The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-04
acHAPTER$l.I
5gEinsWhTch RcaIno Adventure I,

Nh ~ III 4
sfRsWhfch Begins Adventure. ];
Bone may question the truth Of this
asTltiy B ret they will scarcely be
llpnnd AIMING those who Ego down to
aess rs iii ships., TO them the un.
Sllatiulah mystery abiding upon the
sGlso cts the great deep. the constant
arypl 81 huge, heavlng leagues, OF
sy1tegys saHtude, secret and profound,
\ must fsgerS remain so vast, SO mex.
liicahlS il 10 be beyond any lnterrog:
es6ry ~ dc flnlte-the strange, the
\ anMrssle6, lurking everywhere. TO
gothcfss nsaae landsnien, confidently
Alz1aglntnE thas all phenomena can be
srndlEe aEhinS the contracted limits
~ hHtrTnS apprehension, I need say
10 nora ffi1n that witnesses still sur
Isilei ID eat1nhorate the principal incl.
Sleats ofs nh story, which I now pur.
spaas s;rtan,s IN the full glow Of q mem
sgy ntiM Illuminated by the events to
~ resesa \ q 81 IL.
Iss had 1smrS to DO the 9Th day OF
ss.1pnsi tia Syear3 rs7s.1. John Stephens,
( rgg III occupied a rather comfort
gablsSpeEs Snpons the shaded balcony Of
INT Ergc. Iultra;fashlonable hotel at
Valparaiso, which, as travellers will
1 secslI e!iasst to the steep hillside over.
I lo6RiEs both the city and harbor be.
heath VI was; alone, not having as yet
lrdercd the serving Of the evening
meal. Ssa95 " n y s.
gsyIy3 attiret military band was
plnying noisilyi in anear.by plaza, and
Through the5 intervening distance. ! was
Able to distinguish plainly the patrl.
PnaegS Of national music. even
telteged that a medley Of shouting
Ioiees mingled with an echo Of
$aheerE WIS borne to me on the.rising
hight wind, Sand l. leaned above the
low SraiIsng to gaze down. Slightly In.
setresteE. Eas o regiment of Chilean In.
ifani salars Of the line. from
thaf snI1e5 trousers and stilr hats.
SWeEfiasfltly;pns the hotel corner In
BrapiiE sSalc;sto disappear suddenly
ever IKE steep crest in the direction
seE atbes auay. Far away, toward the
ssFisht lore the long row Of gray
1nIncs tngracks was still dimly visible
\ again sl;e5 darker background Of sur.
1pund lug Nils was; to be idiscerned a
stimnlcr5 of steel, as squadrons Of cav.
ally and artillery engaged in. dress
1assss .heir$ numerous banners tlap-
Dins;GsaInst the sky. At the moment
these several occurrences served to
awaken The .merest interest, tending
S1aihfn b bring home; 10 memory q
SlfeshmihG Knowledge Of the despera-
Hon, af nv situation. t.6i5
u II u: canE an 8be; told3in few words: I
was persona non grata to the Chilean
s1u.hor1tI Ties. with apparently every pos.
SEh.a avenue leading forth from the
oountTh fnlly and effectively barred.
WhlicH personally unknown TO those
$1Me " thus FAR successful IN mask.
ms M infoyernents under. the guise OF
III foreign gentleman Of leisure TEN.
EoSafly resident at q fashionable
IotE ~ u! nevertheless discovered 1t I'M
gos salt 70 l break through the GORDON
sgHetchlui government y 7sl spies ana
Sah leE ae;S me Ile. Ghlleaa Gust from on my
- q rapld explanation Will sumce.
we q mn massachusetts OF excel
enE tam1lly eoaae e c1lons, togetaer WIN
1rgsp!eess Of l lllr wealth, early de-
Iealope me understandable propensi'
iles oi = rover lF1 ana after VAN enort
S1pl turn ny ~ reluctant ambition toward
q g me learned professions my par
Ssn il Edespalrlngi OF ever doing better
y l maj consented 20 apprentice me 70
ne va "a uhtortunately ior Inc real!.
s;aio1s q their more secret hops0'
stpok5t g sthat hard, adventurous nfe az
I'D dne g. A. 70 WateE SO that. at INC end OF
Y I'VE ycars service, \ had rlsen'
Sthmngh the various grades. TO tho hon
sarah!e; position et 3! q nrst ohcer IN mo
aald$ LeJa y az line my steamship heins
ING y saean, trading between Z new
dork and and South = y! American Al ports,
saaus after attained this berth my
s " died Rsuddenly, leaving bohlnd
Nina lair amount Of property, a good
share 81 which came TO me in cash.
D chanced that, during a previous
\ ssse;a, q passenger on board had sue.
sefTed fnl Interesting me deeply In Ger.
Aain mining operations which he was
saadn ctins sunderSa Bolivian conces'
lin. Finding myself In possession OF
abundant means, and experiencing
mat coca slonal disgust for sen life
JfsSfufDsH In Ia II Sullnr.nipn II 'emh, Ri cd