Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-09-16

propose. Lower one or the llfeDoatS,
place the box in it and tow the boat
with line long enough to be perfectly
safe"
AS these words were spoken the box
was being carried out and in another
moment was resting on the rail ready
to 20 overheard Mr.. Mcrvale made
/, so strong Il protest that the captain
hesitated. Mr. Mervalc declared that
Il the box contained his property he
would hold the captain responsible for
Its destruction. The captain. Influenced
by this argument. changed his mind
and ordered boat lowered. The box
was put in the bottom Of the boat.
which was towcd mt the end Of 200
foot line.
The matter was not permitted to get
out among the passengers till after the
Internal machine was in tow, and then
it was no longer possible to keep It
secret. People gathered on the stern
clamoring to know why the boat with
its contents was being put out, and
when it was at safe distance those
who knew admitted that there was a
box in the boat which might contain
an explosive Immediately the news
spread that anarchists had endeav-
ored to blow up the ship and it had
been saved only by wireless tele-
gram from the chief Of the Southamp-
ton police.
MIR. Mervalc. who had received the
telegram and among whose baggage
the anarchists had placed the explo-
sivc. ut once became the most impor-
tant man aboard. not excepting the
captain. Passengers crowded around
him to learn every detail He endcav
orcd to calm them. telling them that
he believed mistake had been made
and that the box simply contained
clock and other family heirlooms.
AS distinguished men find their val.
Tie enhanced 10y always keeping them.
selves before the public. so Mr. Mer.
vale gained With Miss Floyd by his
prominence. even if it were only on
account of having had among his bag.
gage that which might blow the ship
and passengers Sky high. Somehow
Kicker. who had seemed to her quite
Il man when pulling her in boat on
Lake Como. now appeared equally
tame in comparison with this earls
son. who had become the center Of
attraction for the whole ship. The
former gradually gave way to the
latter. and Miss Floyd. instead Of
walking the deck or sitting in steam
err chair all day in company with Mr..
Kicker. merely began these sociabilities
with him and continued them with Mr.
Mervale
Meanwhile the Internal machine
bobbed up and down on the waves.
Knots of passengers constantly loiter-
ing on the stern looked at 1t and swap
ped opinions whether in case of an
explosion it was far enough from the
ship to avert any damage. Then came
the approach TO port. the handing
around of custom house blanks on
which to make declarations of duti
able baggage. the filling in of articles
purchased abroad and handing them
to the purser. Mr.. Mervale said that
If the box being towed was what he
supposed it was the duty on the ar
ticles it contained was considerable
The question as to whether it was 8
box Of heiriooms or an Internal ma
chine must be settled by the custom
officers He rather thought they would
pass it free of duty.
The evening before reaching por
Miss Floyd was sitting with Mr.. Mer
vale on the upper deck. where the,
were not SO liable. to interruption a!
they would be lower down. He wa!
telling her of the family home of hi
father. the earl. and his mother. tn
countess. Then he told her how the,
had sent him to America. where ricl
wives were to be had by British noble
men for the asking. that he might mar
~ wealthy American girl and bull,
up the family estates when he cam
into the title. But he had been car
tured before his arrival. He had n
sooner seen Miss Floyd than he ha
succumbed to her, rich or poor.
Miss Floyd told him that. as t
means. she would have OH the death Q
her father a large Inheritance. But
t complication had arisen in the matte
: of Walter Kicker. There was an Ell
gagemcnt that had not been approve
: by her parents and might not be al
K proved by them. She would be please
: to have MIR. Mervale call OH her
d New York. That was all young lad
g who had recently accepted one ma
d could say to another whom she wishe
$ to replace the first
e But she said nothing of this ,
s Kicker.
II Miss Floyd was taking home nur
s. Der of valuables that were dutiabl
Y. Her father was ready to pay the dul
d on them. but there is fascination
"beating" the government on custom
e. that attacks even young girls. NJ
II Merva!e told her that he had ":
,e Of getting goods through the custo
t. house and il she would bring them ,
to him he would slnuggle them in