Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-02


end Of January will have far reaching |
consequences in fight against the bull |
clique In Paris. and that is why Mr..
Barring made this heavy shipment"
'sThose consequences could be FORE
seen and discounted" put in Tolle-
mache dryly.
Exactly. But by whom--by the
! man who sent his only daughter as a
, passenger on this vessel?''
Every one secuted that notion. But
Toilemache, though disavowing any
thought of Mr.. Barring as a party to
the scheme. stuck to his guns.
Somebody will make a pile when
the Kansas is reported missing" hesI
said.
"The insurance money will not be
paid for long time." Courtenay ex-
planned.
! mo. but the copper market win re-
| spond instantly"
/ "Then the process has commenced
already. The Kansas should have been
| reported yesterday from Sandy Point.
The news that she has not arrived will
! soon reach the nearest cable station.
There Will be terrific excitement at
Lloyd's when that becomes known.
] By the way, does any one here know
| q man named Ventana?'
ut Is a name common enough in
Chile" said Christobal.
/ "If you mean Senior Pedro Ventana,
who is associated with Mr.. Barring in
mining matters. am acquainted with
him." said Elsie.
They all looked at her, and some of
them wondered perhaps why her smil-
ing eyes had lost their mirth. Yet
there was nothing unreasonable in the
mere fact that certain Chilean nam
ed Ventana, who had business rela-
tons with Mr.. Barring. should make
the acquaintance of Isobel Barings
friend. AS quickly as it had arisen
the feeling of strangeness passed. =
! Courtenay even laughed. Elsie as
the Jonah Of the ship was quaint
conceik
81 mentioned Ventana because was
told he took some part of the insur-
ance on his own account" he explain
ed. "But he was member of Baring's
copper syndicate and indeed was spo-
ken Of as mining engineer of high
repute. Believe me, was not jump
ing 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 evil
dent that the sudden Introduction of
: ventana's personality was distressing
to her, but Courtenay, preoccupied
with the dastardly attempt made to
sink his ship. did not observe this fea-
: ture of peculiar discussion.
bad! In what sense, Miss Max
, well?" he asked unguardedly.
'Tn the most loathsome sense. He is
evil minded, vicious. altogether detesta-
BILE. Ii Mr.. Barring knew his charac-
ter as I know 1t, Ventana would not be
allowed to enter his Office" -ft ~
Pedro Yentana?" interrupted Chris
tobal SIS he half caste, tall. brown
skinned man, who affects an American
drawl when he speaks English-7a man
! prominent in Santiago society and in
? mining circles generallyT' - -.,s5.Fx
YES" said Elsie. ----,~-------7-
'That is odd. exceedingly So once
heard a rumor-but perhaps it is un-
I fair to mention It in this connection
Yet 1t cannot hurt any one II l state
that isobel Barring and he werewolf
how shall / put it Pat any rate, there
was lively summer hotel sort of at
tachment between Them"
"Isobel has never told me that" said
Elsie. nerving herself for a personal
disclosure which was obviously dis
agreeable. II own a small ranch neal
Quillota. and as there was u chance oil
: copper being located there Mr.. Barring
advised me to employ ventana as nj
expert prospector. Indeed. Mr.. Barring
himself sent ventana to examine the
I property and report on it. He came to
see me. He told me there were nc
minerals of value on my land, but
3 could never free myself from him aft
I erward. In fact, l am running away
: from him now"
She uttered the concluding words
with genuine indignation which
: forthwith evaporated in its uncon
: scious humor. Everybody laughed
, even the girl herself. and Boyle grunt
: ed:
huu-cuOWS tuc utSSdT SOOu tstot'
!. anyhow"
Courtenay perhaps thought that if hi
= encountered Ventana again he would
: take the opportunity to reason will
!, him in the approved manner of the
high seas. And as there was no neet
to prolong topic which caused Elsie
any sort of embarrassment he hasten
= ed to say:
: 81 have brought names into the dis
: cussion largely to show what doubt
!. full field is opened once we begin t.
suspect without real cause The only
witness of any value we have on board
is Frascuelo. and his evidence merely
goes to prove secret design to inter
. fere with or control the trimming Of
the bunker. That particular hatcl
must be sealed and the specimens W,
have secured put away under lock ant
key. feel assured that the remainde
Of our coal IS above suspicion. W,
can carry the inquiry no further whil'
= we remain here Now Mr. Walker