Gilpin observer., 1905-08-24
CHAPTER vl.-continued.
BY II. GRATTAN DONNELLY..


was evident that the story had made
deep impression upon him, and that
his gratitude to Cobb was too great
at the time to trust himself to its ex.
preston in words.
Cobb found himself the center of an
admiring audience, and all the warmth
of congrhsulation he received would
have made any man feel proud to be
the hero of the hour. He tried hard
to put an end to the scene. 1t was
becoming somewhat embarrassing to
find himself the center Of attention. In
vain he protested that he had done
no more for Alexis than any man
would have done for another under
the circumstances.
But you forget" urged one Of the
Russian naval officers present, that
your own life was to be spared. You
were merely to be held for ransom.
By this act you periled that life to
save that Of stranger"
WELL" replied Cobb, with smile,
we've all got to take chances in this
world"
A score of interrogations as to why
he was alone followed, and Cobb, in
spite of his desire to let the matter
drop, found it impossible to avoid an
explanation.
Septimus Cobb was Kentuckian
by birth. From his earliest youth he
had been of rowing, adventurous dis
position. At the outbreak of the war
he had raised a company of cavalry,
and step by step had won promotion
until he was in command of brigade.
The close of the war found him with
the possession of the title General"
a fund of splendid physical health, in
domitable courage, restless energy.
and an unsatisfed ambition. He was
poor. He wanted wealth, and he went
to California.
For years after he led the life of
thousands of restless adventurers in
the far West. Editor. miner. specu-
lator-everything by turns. Two for
tunes made-and lost. He came East,
got into oil, made a third fortune
and lost that. 1t was while casting
about for the easiest and quickest
means of making fourth fortune that.
hearing of the marvellous development
of Russian oil territory on the shores
of the Black Sea. he determined to in
vestigate its possibilities. syndi-
cate was formed. and Cobb, as its
representative, with unlimited credit.
and plenary powers, was sent to pros
pect the new oleaginous territory.
After some years spent in the neigh
borhood of Baku, the center of the.
Russian oil country, stories began to
reach Cobb of marvelously rich gold
deposits in Turkestan. To think. with
him was to act. 1t was necessary to
keep his destination secret, for, II
the tales of the new FL Dorado were
true, the moment they became known
in Europe and America. it was as GER
tain that thousands would flock to the
scene as 1t was that the diamond
mines of Africa, and the gold discov-
cries of Australia. attracted adventur-
ers from all parts of the world. TAX
ing small steamer. Cobb crossed the
Caspian Sea, and guided by a rough
map of the country, pushed into the
interior He had a march of weeks,
perhaps months. ahead of him. but he
was undaunted. His escort supposed
him an American missionary. and he
took no pains to undecsive them. 1t
is true that his missionary labors pro-
duced no fruit, nor was the faith of
his escort, whether Greek Church or
Mohammedan. unsettled by his argu-
mcnts. But he pushed on for field
that promised to reward his exertions.
and had just begun operations when
he was surprised. seized and overpow-
cred by the rowing Turcomans. He
had really no fear of death, nor was
his life in much danger: but he was
placed in confinement until his dispo-
sition could be determined upon by
his captors and the amount of his
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