Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12


Yet 1t cannot hurt any one If l state
| that Isobel Barring and he werewolf
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. Il own a 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. MIR. Barring
| himself sent Nentana 10 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 genuine indignation which
| forthwith eyaporated in its uncon-
scious humor. Everybody laughed,
even the girl herself, and Boyle grunt-
| ed:
"Huh-shows the beggar's 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 topic which caused Elsie
any sort of embarrassment he hasten
ed to say:
Il 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 a more cheer
ing nature to communicate, think"
The engineer grinned genially.
81 don't wish to bind myself to a
day or so. Miss Maxwell and gentle
men," he said, "but I've had a good
look at the damage, an I feel pwitty
shu-aw I'll get up steam in one boil-aw
within ten days or a fawtnight. It'll
be a makeshift job at the best, be-
cause have so few spa-aw fittin's an
no chance Of maxim a castin', but II
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 a lump in
the throat the words brought! In three
days 1t would be Christmas, in seven
more the new year! Though from the
beginning Of the voyage they were pre-
pared to pass both festivals at sea,
there was all the difference in the
world between a steady progress to-
ward home and friends and the pres
ent plight Of the Kansas. Death, too,
had thrown its shadow over them.
Some there were to whom the passing
of the years would mean no more In
this world. Others, the great majority
of the ships company, were probably
hidden by the same eternal silence.
The last sight they had Of them was
dim vision of boats rushing into
chaos Of angry seas and sheeted spray.
But Courtenay would have none Of
these mournful memories. isn't that
glorious newsT' he cried. Now, Chris
tobal. that motor trip in June through
the Pyrenees looks feasible once more.
And you, Miss Maxwell. though you
have never quailed for an instant. can
hope to be in England in the spring.
AS for you, Tollemache. surely you
will say that our prospects are fair at
the least"
Il would say more than that IL II
were not for these poisonous Indians"
replied Tollemache. Here they come
now. n whole canoe load of 'em. ]
have never seen such rotters."
And. indeed. Francisco Suarez, detail.
ed to keep watch and ward over the
ship until noon. ran up the companion
and cried excitedly:
-Four headmen have just pulled of
from Otter creek. They have missed
me. expect. They will want me to
go back. beseech you. senior captain,
not to give me up to them. but rather
to send bullet through my miserable
heart"
''Tell him to calm himself" said
Courtenay coolly when Christobal had
translated this flow Of cultural Span.
ish. 'He has no cause TO fear them
now. Let him nerve himself and show
a bold front. A palayer Is the best
thing that can happen. We must dis
play all the arms we possess. Bid any
of your invalids who can stand upright
show themselves. Christobal. We must
lift you outside. Boyle. Bring your
camera. Miss Maxwell. II we could
give these fellows n good picture Of
themselves 1t would scare them to
death"
COurtenay infected them all with his
splendid optimism. IL was with curl.
osity rather than dread that they
watched the rapid approach Of the ca.
uno aud dee aI.us.esF ratroa sa-.s,nar4m