The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-06-16


Bardon, the Paris millionaire, close to
Arcachon."
EYES," l said, for they were all rob
berries of which l had read in the news
papers couple of years before.
"Well," she said, "they were all com
mitted by Archer or Woodroife and his
gang-with accomplices ashore, of course
and never once did it seem that any
suspicion fell upon us. While the po-
lice were frantically searching hither
and thither, we used to weigh anchor
and calmly steam away with our booty
on board. We had with us an old Dutch
lapidary, and one of the cabins was fitted
as a workshop, where he altered the APP
pearance of the stones, and prepared
them ready for sale, while the gold was
melted in crucible and put ashore to
be sent to agents in Hamburg"
"But that night in Leghorn" / said.
"What happened to poor Elmaf 2"
81 do not know" was Muriers reply.
eve were both on board together, and
standing at the crack of the door
watched you sitting at dinner that even
ing. Elma told me that she believed
that there was a plot against your life,
but why she would not tell me. She evil
IDENTIFY knew of the proposed riiing of
the safe at the Consulate. Oberg him
self was also on board, locked in his own
cabin. Elma must have overheard some
conversation between the Baron and one
of the others, for she was in great fear
the whole time lest they might injurc
you. Yet it seemed, after ALL as though
their idea was the same rs always, to
worm themselves into your confidence.
The instant, however, you went ashore,
Chatter, Woodroffe-whom you called
Hornby-and Macintosh, the captain
who, by the way, was an old ticket-of-
leave man-went ashore, and of course.
broke into the Consulate. Then, as soon
as they returned, Elma came to my
cabin, awoke me, and said that the Baron
was taking her ashore, and that they
were to travel overland back to London.
She was ready dressed to 60, therefore |
kissed her, and promising to meet her
soon, we parted. That was the last ]
saw of her. What happened to her
afterwards only she alone can tell u.s."
"But she is not the Baron's nicccH' !
said.
"No. There is some mystery" de-
clarcd Muriel. "She holds some secret
which he fears she may divulgc. But Of
what nature, am in ignorance"
"Then you say that your father has
never taken any active part in the rob-
beries?" I remarked.
"No. He commenced by lending
money, and amassed q considerable for
tune. Then avaricc seized him. as It
does so many men, and coming into con
tact with Archer and his friends, he saw
that the idea of the yacht was safe
and profitable one. Therefore he pur.
chased the vessel, and ran it Mt the dis
position of the thieves, and subsequently
under compulsion in the secret service
Of Russia, as / have already described to
You. The profits were colossal In one
year my fathers share was eighty thou
sand pounds"
"And where is your father nowY" ]
asked.
"Ah!" she exclaimed sadly, her face
pale and haggard.
81 have heard that the vessel was scut.
tied somewhere in the Baltic"
"That is true. Oberg's purpose hav-
ing been served, he demanded half of the
property on board. or he would give no.
tice to the Russian naval authorities
that the pirate yacht was anoat. He
attempted to blackmail my father, as he
had already done so many times. but his
scheme was frustrated. My father, be-
cause of his inhuman treatment of poor
Elma, defed him, when it appears that
Oberg, who was in FIelsingfors, telc-
graphed to the admiral of the Russian
fleet in the Baltic. The crew from the
Iris were Mt once landed mt Riga, and
only Macintosh and my father put to
sea again. Ali my father was desper-
ate, for he knew the merciless character
of that man whose victim he mad been