Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12

Il know, but Is any one else up
there"
mo"
Then we shall Join you at once"
Notwithstanding the serious demean-
or of the men, Elsie was far from
guessing what had happened. But she
was soon enlightened.
SIN which bunker was the coal placed
which we shipped at Valparaiso?
Courtenay asked Boyle.
I'm the forrard cross bunker" was
the instant answer.
And that was the first coal used in
the furnaces|
Yes, sir"
The captains tone was official, ex-
ceedingly so, and the chief officer took
the cue from his superior in rank.
Did we get up steam with it,"
There might have been hundred
weight or two lying loose in the stoke
hold, but for all practical purposes we
have used nothing but the Valparaiso
bunker since we left port"
THE rest of our coal was shipped at
Coronel?"
Yes, SIR
"You hear? 1t is exactly as l have
told you" said Courtenay, glancing at
the others. Il must explain to you,
Mr.. Boyle, that wished you to state
the facts in front of witnesses before
gave you my reasons for cross ex-
aiming you on the matter. Mr.. Wal
ker and l have been certain all along
that the furnaces were blown up will
fully. Now our suspicious are proved.
This morning. after careful scrutiny,
We came across number of Jumps of
coal cleverly constructed out of small
pieces glued together In the center Of
each lump was stick of dynamite,
protected by an asbestus wrapper. It
was undoubtedly the intent of some
miscreant that number of these
Jumps should be fed into the furnaces.
This actually occurred, as we know,
but by the mercy Of Providence the
ship did not experience the full power
of the explosion or she must have sunk
like stone"
Huh" grunted Boyle. "Who holds
the insurance."
"The shippers Of the cargo, of
course-Messrs. Barring, Thompson &
Miguel"
Worth a quarter of a million ster-
ling, amt it"
Yes"
"Huh--it's lot Of money"
There was a momentary silence.
Elsie's eyes grew larger. and she be-
came rather pale AS was her habit
when puzzled, she placed a finger on
her lips. Christobal noted her action.
Indeed, he missed few of her charac-
teristic habits or expressions. He
laughed quietly.
Il think you are quite right, Miss
Maxwell" he said. This is one of the
many instances in which silence is
golden"
Taken by surprise. she blushed and
cropped ner hand. But Courtenay said
promptly:
There are some instances in which
silence may be misinterpreted. Let
me state at once that the shippers of
the valuable cargo on board the Kan
sas will suffer serious financial re-
verse If the ship is lost. Two thou
sand tons of copper may be worth a
fixed sum, but the lack Of
the metal on the London market at the
end of January will have far reaching
in fight against the bull
clique in Paris, and that is why Mr..
Barring made this heavy shipment"
Those 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
though disavowlng 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" he
said.
THE insurance money will not be
paid for a long time" Courtenay ex-
planned.
mo. but the copper market will re-
spond instantly"
Then the process has commenced
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
T.loyd's when that becomes known.
By the way, does any one here know
q man named yentanaf"
at 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
here was nothing unreasonable in the
mere fact that a certain Chilean NAM
d Ventana. who had business rela- /
ions with Mr.. Barring. should make !
he acquaintance OF Isobel Baring's
friend. As quickly as it had arisen /
he feeling Of strangeness passed.
Courtenay even laughed. Elsie as
he Jonah Of the ship was a quaint
sonceit
Il mentioned ventana because was 1
10 gar.a nS fha