The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-02-16
THE IRON PIRATE
"A Plain Tale of Strange
Happenings on the Sea
By MAX PEMBERTON

| with a man worth million, the captain
of band Of cut-throats, who stood at
no foul work, no crime, as Martin Halls
death clearly proved? Ny heart ached
at the thought felt the sweat dropping
off me; stood without thought of any
man the one word watched" singing In
my ears like the surging of a great sea.
And l had forgotten Roderick until he
burst into my room, a great laugh on his
lips. and telegram in his hand.
what do you think 2" he said; "Mary's
arrived all right"
"Oh. that's good; 1 hope she'll like
Salisbury"
Eyes, but she isn't at Salisbury at all;
she's at Plymouth, on board the Celsis.
She went straight down there, and never
as much Us sent her aunt q telegram.
You don't seem pleased"
I'm not pleased" I said. going on
with my packing. II don't think she
ought to be there"
81 know that we've talked 1t all over,
but when I think of it, don't see where
the harm comes in we can't meet mis-
chief crossing the Atlantic, and when the
danger does begin in New York I'll see
she's well on the lee-side Of It."
1t was full day when we reached the
yacht, and did not fail to cast a quick
glance Of admiration on her beautiful
lines and perfect shape as l clambered up
the ladder, at the top Of which stood Cap
tain York.
welcome aboard" he said, giving us
hearty hand shakes and without further
inspection at that hour we followed him
to the cabin, where steaming coffee
brought the blood to our hands and feet
and put us In better mood.
} $50 my sisters here" said Roderick.
Eyes, last night, no ORDERS" jerked the
skipper with his usual brevity.
"Ah, we must see to that-and the sec
ond officer"
"Still ashore; he left a bit of writing !;
} he'll be aboard midday!'
He had the writing In his hand, and
was about to crumple 1t, but I caught
sight of 1t, and snatched it from him. 1t
was in the same handwriting as the letter
which Captain Black had sent to me at
the Hotel Scribe in Paris.
} whats the matter?" said Roderick,
as he heard me exclaim but the skipper
l looked hard at me, and was much mys-
: tilted.
, he asked very slowly, as he leaned back in
I his chair, but l had already seen the
folly of my ejaculation, and replied:
| Nothing at all, although have seen
] that handwriting before somewhere; I
, could tell you where, perhaps, II
!, thought"
Roderick followed me to my berth and
p had the matter Of the handwriting out
d told him at once of the robbery of some
i of the papers, and the coincidence Of the
q letter which the second mate had left
with the skipper. He was quick -witted
u enough to see the danger; but he was
= quite reckless in the methods he proposed
to meet it.
I There's no two thoughts about this
I; matter at ALL" he said; we've evidently
= run right into a trap, but luckily there's
r time to get out again-of course we shall
n sail without second mater"
y After a six hours sleep went aft to
/ the quarterback to take stock Of the
I? yacht. had scarce made my inspection
n of our new ship when Mary burst uI
d from below and began her explanation
k standing with flushed cheeks, while the
/, wind played in her hair, and her eyes
). danced with the merriment Of it.
!. 'The question is." said l, when arr
t you going ashore again?"
t II don't know, but I guess I'll gel
s ashore at New York, because mean tc
h go to Niagara"
e She laughed saucily, throwing back he,
s head SO that her hair fell well about hel
e shoulders. turned round, hearing astep
and there stood our new second mate
n Francis Paolo. Our eyes met at onc<
e with long, searching gaze. but he die
: not finch. If he were a spy, he was nc
i poor actor, and he stood his ground with
out the movement of a muscle.
s I watched him walk forward, and fol
l. lowed him, listening as he directed the
men; and more seaman-like fellow
! have never seen. If he were an Italian
= he had left all accent Of speech in hi.
e own country, and he gave his order.
smartly and In q tone which demanded
i obedience.
As l watched him from the hurricane
deck, l heard a collier who had not ye
left the ship give him some impudence
: The new mate hit him such a terrifi,
|, blow on the head with q spyglass that tn,
l. fellow reeled through the open bulwark,
o right into his barge. which lay alongside
The men were hushed before a display o.
y temper like this /; the skipper on the bridg,
d flushed red with disapproval, but sait
e nothing.
y The order Hands heaye anchor ~ wa,
q sung out moment after, and as Roderici
o Joined me aft, the new Celsis steamed
y away from Plymouth and the episode wa.
: forgotten. And in that hour the great
d pursuit began.
j CHAPTER VIII.
), 1t was Paolo's watch. night foI
d dreamy Thoughts of home of kinsfoil n