The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-08-18

very white halr came UP tht SuIupuH-
ionway and looked about for a seat
The ship was rolling. and Maitland,
taking hold of her arm, supported her
to a steamer chair. She thanked him,
but he would have nothing to do with
her. Surely he had reason to suspect
every one. The old lady besides thank
ing him made some commonplace re-
mark, to which 1t would have been po-
lite for him to respond, but he turned
from her as though she had some in
fectious disease.
Several times after that he surveyed
her from distance and noticed that
she looked very peculiar. Indeed, after
scrutinizing her one afternoon as she
sat doing in her steamer chair 1t oc-
Cured to him that she was q young
person disguised as an old woman.
When the day before the ship was
due at Vera Cruz he saw her and the
Young Spanish woman sitting side by
side and talking confdentially he made
up his mind that they had been sent
out from Washington to steal his dis.
patch and that one or both Of them had
already opened his suit case Prob
ably one did the work while the other
kept watch.
A few hours before his arrival in port
Maitland went to his stateroom, took
the dispatch from his pocket and look
ed at it. He felt very happy. If he
had got it so far on the journey despite
those who were trying to get 1t from
him surely he could do what little re-
maIned. Replacing it, he picked up his
cigarette case, which he had left on a
shelf, lighted a cigarette and, lying
down with his novel, began to read,
He soon became drowzy and fell asleep
When he awoke the ship was in port
He felt nauseated. Something had
happened. He clapped his hand to his
side pocket.
The dispatch was gone.
Beaten after ALL" he moaned.
Starting up, he staggered out and on
to the deck. No one had gone ashore.
A last hope occurred to him. He would
have the two women arrested on a
trumped up charge. There they were
near the companionway. He rushed
forward and, seeing policeman on
the dock, beckoned to him. The man
met him on the companionway, and
Maitland, slipping ten dollar bill into
his hand, told him that there Were two
women thieves on board who had rob.
bed him When the women reached
the dock they were taken into custody.
They made Il great ado at their arrest,
asserting their innocence.
Il am an American" said the old
lady, land demand to be taken before
the United States consul"
II will take you to the consulate" +"
said Maitland, provided your confed-
crate will consent to go with us"
The old lady persuaded the other wO-
man to make no objection, assuring her
that it was their best course. Maitland
called a carriage, and the three travel
ers entered, the policeman climbing to
the box. On reaching the consulate
Maitland insisted that the Spanish wo'
man 20 in with them. He did not dare
leave her in the carriage. She seemed
Indifferent about 1t, and the three went
in together The consul being engaged
= at the time they were placed in the
waiting room.
While waiting, Maitland, facing the
old lady, scrutinized her. What was
there that was familiar about her?
Suddenly-the Spanish woman's back
was turned-she gave him smile.
He recognized his wife.
Rising, Julie went into the hall,
Maitland following her
Don't worry" she said. "It's safe. "
"WhereW
"In my corsage."
"How did you come by itT'
'I've had it all the time. When ]
handed you the cigar box in Washing
ton it contained dummy. | kept the
) dispatch"
Z 'The woman in there"
"How do you know"
Il saw plainly that she had been
sent to delay the delivery of the dis.
!, patch and, pretending that | was on
the same errand. won her confidence,
!, and we agreed to work together. Aft
!, er she found the envelope was not in
your suit case she was sure you had
it on your person. You were very
! careless to leave your cigarettes in
your stateroom. She picked the lock
r with a skeleton key, went in and re
2 placed your cigarettes with those that
had been drugged. When you were
asleep she robbed you"
"And the dummy? What did she say
, when she discovered that"
"She cried. Had she secured the
+, dispatch she would have been paid
; 100000"
, While Julie was explaining she was
a opening her dress, took out the real
dispatch and handed it to her hus
, band. Returning to the room he had
left, he told the Spanish woman that
he had found the missing article
> apologized and said she might &c
q where she liked.
> When Maitland delivered his dis
patch his wife did not appear in thu
transaction. He was well launched IL
, the profession he had chosen.
As Bill Nye Saw It.
Bill Nye described q five shot Colt
4 | nc TAltya Rro