The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-17

We had just'got back to Manila after
a three weeks cruise to the southwark,
aud for the first time since we had been
trading aroun the islands had made Il
broken trip; that is. the net receipts.
had not covered the running expenses.
Knapp & Boles, who owned the
schooner, were fairly Disguised, but. as
far as i was concerned. the trip had
been a great success. This was due to
the fact that evening, while be-
Gained, l had caught on my canvas a
certain effect of the short lived tropic
afterglow for which l had been striv-
ing in vain for months 1t was from
these studies that my Academy picture,
"Moonrise in the Tropics" was devel-
oped.
The morning after we got back
Knapp and L had gone ashore on our
usual tour of Inspection, which In
Guided a visit to The Senate, 4 drive
round Malate, titin at the Oriente and
the usualsLuneta promenade late in the
afternoon. We had worked our way
along.the line as fan as the hotel, and
We're just entering when Knapp gave
a sharp tug to my sleeve.
l looked around. and there was a
sight to be fingered on by one just
down from deep waters. An e%quipage
such as one seldom sees in the Philip
pines was drawing up to the curb.
Harnessed to Il stylish but dimin-
utiNe cabriolet We're two wicked. spir-
tied. little jet black stallions, swapping
and paving and switching their tails.
ON the box were Il Coachman and a
groom, both Tagals, and Respondent in
liveries of white duck, with scarlet fac
ings and silver buttons.
Reclining upon cushions of pongee
silk was a woman of such audacious
beauty that merely to glance at her
was like a rebuke. She was of the con-
CnjnIn,1C TriSb w fl,a ,Gip q fjnf1
of blue grey eyes, black lasheS and a
wavy mass of blue black hair. with
high, natural coloring, and one of those
superbly conspicuous figures which are
Il to society in any part OF the
world.
aged to rouse Knapp.
God all sutliciency!." said he, ''ain't
she a oippin?"
Z carriage drew up and the lady
dsscended and brushed past US without
a glance. We followed her dazedly into
the hotel. breathing an atmosphere of
ambrosia. Judging such propinquity to
be unsettling to Knapp L drew him into
the billiard room.
We had been playing but a few min
utes when l heard a rustic behind me.
and, looking around, l saw to my sur
prise that the woman was standing by
The door. talking to the Spanish man
niger. AZ u SidilCeQ up i caught lleI
eye, and felt in some way that they
We're talking about Knapp and me.
When she saw that l had noticed her,
she turned away and a few minutes
later the Spaniard, whom we knew,
came in and began to ak to us. tell
ing the latest news and asking us about
our last cruise. AS we We're about to
leave he asked in Spanish:
Where are you lying
Same Old place." said l, over be-
mind the ~breakwater, near the Dia-
mantle moorings."
Going to be there long?' he asked.
Couple of days." l answered.
AS we went out we saw him putting
the "pippin" into her carriage. She
drove off and the manager came over
to where we stood.
Mrs. Hunter asks if you will he so
kind as to give this note to Captain
Boles when you so aboard" said he.
Certainly" L answered. in surprise
but who is Mrs. Hunter?'
The lady who just drove away,
senior"
Knapp looked at me and whistled,
The darn old foN.' he said.
Come on. Brownie, lets get out
aboard"
You go-if you're in such a hurry to
play messenger boy tor Boles. l am
out for a time of my own" That
Strengthened hin out.
When we got aboard that night 7
gave Boles the note, and Knapp gave
him the particulars, which We're more
interesting.as the note simply requested
him to cali on the sender at the hotel
the following afternoon. Boles looked
puzzled; hen so annoyed that Knapp
kindly volunteered to take his place.
Knowing something of Boles' past, /
could understand his reluctance. After
Il few minutes thought, however, he
f1,n IN rod D.y, Sp,t1o,Ir1,p = X,
ally. and said that he would keep the
engagement himself.
When he returned, two hours later,
he Wore IL peculiar smile which broad
ened when he caught sight of lSnapp's
expression OF polite and sympathetic
interest.
We'll, boys" he said, u won't keep
you in suspense. It's a business propo.
sition, and you can have It just as L
got it,"
Several months ago there was; II ceI
tain volunteer regiment stationed at
Mataborong. in Mindanao When they
too kthe place q lieutenant named pu-
rand, in kicking out some loose mason
ry from the edge of q loophcle which
a been knocked in the wall of the
cathedral, cams upon Il brass bound
box. He got rid of his men on some pre-
text, and slowed the box away for the
TIME being. That night he got hold of
I s4ltiiioC, iiit pApdiGo ~ lCol oNGI W III
y island about a mile off shore, where
he buried it, making 4 careful chart
of the surroundings.
Tive days later the padre came to
him, and, after some preamble, politely
accused him of having looted the treas
ure. Durand, with equal courtesy. po-
1itely denied the charge, but asked for
a description of the treasure that he
might make every effort to recover it.
A lengthy discussion brought out the
fact that the box contained pearls and
gold to the value of many thousand
pesos. The pearls. it seems, had come
by a series of thefts. The gold is the
result of a joint ~tllievery of ever more
ancient and venerable dignity, carried
M by the padre and the presidente, and
ultimately acquired by the former
without his partners knowledge and
consent.
The irony of fate sent Durand on q
hike with his company the very next
day, and before he got back his leg
was broken by a Remington, and he
was sent up to Manila, where he was
In hospital three months. During his
convalescence he got a months fur
Tough and Went up to Yokohama. where
he met Mrs. Hunter. to whom. in Il
moment of folly, he told the story of
ms loot of the Don. They came back to