The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-01-13
The C3ar'S Spy
Continued from Third Page

one must pay and be pleasant" declared
the man with the fair beard. "In
Greece and the Levant they are more
rapacious than in Naples, and the Gus
toms officers always want squaring,
otherwise they are for ever rummaging
and discovering mares nests"
did you have any trouble hereY I
inquired.
"T'hey didn't visit u.s." he said with
smile, and at the same time he rubbed
his thumb and finger together, the action
of feeling paper money.
This increased my surprise, for | hap
pened to know that the Leghorn Gus.
toms officers were not at all given to the
acceptance of brides. They were too well
watched by their superiors. II the yacht
had really escaped search then it was
a most unusual thing. Besides, what
motive could Horribly have in eluding
the customs visit? They would, of
course, seal up his wines and liquors,
but even if they did, they would leave
him out sufficient for the consumption
of himself and his friends.
No. Philip Horribly had some strong
motive in paying heavy bride to avoid
the visit Of the dogana. If he really
had paid, he must have paid very heav-
lily; of that was convinced.
Was it possible that some mystery
was hidden on board that splendidly ap!
pointed crafty
Presently the gong sounded, and we
went below into the elegantly fitted So
loon, where was spread table that
sparkled with cut-glass and shone with
silver. Around the center fresh flowers
had been trailed by some artistic hand,
while on the buffet at the end the necks
of wine bottles peeped out from the ice
pals Both carpet and upholstery were
in pale blue, while everywhere it was APP
parent that none but an extremely
wealthy man could afford such a mag
nifcent craft.
Horribly took the head of the table, and
we sat on either side of him, chatting
merrily while'we ate one of the choicest
and best.cooked dinners it has ever been
my lot to taste. Chatter and | drank
wine of n brand which only millionaire
could keep in his cellar, while our host
apparently most abstemious man, took
only glass of iced Cinciano water.
The two smart stewards served in
manner which showed them to be well
trained to their duties, and as the even.
ing light fltering through the pale blue
silk curtains over the open portfolios
slowly faded, we gossiped on as men will
gossip over an unusually good dinner,
From his remarks | discerned that,
contrary to my first impression, Hylton
(thufnr 1vou IN ayunr;anoaJ xyoohtoyon
He owned a craft called the Alicia, and
was a member of the Cork Yacht Club.
He lived in London, he told me- but gave
me no information as to his profession.
1t might be the law, as | had surmised.
You've seen our ass of captain, Mr..
Gregg?' he remarked presently. "What
do you think of himY"
"Well," | said rather hesitatingly, "to
tell the truth, don't think very much
of his seamanshi p-nOr will the Board
of Trade when his report reaches them"
"Ah!" exclaimed Horribly, 81 was
fool to engage him.. From the very first
| mistristed him, only my wife some
how took fancy to the fellow, and, as
you know, If you want peace You must
always please the women. In this case,
however, her choice almost cost me the
vessel, and perhaps our lives into the
bargain"
"You knew nothing of him pre-
viouslyH'
Nothing
Sand he engaged the crewr" l asked,
"Of course"
care they all fresh handsf"
"All except the cook and the two
stewards"
was silent. l did not like Mackin
tosh. Indeed entertained distinct
suspicion of both master and crew.
"The captain seems to have had a
nasty cut across the cheek" I remarked.
whereupon my two companions again eX.