yet the goods upon the shelves Of the
bazaar were curiously like the goods that
went over the side Of the black-bellied
sloCp. and every night the master OF
the shop journeyed down 70 the ware
house with the ledger IN which was
written down the days sales and the
bag In which were the days receipts
There Andrew Courtney pored over the
book and pOcketed the gold and gave
instructions to the smooth-voiced Moor
/ Perhaps that was why the unknown
master Of sloops and shop and men was
not a familiar figure on the streets OF
the town. Those whom he wiIled TO see
came 20 see him at the dark hour wher
they knew he could be found in the little
tight-walled Office AZ the rear OF tht
warehouse.
They moved silently as did all about
this strange man and his household
They were admitted by silent attend
ants who conducted them TO the pres
ence Of the man with knitted brows
whose chill blue eyes made them NOV,
uncomfOrtably on their chairs.
While Courtney Stunned acquaInt
arce made only for acquaintance sake
he made IL his business TO know certain
men-and officials. So it happened thai
there were often callers in tSe ware
house.
Ono a ,,,rorta tho Sr,D;.r ,--.----.- -,