Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-05-23


ed with exposure to sun and storm,
and, although he appeared to be little
more than thirty years of sSo, his
closely cropped hair was white. His
eyes were light blue, and if ever the
expression Of a mans countenance be-
tokened stalwart honesty it was the
face Of this sailor. He was not in the
beast Dorothy's idea Of a dangerous
plotter
"Sit down. she said, and he did SO
like a man i'll at ease.
II suppose Johnson is not your real
name" she began.
1T is the name | bear in America,
madam
DO you mind my asking you some
questionsY'
mo- madam, but if you ask me any
thing | am not allowed to answer |
shall not reply"
Glow long have you been in the
United States n
aOnIy a few months, madam"
"How come you to speak English so
well9''
TN my young days shipped aboard
bark plying between Helsingfors and
New York
You are Russianf"
IT am Finlander, madam"
"Have you been sailor all your
lifeYs
eyes. madam. For a time was an
unimportant officer on board a battle
-t.s..- =, 49, n,4ec;a,, ,,avv until WAC
discovered to be nihilist, when was
cast into prison. | escaped last May
and came to New York"
What have you been doing since you
arrived hereY'
81 was so fortunate as to become
mate on the turbine yacht the Walrus,
owned by Mr. Stockwell.'
"Oh, that's the multimilIionairew whose
bank failed q month ago."
'sY es. madam
s'But does he still keep a yacntFv
s.No, madam. / think he has never
been aboard this one, although it is
probably the most expensive boat in
these waters. / am told 1t cost any
where from half million to million.
She was built by Thornycroft like a
cruiser, with Parsons turbine engines
In her After the failure captain and
crew We're discharged, and | am on
board as sort of Waterman until she
Is sold but there is not large market
for boat like the Walrus, and / am.
told they will take the fittings out of
her and sell her as a cruiser to one of
the South American republics"
well. Mr. johnson, you ought to be
reliable man if the court has put
you In charge of so valuable a prop
erty.'
4 believe am considered honest,
madam
"Then why do you come to me ask
Ing $4,000 for letter. which you say
was written to me and which naturally
belongs to me?"
The mans face deepened into a ma
hogany brown, and he shifted his cap
uneasily in his hands.
Madam am not acting for myself.
am secretary of the Russian Liberia
fion society. They, through their
branch at st. Petersburg, have con-
Quoted some Investigations on your be-
half
"Yes. for which paid them very
we'll"
johnson bowed.
"Our object, madam, is the repres-
sion of tyranny. For that we are in
continual need of money. 1t is the
poor and not the millionaiFes who sub
scribe to our fund. It has been dis
covered that you are rich woman,
who will never miss the money asked
and so the demand was made. Believe
me- madam, / am acting by the COM
mand Of my comrades tried to per-
suade them to leave compensation to
your own generosity, but they refused.
IL you consider their demand unrea-
sonable, you have but to say SO, and I
will return and tell them your deci-
sion.''
s'Have you brought the letter with
your.
Yes. madam
Have you read it7v
Yes, madam
eDo you think it worth $40 ,000?"
The sailor looked up at the decorated
ceiling for several moments before he
replied.
THAT is a question I cannot an
sWer,v be said at last. 1T all depends
on what you think Of the writer"
Answer one more question. By
whom is the letter signed r.
sThere is no signature, madam. It
was found LII the house where the two
young men lived. Our people searched
the house from top to bottom surrepti-
tiously, and they think the writer was
arrested before be had finished the let
ter. There is no address and nothing
to show for whom 1t Is intended ex-
cept the phrase beginning Ny dearest
Dorothy.
The girl leaned back IN her chair
and drew long breath. 1T is not for
- j. -, eas1 fnsfi1v Than bending