Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-11

er ounce of the stuff on the ship except
the three specimens first discovered.
These, water soaked and useless. were
locked In a drawer In the chart house.
While scrutinizing the bunker Courte-
nay found a griIny piece of paper.
crushed into a ball and amalgamated
with coal dust by means OF the glue or
other substance which had been used
for making the bombs intended for the
destruction Of the furnaces. He ex-
amined it carefully, believing it had
the appearance and texture of car
fridge paper. He placed it in his pocket
and, while changing his clothes before
Joining the others at supper. came on
1t again with certain surprise. He
| plunged it into a basin Of hot water,
and 1t yielded it's secret. 1t was the
outer wrapper of a stick of dynamite.
1t bore the circular stamp Of the manu-
facturerS, the Sociedad Anonyma de
las Costas del Pacifico. This in itself
meant nothing. The same company
probably supplied hundreds of mines
| with the five pound boxes In which
dynamite is packed. and if the stamp
We're the only clew none could possibly
say when or where it had been issued
| for use.
But miners are apt to be careless.
Men accustomed to dynamite will ham
!, die 1t with an astounding disregard for
| danger, and here was a case in point.
Some Spanish overseer. evidently at a
loss for a memorandum tablet. had
| scrubbed hieroglyphics with an indeli-
BILE pencil on this particular wrapper.
1t was clear that the figures and alb
breviated words referred to the de-
velopment of cross heading and the
] position of certain lodes. but Courte-
nay was quick TO see that the official
who made those notes would recognize
them; hence the mine or store from
which the package had been stolen or
| bought could be identified. Such evil
dence was of highly circumstantial
value. Courtenay put the wrapper in
the same drawer as the cartridges, en-
| tered in the log the time and manner
of its discovery and forthwith dismiss
ed it from his mind.
1t was almost dark when he went on
ucCh. uc Nilu WAS hStu anu
1t whistled through the broken win
dowS of the wheelhouse and seemed to
have in 1t q promise of bad weather.
But glance aloft and at the sky be-
yond the southern headland = Point
| Kansas, as it was called on board-re-
assured him. The far flung are over
head was cloudless. The stars of the
southern hemisphere, vivid and bright,
| though less familiar than those of the
north, We're reflected in the black wa
ter. The ship was SO still. the sur
roundinGs so peaceful, save for the
plash of tiny waves created by the
| breeze, that he was almost startled
when a soft voice came from the low
er deck:
| where in the world have you been.
Captain Courtenay? Joey is fretting
| for you, and | have carried him all
over the ship in vain search
His heart jumped with gladness. Ell
Gle was awaiting him at the foot of the
companion. Be sure he was by her
side without needless delay. The dog
wriggled in her arms, so she said:
Il don't think he ought to run about.
His dear little paw is rather badly cut,
and there may be more broken glass
Oh the deck"
Il hope not, for our Chileans' sake
laughed Courtenay. Il heard Mr.. Boyle
telling them to sweep it up, and they
were hard at work when went to my
cabin"
"Oh, is that where you hid yourself
No wonder I could not find you. OF
course Joey knew where you were
How stupid of mep'
please don't call yourself names,
Elsie. You don't deserve them. And
by the way, may address you by your
Christian name? 1t slipped out today
unawares. Not that l feel like apollo
giving, because / don't. There are
times when the heart speaks, not the
guarded tongue"
Luckily the darkness covered the hot
blush which leaped to her cheeks. She
lgaye nervous little laugh and strove
desperately to parry this wholly un
lexpected assault.
Il shall be delighted if you always
Call lie IiSie. IL SOulluS lIieuuiyp iul
! think our circumstances warrant &
true friendship"
Excellent! / suppose you know thai
my name is Arthur"
Eyes. but l had no notion of thai
sort of exchange. You are the captain
and very serious sort of captain a
times. feel like little girl wher
you look at me and tell me not to bt
naughty, so Elsie sounds all right
but simply dare not call you Arthur.
Just imagine what q sensation i
would create in the salon. should
feel creepy all over. And hadn't W.
better be-
Elsie said he, with tender nott
In his voice which thrilled her like &
chord of exquisite music. II want Il
tell you something. The knowledge /.
forced on me that there is another mar
ON this ship who wishes to make yor
his wife, but /, too, love you. and / SEE
no reason why should stand aside fol
any man on Gods earth until you tel
me with your own lips that you prefe
him to me-
Il