The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-06-04

meet the freak Of some Valparaiso loaf
er with the deep laid scheme which
contemplated the destruction Of the
Kansas. She had followed the discus
sion In the chart room with full appre-
citation Of its significance. Valuable
AZ the ship and cargo were, there was
far more at stake in the effect Of the
loss on the copper markets Of the
world. The most important copper ex-
| porting firm in Chile would practically
canvas. What do you say II I set to
work and cover in the promenade deck
| fore and aft as well as both sides? ?
Then II the Indians try to seize the
ship they would not be able to gain a
lodgment at SO many points stimuli
tense. so to speak"
Admirable! am sure Courtenay
will agree. Indeed, am ashamed that
we superior males failed to hit on the
| idea earlier. Before go let me he
"Would he be acquainted with this
man Anaclet0, do you Think"
"Can't say. Jose would know any
body whom he could touch for few
pesetas."
She left him, promising to visit him
daily in the future. AS she walked
back toward the bridge companion
she met DR.. Christobal. His fit of ill
humOr had gone. He was all smiles,
but Elsie, having extracted such in
formation as Frascuelo possessed, was
bent on adding to her store of knowl-
edge. Incidentally she meant to widen
the doctors views.
"Why have you taken to lecturing
met" she asked, with simple direct
ness which Christobal was not slow
to profit by.
Because, though old enough to be
years Of discretion"
"You mean, suppose, that If every
one attended to ones own affairs it
would be less spiteful world? ! am
inclined to agree with you. Unhappi-
ly life is largely made up Of these
minor evils. Yet should have thought
that the desperate conditions under
which we exist at this hour might pro-
tect me from uncharita bleness."
"You are pleased to be severe"
"No; it is the last privilege Of dan
ger that shams should vanish. Yet
we plumb the depths of absurdity
when we contest the right Of any wo-
man, even a young and unmarried one.
to appreciate all that brave man has
done and is doing to save her life."
Elsie was speaking without heat.
She might have been reasoning some
disputed point in ethics. The Span
lard was obviously thrown of his
guard. -s~-
'You seem to demand an explana-
tiop, he said, with some warmth
"Well, you shall have 1t. I am not
man to finch from the disagreeable.
admit sort of impression, might al
most describe it as conviction, that
Captain Courtenay's manner toward
you betokens a growing admiration"
This is the widest folly" cried
Elsie in bewilderment. IL cannot
imagine what put such notion into
your head"
LET me at least lay claim to spe
cies of altruism," he replied. 81 can
see fifty excellent reasons why our
young and good looking commander
should be drawn to you, nor can l urge
one against it."
'But be is already engaged to an
other woman, so my one reason is
worth more than all your fifty"
"Ah, can that really be soY'
The tense eagerness In his voice
might have warned her were 1t not
that she was shocked by the bitterness
which welled up in her heart. She
was amazed by this introspective
glimpse. 1t alarmed her. She must
convince herself at all costs that she
had spoken truly.
Although the evidence she rendered
was of dubious value, she strove to ad
vance her argument further.
Il have priced our friendship great
ly, DR.. Christobal," she said, speaking
with calm deliberateness that rang
hollow in her own ears, 80 greatly
that l am compelled to utter this pro-
test Now, to end a distasteful con-
troversy let me tell you what l know
to be true When the ship was strand
ed and we all thought our only chance
Of safety was to take to the boats. by
a fuke, the accident Of the moment. !
was left alone in the captains cabin
The sea was breaking in through the
doorway, and it brought an odd relief
to my overburdened mind when l en-
deavored to rescue the contents Of a
locker which for some reason had
been scattered on the floor previously
Among them I found some letters.
think you will believe me when I say
that would not consciously read an
other persons private correspondence.
Just then I was hardly responsible for
my actions, and did happen to see
and grasp the meaning Of passage in
letter from Captain Courtenay's SIS
ter which alluded to his aAianced
wife. 1t is not such tragic admission.
is it? would scarce have given it an
other thought were 1t not for your
manner this morning and your words
last night I paid no heed at the time