The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-02-02

however, was the confirmation Of that
which 1 had seen from the hills. The
ship, seemingly, was built OF the purest
gold. This, of course, l knew could not
be; but as the sun got up and his light
fell on the vessel, thought that l had
never seen a more glorious sight. She
shone with the refulgent beauty of a
thousand mirrors every foot Of her deck,
Of her turrets, of her upper house made
sheen Of dazzling fire; the points of her
deck lights were as beacons, all lurid and
a-gold. So marvellous, truly, was her as
pect, that 1 forgot all else but 1t, and
stood entranced, marvelling, forgetful Of
myself and purpose. The fash of knife
in the air brought me to my senses to
know that l was in the grasp of the man
Roaring john
A bad mishap befelf me. The best of
my disguise was the thick, bushy black
hair wore about my face. As the rufian
went to take frmer hold of my collar,
he pulled aside portion of my beard, and
left my chin clean shaven beneath as matt
urally it was. The intense surprise of
this discovery seemed to hit him like
blow. He stepped back with murderous
look in his eyes. But l cheated him,
and; turning on my heel, fed with all
the speed I possessed, and got into the
street with twenty ruffians at my heels;
and hue and cry such as l hope never
to hear again.
'The escape was clever. l reached my
hotel. 1 was sure that had cut off all
hope of returning to the yard and what
information l was to get must come by
other modes. The nature of these knew
not, but was determined to set out upon
visit to Signor Vezzia, who was the
builder to whom the docks wherein 1
worked belonged. To him / came as the
pretended agent of shipping firm in New
York, with whom l had some little &C
quaintance, and he gave me audience
readily. He was very willing to hear me
| when he learned that l was in quest of a
| builder to lay down steamers for the
| American trade with Italy; and some
| while we passed in great cordially, SO
ventured the other business.
by the by, Signor Vezzia, that's a
marvellous battfeship you have in your
second dock 1 have never seen anything
like her before
| l., II spoke the words, and read him as
one reads barometer. He shrank visibly
into his bulb, and the tone Of his CONVEX
sation marked a storm. heard him NUT
ter under his breath, and then the mer-
curry of his conversation mounted quickly.
| "'Yes, yes curious vessel, quite a
special thing; for a South American re-
public, an idea of .theirs-but you will
extend me the favor of your pardon, l am
| ~, ha
j spectacles off and on, and called 'Giovan-
nj, Giovanni to his head clerk, who made
business to be rid of me. / mounted to
my hill top again and spent the morning
looking down upon the golden ship which
was built for "a South American repub-
lie. That tale never believed, for the
mans face marked it lie as he gave il
to me. resolved in that hour to devote
myself heart and soul to the work of un.
travelling the slender threads, even if
lost my common employment in the bust
ness. The reverie held me long. 1 was
reused from it by the sight of dull va
i Dor mounting from the funnel of the
nameless ship. She was going to sal
then-at the next tide she might leav,
Spezia, and there would be no more hope
i l hurried to my hotel.
"Here was problem at this stage a.
It then appeared to me: Item (D, A shil
built of some metal had no knowledg
f Of Item (2), A ship that shone like
] rich sunset on a garden lake. Item 81
5 A ship that was armed to the full as
casual glance told me, with every kind O
t quick-6ring gun, and with two ten-inc
! guns in her turret. Item az, A rufian
a ly blackguard, to whom the cutting of
e throat seemed meat and drink, with te
t other rogues no less deserving, from
r murderous point of view, put to waite
about the ship that no strange eye Nigh
q look upon her. item (5), The confuso
t of Signor Vezzia, who made fine tai
e and said at the same time with his eye.
y This is lie, and bad one I'm sorry tina
e have nothing better ready Item Co.
8 Ny own adamantine conviction that
t stood near by some mystery, which wa
!, about to be big mystery, and whic
o would pay me to pursue. Instinct told m
t to go on in this work, If los. all othel
e II l starved, if l drowned, if l died q
r it. And to go on l meant
e ITO be continued.)