Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-04-08
CHAPTER xIII.-CoNrrNuEp..

Sda1 l. Eta A111s-OON11N,UED
Mr.. Morton slowly paced the saloon
with his hands behind his back and
+. his head bent forward, as in deep
contemplation. In short time Mr..
Rockwell returned. He gave Mr.. Nor
ton a questioning look. In response
Mr.. Morton shook his head gloom
lily but said not a word. His COM
panion showed no surprise nor did
he evince much disappointment. Like
Mr.. Kent, he saw no hope for imrne-
date relief, and had resigned him
self to await results. He selected
a book fromo the shelves and read
quietly until dinner was announced.
Dinner was served at six o'clock.
The weight of entertaining fell on
Hestor and Vincent. While the lat
ter gentleman had not yet been able
to attract the attention. of Mr.. Car
mody he was satisfied that he would
have an abundance of time in which
to explain his plan&1 Mr.. Morton
had acquainted his associates with
the failure which thus far had at
tended his negotiations. He yet held
out hope, but it was faint. When
coffee had been served, Hestor arose
and said:
Gentlemen, we are now not far
from Cape Cod. During the evening /
am going to send a man ashore with
letters. You will find stationery in
your staterooms. l suppose that all,
of you wish to send word assuring
your families and friends that you
are alive and well. You can do so,
butcyou must not eater into any par
ticularso about this outing. You can
inform those in whom you are con-
cerned that you are safe; that YOU
wilBreturn to them after a reasonable
length of time, or you may make any
other statement not connected with
business or with your present where
abouts. Hand me the letters I'M
sealed, and L will examine them and
haye them mailed during the night9
I should have all of them in my pos
session before nine o'clock"
How about meg asked Mr.. VIM
cent.
"You are included" said Mr.. Hes
tor9
There was no hesitancy in accept
ing this invitation. The Thought that
they could 6 speedily communicate
withptheir loved ones lifted a great
load from their minds. For an hour
Hestor acted as censor on these let
tiers. He made but few changes, and
these of course rendered it neces-
sary to rewrite the rejected letters.
In the meantime the yacht had
rounded Cape Cod and dropped Unto
the quiet waters of the bay:
O Shortly after nine o'clock the
dinghy was swung out on her davits
and lowered into 9the water. A young
man in a business suit, such as worn
!, for everyday, service. by the average
o citizen, acted as mail carrier. Pro-
PEELED by the sturdy arms of sail
D or, the little craft disappeared in
the darkness. Two miles away The
lights of Provincetown fickered in
the distance.
Q At about one o'clock in the morn
ing, when most IF the passengers
were asleep, the dinghy made anoth-
er trip ashore, and returned without
the mail messenger. He was landed
near Boston, and on. the following
morning made a rapid journey to
Springfield. Mass, and Albany, n. Y,
thence to New York city and Brook
Ign, reaching Philadelphia late that
night. In these cities he posted the
letters which, as has been told wee
received with so much joy. The next.
day he left Philadelphia for Cape
May; late that night boat came
In from the ocean, and an hour later
he was on board the SHARK
From the time the sand dunes of
Cape Cod faded away in the night.
until six days had passed, the pas
sengers and crew of the sShark'
caught no sight Of land. Many ships
were sighted, but Capt. Waters so
directed the course of the yacht that
none came within signalling distance
and generally remained hull down
ON the horizon.
1t was cloudy most of the time.
and by the temperature alone was
It surely known that a southerly
course was being taken. Thursday
night was intentionally warm. and
she following day when the sun came.