Evening star., 1907-11-17

| have fdr-Teaching consequences in fight
against the bull clique in Paris, and that
is why Mr.. Barring made this heavy ship
ment."
Those consequences could be foreseer
and discounted" put In Tollemache, dryly
Exactly. But by whom? By the man
who sent his only daughter as a passen'
ger on this vessel?"
Tollemache, though disavowing any
thought of Mr.. Barring as party to the
scheme, stuck to his guns.
! Somebody will make a pile when the
Kansas is reported missing" he said.
THE insurance money would not be
paid for a long time" Courtenay ex-
planned.
NO, but the copper market will re-
spond instantly"
Then the process has commenced al
ready. The Kansas should have been re-
ported yesterday from Sandy Point. The
news that she has not arrived will soon
| reach the nearest cable station. There
| will be terrific excitement at LloydS when
| that becomes known"
| 1T is distinctly odd that Suarez should
| turn up last night and tell us how gold
slipped through his fingers five years ago.
| Let us hope the parallel will hold good
! for the gentleman who so amiably en-
deavored to send the Kansas to the bot
tom o. the Pacific" said Christobal.
1T is rather a rotten trick" broke in
| Tollemache. Just a bit Of Spanish
| roguery- Well, I'm sorry, Christobal
but I can't regard you as quite a Span
! lard you see.
| Nevertheless, I am one" and the doc
| tor stiffened visibly.
What Tollemache means Is that he
would expect you to take the Englis.l and
| straightforward view of a piece of rascal
/ ity, doctor" Then Courtenay paused in
| his turn. by the way he continued
| with the frowning dubiety of one whose
| thoughts outstrip his words. does any
| one here know a man named Ventana?'
| 1T is name common enough in Chile.
| said Christobal.
IF you mean Senior Pedro Ventana
! who is associated with Mr.. Barring in
mining matters, L am acquainted with
| him, said Elsie. The men seemed to
| have forgotten her presence. They were
wrapped up in the remarkable discovery
which Courtenay himself had made by
| diligent search among the coal ready for
use In the furnaces when the explosion
took place.
For no reason IN particular. save the
unexpectedness of it, Elsie's statement
was received with surprise. They all
| looked at her, and some of them won
dered, perhaps, why her smiling eyes had
lost their mirth. Yet there was nothing
unreasonable in the mere fact that a GER
tain Chilean named Ventana, who had
business relations with Mr.. Barring, should
make the acquaintance of ISobal Baring's
riend. AS quickly as it had arisen, the
feeling of strangeness passed.
Courtenay even laughed Elsie as the
Jonah of the ship was quaint conceit.
4 mentioned Ventana because l was
told he took some part Of the insurance
on his own account" he explained. But
he was member of Barings copper syn
dicate, and, indeed, was spoken of as
mining engineer Of high repute. Bell we
me. 1 was not jumping to conclusions on
that account
II know him to be very bad man."
said Elsie, slowly. Her face was white
and her eyes downcast. 1t was evident
that the sudden introduction of Ventanas S
personality was distressing to her, but
Courtenay, preoccupied with the dastardly
attempt made to sink his ship, did not
observe this feature Of a peculiar discus
sion.
Bad! In what sense, Miss MAXWELL"
he asked, unguardedly.
In the most loathSome sense. He is
evil-mtnded, vicious. altogether detest-
able. II Mr.. Barring knew his character
as l know 1t, Ventana would not be al
lowed to enter his Office
Pedro Ventana?' interrupted Christie
bal. us he a half-easte, a tall, brown
skinned man, who affects an American
drawl when he speaks English--a man
prominent in Santiago society and in min
Ing circles generality"
Yes" said Elsie.
THAT is odd, exceedingly So I once
heard a rumor-but perhaps 1t is unfair
to mention 1t in this connection. Yet it
cannot hurt any one l. l state that Isobel
Barring and he were-well-how shall l
put 1t?-at any rate, there was a lively
summer-hotel sort of attachment between
them"
"Isobel has never told me that" said
Elsie, nervfnS herself for personal dis
closure which was obviously disagreeable
i own small ranch near Quillota and
as there was a chance of copper being To-
Gated there, Mr.. Barring advised me to
employ Ventana as an expert prospector
Indeed. Mr.. Barring himself sent Ventana
10 examine the property and report on it.
were no minerals of value on nv land
but l could never free myself from him
afterward. Indeed, am running away
from him now"
She uttered the concluding words with
a genuine indignation. which forthwith
evaporated in its unconscious humor
Everybody laughed, even the girl her
self, and Boyle grunted:
Huh, shows the beggars good taste,
anyhow"
Courtenay, perhaps. thought that If he
encountered Ventaua again he would
take the opportunity TO reason with him
IN the approved manner of the high seas
ANA, as there was no need to prolong a
topic which caused Elsie any sort o. en-
barrassment, lie hastened to say:
Il have brought names into the dis
cusslon largely to show what a doubtful
neld Is opened once we begin to suspect
"A1A+oUt icdi CdtSE- Inc only witness of
any value we have on board is Frascuelo,
and his evidence merely goes to prove a
secret design to interfere with, or control
the trimming of the bunker That par
| ticular hatch must be sealed, and the
specimens we have secured put away
under lock and key. 1 feel assured that
| the remainder OF our coal is above sus-
plcion. We can carry the inquiry no
fuTther While we remain here. Now, Mr..
Walker, you have something of a more
cheering nature TO communicate, | think"
The engineer grinned geniaUy.
Il don't wish to bind myself to day
or so. Miss Maxwell and gentlemen" he
sad, but I've had a good look at the
damage, an / feel pwitty shu-aw I'll get
up steam in one boil-aw within ten days
| or a fawtnight. It'll be a makeshift Job
AT the best. because I have so few spa-aw
| nttlns, an no chance of maxim a castin',
| but III bet d ye'aws scwew the Kansas
soon attaw New Ye-aW day
| New Year day, What a lump in the
throat the words brought. In three days
| IT would be Christmas, in seven more the
New Year! Though, rom the beginning
| or the voyage, they were prepared to pass
| both festivals at sea, there was all the
! difference in the world between a steady
| progress toward home and friends and
| the present plight of the Kansas Death.
| too, had thrown its shadow over them.
| Some there were to whom the passing of
! the years would mean no more in this
! world. Others. the great majority of the
ships company, were probably hidden by
! the same eternal silence: the last sight
| boats rushing into a chaos of angry seas
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