Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-08

T..
PERHAPS So" said the other, drily. ANY
way we must give him the benefit OF the
doubt, | suppose; but for all that, he bear
watching" And, beginning to whistle a GU
rous medley of his favorite melodies the COLI
vcrsation closed for the time :.
Yet, as the voyage progressed, Mr. Cariine
saw nothing in the general behavior OF Slur'
ray or the Spaniard to cause any particular
apprehension. They were both obedient ana
respectful but for aA that he could not SNAKE
off a sort of presentiment that thelr preseoee
on board the Sprite was not Tor good :,
1t was midsummer when the Sprite reached
and rounded the Cape of Storms, and falr
wind having followed her for a week after,
taking ner safely across the Tropic OF Cap
ricorn, Jack rubbed his hands gleefuly to-
gether.
Good luck hasn't gone with us SO lar 10
leave lis in the lurch by and by, ne saiu'
exultantly; yet Mr.. Carline grimly told MN
that it was never sale to laugh tiii one ""9
fairly out OF the woods.
But the Sprite sped onward into the latl-
tude of steady winds and fine weather, and
one day Jack set his watch at work getting
up a range of chain for the starboard anchor,
which was to be put on the rail.
We're not far from land, l take it, sir, re-
marked Bob, with seeming carelessness, as
they set about their duty. ,,
IF luck favors US, replied Jack, In high
good humor, tomorrow we shall touch-so
Mr.. Carline says-at one OF the loveiiest Isl
ands in the South Pacific"
inhabited, sir?' again questioned Bob.
mo. | believe it is one of an unexplored
group of the Marquesas. He was wrecked
there or something of the kind, once, L be-
lieve, and says there is splendid anchorage
inside the reef, with fine chance to fill our
water casks and gather fruit, for we've got
about two thousand miles further to go after
that
Wen do the Job tonight" muttered Bob,
decisively, to his companion, as they went be-
low after the watch was changed.
Getting out his clothes bag, he began to
1ummage it for something which he did not
seem to find. >.
pered the Spaniard, who was furtively watch
Yes growled the other, "and I can't find
thing that will do. A woolen shirt is too
small, and a blanket too large"
"Why not take the shawl that once sees
in your clothes bag?' suggested his companion,
carelessly.
For, at the first of the voyage, in overhaul;
ing Bob's clothes bag for tobacco, the shaw
had dropped out of the leg of pair OF trous-
ers, where it had been hidden:
''You was gittin' high tone" Charley had
said, with laugh, as he picked it up and
handed it back to Bob, who, muttering some
thing, changed Une suDJecI lnlueulaIely.
But from that time forth the Spaniard de-
termined to steal his shipmates shawl, for he
remembered hearing about the fabulous prices
sometimes given for such things, and Spanish
Charley was noted among his shlpmates for
small populations, well as for sins of far
greater magnitude
Perhaps Bob did not believe in the adage
concerning "honor among thieves" for certain
it is that after Charley's discovery he found
a new hiding place for the shawl, which he
himself had never dared to offer for sale in
New York or Boston, but was waiting
until he took a voyage across the ocean. Span
ish Charley had two objects in view when hel
made the proposition concerning the "muftie,
as he called it.
One was to find where it was kept, the 9th
er to see if he could not find a chance to get
it into his own possession, and bring things
around in such a way as to have Bob think
it had been dropped overheard in the con-
Il thought of that" Bob said, hesitatingly,
in answer to his shipmate's suggestion; "but
| don't know Well, you'll have to take it,"
he suddenly exclaimed, with an effort. cts
the only fit thing in the forecastle"
And then, bringing forth the coveted prize,
he tossed it to the ,Spaniard, who, with an
exutant CLEAN of his black eyes, tucked
the rich fabric into the bosom OF his flannel
Bob have steal it from some ones" he
thought. "Now | steals it from him. if I has
good luck"
Nothing more. passed between them, for
their plans had been laid long before. They
had only waited a favorable chance for exc
cutting them. They were both armed with
revolvers Mickey, Dolph or the steward
had nothing of the kind. With Mr.. Carline
and Jack out of the way, they knew that
they would be practically masters of the little
vpSSal which thpV meant tn sell If nOauibla