Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-16


stop them? OF course it is rnatterless
now IN a sense. but at that moment it
looked like leaving those on the ship
to certain DEATH"
Mrs. Spmerville was stricken dumb.
The Americans shooting of two men
on White Horse island had naturally /
called for complete explanation on
his part, and she did not know how to
answer Elsie's question. Before she
could gather her wits Isobel inter-
yened.
IF you had been in that boat, dear"
she said sweetly, you would realize
the topsy turvy condition of our brains.
Even Mr.. Gray himself, the coolest
man on board, imagined we might sink
any moment, so what can you expect
of those excitable Chileans? What are
the discoveries you spoke of"
"Well, some one placed dynamite
among the coal,'
"But who would do such a thingT
"That is hard to say. The captain
| believes that the culprit viii be found
out through the insurance policies.
You cannot tell how surprised l was
to hear him mention Ventana's name
In connection with it,
"Ventana's name!'
| The blood ebbed away from Isobefs
| cheeks, leaving her paHid as statue.
There was a gasp in her voice which
| startled her own ears. Lest her agita-
tion should be noted too keenly she
| bentsforward and propped her face on
L 1D nIs IC tn .ft,rr Ava ut
| the distant cliffs in supreme effort to
appear apathetic. Elsie heard that dry
| sob, but her friends seeming indiffer-
ence misled her.
| yes she said, wondering little
| whether or not Christobal's yelled hint
regarding a bygone tenderness between
| the two might account for Isobel's hys-
tericai .outburst on the night of the
| ships breakdown. SO, wondering un-
spoken thoughts the while, she told the
Others exactly what Tollemache, Chris
tobal and Courtenay had said and even
revealed to them that which Courtenay
himself did not yet know.
| you remember the poor fellow who
| got into trouble soon after we sailed
from Valparaiso?' she said. ''IIis name
is Frascuelo. He was wounded again
in last nights fight, but not seriously,
and he and I are quite chums. He as
sures me that he was drugged by a
| man named Jose Anacleto, who took
his place among the coal trfmmers"-
| "Oh, Miss Maxwell, come quick"
screamed Mrs. Somervilie, for Isobel
had lurched sideways out of her chair
in a fainting fit, and the missionary's
wife was barely able to save her head
| from striking the ships rails.
| Joey was shot out of Elsie's lap with
| such surprising speed that he trotted
away without any exhibition of lame
ness. He was quite Disguised for at
least five minutes, but it is reasonable
| to suppose that dog of his intelli-
gence would brighten. up when he
heard the wholly unlocked for story
which Christobal was translating to
Courtenay word for word as 1t was
dragged hesitatingly out of Suarez.
The Argentine miner had been badly
kinjured during the struggle for posses
sion of the promenade deck. Owing to
i loss of consciousness, supplemented by
an awkward fall, he might have chok-
ed to death had he not been rescued
1 within few minutes. He was very ill
all night, and it was not until midday
that he recovered sufficient strength to
enable him to question the Indians on
board.
Courtenay wished specially to find
out what chance, IL any, there was of
the Alaculof attack being renewed.
i 1t was obvious that some of the
MANNED Indians recognized Suarez,
Notwithstanding his changed appear
ance, the instant he spoke to them. At
} once they broke out into an excited
chattering, and Suarez was so discon-
certed by the tidings they conveyed
that he stammered good deal and
, seemed to founder in giving the Span
! ish rendering.
This fellow is telling us just as
much as he thinks it is good for us to
know" said Courtenay sternIy when
the interpreter avoided his accusing
gaze. IBID him out with the whole
truth, Christobal, or it shall be Ibis
pleasing task to escort his dear friends
\ back to their family circles"
Being detected, Suarez faltered nc
longer. A ships lifeboat had beer
driven ashore lower down the coast
Fourteen men had landed. They were
captured by the Indians after useless
resistance in which three were killed
The dead men supplied ghoulist
feast next day, and the others were
bound securely and placed in cave
in order to be killed at intervals, ar
exact parallel to the fate of Suarez's
own companions five years earlier.
But on this occasion woman inter
vened. Suarez confessed very reluc
family that there was girl in The
tribe to whom he had taught some
words of his own language. Ht
declared that the relations between
them were those Of master and serv
ant, but the poor creature had faller
In love with him and had become near
ly frantic with grief when he disap
peared. 1t was difficult to anaIyze hel
motives, but she had undoubtedly freet
the eleven sailors and led them Owe
i Tho az Ioxxy xxyofav ~, ~, ~, ~