The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-10-24
(Continued.)
CHAPTER XII

us left-the mate, three Beers wIO
had been passengers, and myself.
The sea was quieter then, and we
managed to get the last of the boats
overheard and to get clear.
THE mate had been severely in
jured about the head by falling
from the bridge when she struck,
and | felt sure that he could not
live unless we were picked up
soon.
ut was week before we were
picked up. won't tell you of it's
horrors. The water ran out, under
the sun Of the equator. The Beers
drank sea water in spite of every
thing | could say, and all three
went mad and threw themselves
overheard. l just managed to keep
alive and to keep the mate alive
by dipping myself frequently in the
sea and drenching his clothes with
the bailer. But he died about the
fourth day. He was conscious for
a few hours before ne died, and I
did what l could to prepare his
mind.
Il had to throw his body over
board. But l kept his oilskin
clothes and his uniform cap, think
ing they might be needful He had
nearly E100 in sovereigns in a belt,
also, which he told me to take, as
he had no relatives, and l took
them.
1T rained the night after he died
and that saved me. Two days later
was picked up by an Italian
steamer, called the Andrea
Sforzia."
Elliott emitted an ejaculation.
eyes, it was providential," went
on the missionary, patiently. "And
then | saw an opportunity of bury
ing my past. AS | was wearing the
mates uniform cap they took me
to be an officer of the wrecked ship.
They took me to Bombay, and they
made me go to the american con-
sui, but | escaped as soon as l
could, and concealed myself in the
city for couple of weeks. Then |
came on to Hongkong, where I
DO you know just where the
Clara McClay was wrecked" FL
lott demanded, trying to keep cool
in the face of this revelation.
mat is what that man asked
me. 1t must have been off the
northwest coast of Madagascar"
But don't you know the exact
spot?"
How could L? l was never out
of my cabin till the night she
struck"
Elliott burst into bitter and I'M
roar of laughter. This,
then, was the end of the trail he
had followed from the center of
the United States at such expense,
and with such high hopes. 1t end
ed in a man with whom he had I'M
suspectingly lived for a month, an
aged ex-missionary of infirm moral
habits.
That man who was here" re-
peated Lauri, plaintively, threat
ened me with disgrace-and arrest,
unless | would tell him where the
ship went down. He said he would
expose me to the mission board
and put the proofs of-of more than
that of other things, in the hands
Of my daughter. I deserve to be
punished. | can face even disgrace
for myself-but not for her-not
for my little girl"
"No. she mustn't hear of any
thing of the sort" said Elliott.
why did you tell everybody that
the ship went down in deep
water?" he asked.
The missionary started. How
did you know that I did? 1t was a
sudden temptation. 1t made no diff
ference to anyone, and it seemed
safer. You must remember the
state | was in, after a week in an
open boat without water"
"Well, don't worry" said Elliott.
"I'll see that Sewer doesn't trouble
you. | know him pretty well. Pm
going to dine with him tonight, in
fact, and I'll explain things to
him"
Elliott spent that afternoon in
anxious thought, and finally wrote
o long letter to Henninger, detail
ing his adventures on the man-hunt
that had ended in mares nest,
AS the letter might take over
month to reach Zanzibar. he
at the cable Office on his
way to the club and sent the fol-
lowing message:
Mate dead. taking secret with
him. Shall join you? Letter fol-
lows"
Sewer was waiting for him when
he arrived at the clubs massive
facade, and a table was already re-
served in the farthest corner of the
dining room.
They discussed the soup in ST.
lence and with the introduction of
a violently favored entree they
talked of the rain.
"The weather's no fit subject for
conversation in this country" Sc
vier broke off all at once. Look
here, Elliott, what do you know
about the Clara McClay"
"Nothing-except that she was
wreck"
But you know what her cargo
was?"
Yes, I do. DO you know where
that cargo is nOw?"