The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-07-26

4 -
non.
The next thing was he took the
three pigs Of lead out of one of the
cases marked Shannon, etc, and
numbered Is, and laid them very
gently on the floor. Then he trans
ferred to that empty case the mixed
contents of q case branded PrOser-
pine 1, ETC., and this he did with
the utmost care and nicely, lest
gold dust spilled should tell tales.
And so he went on and amused
himself by shifting the contents OF
the whole IS cases marked Proser-
pine, into 10 cases, marked Shan
non, and refilling them with the
ShannOn's lead. FrOlicsOme Mr..
Wylie! Then he sat down on one
of the cases Proserpined and ate a
] biscuit and drank little rum; not
much, for at this part of his
career he was very sober man,
though he could feign drunkenness,
or indeed, anything else.
The gold was all at his mercy,
yet he did not pocket an ounce of
it; not even pennyweight to make
wedding ring for Nancy Rouse.
Mr.. Wylie had a conscience. And
a very original one 1t was, and,
above all, he was very true to those
he worked with. He carefully lock-
ed the gold cases up again and re-
| sumed the screwdriver, for there
was another heavy stroke of work
to be done and he went at 1t like
a man. He carefully screwed down
again, one after another, all those
18 cases marked Shannon which
he had filled with gold dust, and
then, heating sailors needle red
hot over his burning wick, he put
his own secret marks on those IS
cases-marks that no eye but his
| own could detect. He retired to
his place of concealment in the
same cat-like way he had come
out of it--that is to say, he mount
ed on the high cases and then
slipped down behind them into the
angle of the wall.
AS soon as the office opened, two
sailors, whom he had carefully in
structed overnight, came with a
boat for the cases; the warehouse
was opened in consequence, but
they were informed that Wylie
must be present at the delivery.
20, he won't be long" said they;
'he told us he would meet us here"
There was a considerable delay
and good deal of talking, and
presently Wylie was at their backs,
and put in his word.
Seaton was greatly surprised at
finding him there, and asked him
where he had sprung from.
Mel" said Wylie, loosely, "why,
/ hailed from Davy Jones locker
last"
81 never heard you come in"
said Seaton. thoughtfully.
well, SIR replied Wylie. civilly,
"a man does learn to go like a cat
on board ship, that Is the truth.
came in at the door like my betters,
but thought / heard you mention
my name, so l made no noise. Well,
here am, anyway, and-Jack, how
many trips can we take these
laundering chests in? Let us see,
1S for the Proserpine, and 40 for
the Shannon Is that correct, sir?"
Perfectly"
"Then. If you will deliver them.
I'll check the delivery aboard the
lighter there; and then We'll tow
her alongside the ships"
Seaton, with some difficulty. got
a little boat and pulled across the
harbor. He found the Shannon had
shipped all the chests marked with
her name; and the captain and
mate of the Proserpine were begin
ming to ship theirs. He padded I'M
der the Proserpines stern.
Captain Hudson, rough salt,
sang out. and asked him roughly
what he wanted there.
"Oh, it is all right" said the mate,
che Is come for our receipt and
Hewitt's. BE smart now, men; two
on board and sixteen to come
Seaton saw the chests marked
Proserpine slowed in the Proser-
pine, and went ashore with Captain
Hewitt's receipt of 40 cases on
board the Proserpine. ~
There was still something about
this business Seaton did not quite
like: perhaps 1t was In the haste OF
the shipments, or in the manner of
the mate. At all events, 1t was too
slight and subtle to be communi-
Gated to others with any hope of
consincing them; and, moreover,
Seaton could not but own to him
self that he hated Wardlaw, and
was, perhM1s. no fair judge of his
acts, ana even of the acts of his
servarY.
And soon blow fell that drove
the matter out of his head and his
heart. Miss Helen Rolleston called
ut the office. and, standing within
few feet of him, handed Hardcas-
tie letter from Arthur Wardlaw,
directing that the ladies' cabin on
board the Shannon should be placed
at her disposal.
Heartbroken, but still loving
nobly, Seaton dragged himself
down to the harbor, and went
slowly on board the Shannon to
secure Miss Rolleston every COM
fort.
Then, sick at heart as he was, he
made inquiries into the condition
of the vessel which was to be
trusted with so precious freight;
and the old boatman VINO was row,
ing him, hearing him make these
inquiries, told him he himself was
always about, and had noticed the
Shannon's pumps were going every
blessed night. - Ns