The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-10-17
CHAPTER Viii.
On the Trail.

1
ceived by a Eurasian in a lrock
coat and no shoes, who assigned
him to a vast bedroom. cool and
darkened and almost large enough
to play tennis in. He at once took
a delicious dip in the bathroom,
then changed his clothes and went
down stairs, determined to lose no
time in visiting the United States
consulate.
The mate of the Clara McClay,
as the only surviving officer, was
required to report the circum-
stances of the loss of his ship to
the American consul; and self
interest, as much as law, should
equally have impeled to do so.
The gridiron shield with the
eagle looked homelike to Elliott
when he set eyes on it, but he
found the official representative Of
the United States to be a brass
colored Eurasian, who seemed to
have some recollection Of the Clara
McClay or her mate, but was either
unable or unwilling to fmpart any
information.
He was the consular secretary;
| the consul was out at the moment,
but he returned just as Elliott was
turning away in disappointment.
He was a rubicund gentleman of
middle age, from Ohio, as Elliott
presently learned, and proud of the
fact. To Elliott's unbounded
amazement he was accompanied by
his own steamer acquaintance, the
ALBANIAN, Sewer.
Elliott nodded to Sewer, trying
to conceal his CONSERVATION, and
was for going away Immediately,
! but the secretary was, after all,
only too anxious to give assistance
Be pleased to wait moment,
sir. his is the consul. Mr.. Gulger,
this gentleman is asking If we
know anything of the position OF
the mate of the wrecked American
steamer called the Clara McClay."
His position? By Jupiter, l wish
| knew it," calculated the consul,
mopping his face, but showing
more than physical warmth. This
other gentleman here has just been
asking me the same thing, and I've
| had a dozen wires from the owners
in Philadelphia.
Elliott was thunderstruck at this
| revelation of Sewers interest in
| the matter, but it was too late to
| draw back.
Il was asked to make inquiries
by relatives of one of the crew." he
said mendaciously. Has the mate
| showed up here at all!'
Showed up? OF course he did
He had to, by Jupiter! But it was
his business to keep in touch with
me till the case was gone into and
settled He gave me an address on
Malabar hill-too swell a locality
| for a sailorman, thinks land, sure
enough, when | sent there for him
they had never heard of him. I've
not set eyes on him since. He'll
lose his ticket, that's all"
What sort Of report did he
make?'
"Why, nothing. Said the ship
was rotten and her cargo shifted
in 9 gale and some of her rivets
must have drawn and she founder
ed. Every one went down but him
sef-all drunk, suppose. But he
didn't even make a sworn state
ment. Said he'd come back next
day, and was In a hurry myself
and I let him go, like a fool"
"You don't know whether he's
still in the city,"
Il don't know anything. I've set
the police to look for him, but these
black and tan cOppers don't amount
to anything. He may be half way
to Australia by this time. Like as
not he is"
where did he say his ship
foundered?" asked Sewer, speaking
for Inc first time.
Somewhere in the Mozambique
channel, in deep water. He didn't
know exactly. Along about latitude
IL south, he said. Went down like
a lump Of lead"
Elliott thought of her weighty
cargo and, glancing up, he met Sc
vier's eye fixed keenly on him.
well, IL the man can't be found,
I suppose that's the end of it," he
said. carelessly, and turned away
again.
Sorry can't help you, gentle
men," responded the consul. IF
get any news III let you know"
Sewer followed Elliott out to the
street. where the ricksha was still
| waiting.
rs that your perambulator? in
CURED the Alabaman. Lets walk
a little. The streets aren't so
crowded here"
| Its undignified for white man
to walk in this country, but III
make my richsha man follow me,
said Elliott.
| Were you ever at a New Or
leans mardi gras? Hanged If this
town doesn't remind me of it," Sc
vier suddenly broke silence. "By
the way, didn't know that you
were interested in the Clara Nc
Clay"
I'm not" said Elliott, on the
defensive. 81 was simply making
inquiries on behalf of other people
| You seem to have more interest
than that in her yourself"
/ "Oh, my interest is a purely bus
mess one" replied Sewer, lightly