The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-05-28

4 B0lO.
'~The insurance money Will not be
paid for a long time" Courtenay ex-
planned.
"No. but the copper market will re-
spond instantly"
"Then the process has commenced
already. The Kansas should have been
reported yesterday from Sandy Point
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
a man named Ventana"
"It is a name common enough IN
Chile" said Christobal.
"If you mean Senor 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-
tions with Mr. Barring. should make
the acquaintance Of Isobel Barring s
friend. AS quickly as it had arisen
the feeling of strangeness passed.
Courtenay even laughed. Elsie as
the Jonah Of the ship was a quaint
conceit
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 a mining engineer Of high
repute Believe me, was not jump
ing to conclusions on that account"
| 81 know him to be a 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.
I'm the most loathsome sense. He is
evil minded, vicious, altogether detesta-
BILE. If Mr.. Barring knew his charac-
ter as l know it, Ventana would not be
allowed to enter his Office"
Pedro Ventana" interrupted Chris
tobal. "Is he half caste, tall. brown
skinned man, who affects an American
drawl when he speaks English-a man
prominent in Santiago society and In
| oircloc oonorollvo,s
"Yes," said Elsie.
THAT is odd, exceedingly so. l once
heard a rumor-but perhaps it is un-
| fair to mention it in this connection.
Yet it cannot hurt any one If state
that Isobel Barring and he were-well.
how shall put it?-at any rate, there
was lively summer hotel sort Of at
tachment between them"
"Isobel has never told me that" said
Elsie, nerving herself for personal
disclosure which was obviously dis
agreeable. II own small ranch near
Quillota, and as there was chance Of
copper being located there Mr.. Barring
advised me to employ Ventana as an
expert prospector. Indeed, Mr.. Barring
! himself sent Ventana to examine the
property and report on it. He came to
see me. He told me there were no
minerals of value on my land, but ]
could never free myself from him aft
erward. In fact l am running away
from him now"
She uttered the concluding words
with a genuine indignation which
forthwith evaporated in its uncon-
scious humor. Everybody laughed.
| even the girl herself, and Boyle grunt-
ed:
"Huh.-shows the beggars good taste
anyhow"
Courtenay perhaps thought that if he
encountered Ventana again he would
take the opportunity to reason with
him In the approved manner of the
high seas. And as there was no need
to prolong a topic which caused Elsie
any sort Of embarrassment he hasten
ed to say:
II have brought names into the dis
cussion largely to show what doubt
full field is opened once we begin to
suspect without real cause. The only
witness Of any value we have on board
is Frascuelo, and his evidence merely
/ goes to prove a secret design to inter
fere with or control the trimming of
|! the bunker. That particular hatch
must be sealed and the specimens we
have secured put away under lock and
key. feel assured that the remainder
of our coal is above suspicion. We
can carry the inquiry no further while
we remain here. Now, Mr.. Walker,
you have something Of more cheer
ing nature to communicate, think"
The engineer grinned genially.
"I don't wish to bind myself to a
day or so. Miss Maxwell and gentle
men," he said, "but I've had good
look at the damage. an feel pwitty
shu-aw I'll get up steam in one boil-aw
within ten days or fawtnight It'll
be a makeshift job at the best, be-
cause have so few spa-aw fittin's an
no chance of maxim castin', but I'll
bet a ye'aw's pay the Kansas gets a
move on her undaw her own steam
soon aftaw New Ye-aw's day"
New Years day! What lump in
the throat the words brought! In three
days it would be Christmas, in seven
moro tho new voari Though from the