The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-26
BY Henry O. Rowland.
Copyright by Mcclure, Phillips & Coy


" southwark, and for the
first time since we had
had been trading around
the islands had made a
''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 L was concerned. the trip
had been great success. This was
due to the fact that one evening, while
becalmed, I had caught on my canvas
a certain effect. of the short-lived
tropic afterglow for which had been
striving in vain for months. 1t was
picture "Moonrise In the Tropics"
was developed. ..--. .
The morning after we got back
Knapp and had gene ashore on our
usual tour Of inspection. which in
cluded a visit to the Senate, a drive
around Malate, tiffin at the Oriente.
and the usual Luneta promenade late
In the afternoon. We had worked our
way along the line as far as the hotel,
and were just entering when Knapp
gave sharp tug to my sleeve.
looked around. and there was q
sight to be fingered on by one just
down from deep waters. An equip
page such as one seldom sees in the
Philippines was drawing up to the
curb. Harnessed to stylish but
diminutive cabriolet were two wicked,
spirited, little jet-black stations, snap
ping and paving, and switching their
tails, On the box were a coachman
splendent in liveries Of white duck,
with scarlet facings and silver buttons.
Reclining upon cushions Of pongee
silk was O. woman of such audacious
beauty that merely to glance at her
was like a rebuke. She was of the
conspicuous Irish type; the combina-
ton 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 a menace to society in any
part Of the world.
/ was the first to recover and man
aged to rouse Knapp.
God all sufficiency!" said he, faint
she a pippin?"
The carriage drew up and the lady
descended and brushed past as with
out a glance. We followed her dazed-
Iy into the hotel, breathing an atmos-
phere Of ambrosia. Judging such pro-
pinauity to be unsettling to Knapp I
drew him into the billiard-room.
We had been playing but few min
utes when heard rustic behind me,
and, looking around, I saw to my sur
prise that the woman was standing by
the door. talking to the Spanish man.
ager. AS I glanced UP I caught her
eye, and felt in some way that they
were talking about Knapp and me.
When she saw that I noticed her,
she turned away and a few minutes
later the Spaniard, whom we knew,
came in and began to talk to us, tell
ing the latest news and asking us
about our last cruise. AS we were
about to leave he asked in Spanish:
Where are you lying now?'
Same old place." said I, lover be-
hind the breakwater, near the Diam
ante moorings."
Going to be there long?" he asked.
Couple of days." I 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 be so
kind as to give this, note to, Captain
Boles when you go aboard" said he.
Certainly" I answered, In surprise
-"but who Is Mrs. Hunter?"
THE lady who just drove away. Sc
nor"
Knapp looked at me and whistled.
1.-THE darn old fox!" he said.
Come on, Brownie, let's get out
aboard
You go--if you're in such a hurry
to play messenger boy for Boles. I
am out for a time Of my own!" That
Strengthened him out.
When we got aboard that night,
gave Boles the note, and Knapp gave
him the particulars, which were more
interesting as the note simply request
ed him to call on the sender at the no.
tel the following afternoon. Boles
looked puzzled; then so annoyed that
Knapp kindly volunteered to take his
place. Knowing something Of Boles'
past, could understand his reluc-
lance. After a few minutes talk, how
ever. he thanked Knapp somewhat
sarcastically, and said that he would
keep the engagement himself.
When he returned, two hours later,
he wore q peculiar smile which broad
ened when he caught sight of Knapp's
expression of polite and sympathetic
interest.
well, boys" he said, II won't keep
you in suspense. It's a business propo-
sition. and you can have it just as
got It,"
Several months ago there was a
Mataborong in Mindanao. When they
took the place, a lieutenant man
named Durand, in kicking out some
loose masonry from the edge of a
loophole which had been knocked in
the wall of the cathedral, came upon
q brass-bound box. He got rid of his
men on some pretext, and slowed the
box away for the time being. That
night he got hold Of a canoe and pad
died his loot over to an island about
a mile off shore, where he buried it.,
making a careful chart Of the sur
roundings.
1.-TWO days later the padre came to
him, and, after some preamble, po-
litely accused him Of having looted the
treasure. Durand, with equal courtesy,
politely denied the charge, but asked
for description of the treasure that
he might make every effort to. re-
cover it. A lengthy discussion brought
out the facts that the box contained
pearls and gold to the value of many
thousand pesos. The pearls, 1t seems,
had come by a series Of thefts. The
gold Is the result Of joint thievery
of even more ancient and venerable
dignity, carried on by the padre and
the presidente, and ultimately ac-
quired by the former without his part
ner's knowledge and consent.
THE irony OF fate sent Durand on
a hike with his company the very
next day, and before he got back his
leg was broken by a Remington, and
he was sert up to Manila, where he
was in the hospital three months. Dur
ing his ccnvaloscence he got a months
furlough, and went up to Yokohama,
where he met Mrs. Hunter, to whom,
in q moment of folly, he told the
story Of his loot of the box. They
came back to Manila together on the
Esmerelda from Hongkong, and must