The Owosso times., 1910-06-03

~ vO'c-
Je"si
Five THOUSAND! THAT 'UD MAKE THIyG
PRETTY EASY
himself 10 the hut.
They are stupid creatures, these
PEASANTS" he said. "When they SEE
you they will not be frightened"
There was so much reason in the
statement that Iris was ready volun
teer. Soon all hands were at work
and it was due to the girls forethought
that strips of linen We're procured from
Luisa Gomez and healing herbs ap
piled to the cuts and bruises of the in
jured men. Sylvia was for leaving
the two soldiers on the island, but
Coke's sailorlike acumen prevented the
commission of that blunder.
mo; that will never do" he said
with irritating offhandness. "These
jokers will be found at daylight, an
they'll be able TO say exactly wot
time we quit. The wimmin can make
out they was scared stiff an darsent
stir. 1t 'ud be different with the So
jers. An we amt goin' to have such
'eartbreakin' start, even if the cruiser
clears away soon after o'clock"
"Where do you propose TO make for?''
"Where dye think. mister? Nor
east by nor. to be sure. until we sight
some homeward bound ship"
You mean to abandon everything,
then ?" said De Sylvia. He seemed to
be watching the onward sweep of the
searchlight as the warship went to the
north. But Coke was shrewd. He felt
that there was something behind the
words, and he suspected the ex-presi-
dents motives.
81 don't see any 'elp for it," he an
swered. Cords trewth. wot is there
to abandon? I've lost me ship. an me
money, an me papers. an 'arf me men.
Unless one was lookin' for trouble,
this amt no treasure island. mister"
yet it might be made one."
"As how?'
do you not realize how greatly the
members of the present government
fear my return to Brazil? Here l am
their prisoner. practically friendless,
almost alone. They dare not kill me
by process of law, yet they are mov-
ing heaven and earth to prevent my
escape or shoot me down in the act.
Why? Because they know that the
people are longing to hail me as pres
ident again. Suppose you and your
men took me to Pernambuco."
''S'pose HalifaX!" snapped Coke.
"Please listen. You can but refuse
when you look at the facts fairly. If,
as l say. were put ashore at Pernam-
buco, or at any other of half a dozen
ports | can name, | should be among
my own followers. You. Captain
Coke, and every officer and man Of
your ship and her owners and the rel
atives OF those who have lost the;i
lives would net only be paid all Just
claims by the new government, but
adequately rewarded. In your own
case the recompense would he prince
ly; but. assuming that we board n YES
sci bound for Europe. what certainty
have you that you will ever receive
penny?"
ooh, reely, that's comm it a bit
thick, mister" growled Coke.
You believe | am eXaggerating the
of your position? Pray con.
slider. Your vessel is broken up. She
was fired on while at anchor on the
wrong side of the island, on the very
lay selected for my escape. You and
yOur mon no1Dooo tn ,1,1,, .t,o I,,Ita4z
lnd, under my leadership. assisted by
Captain San Benavides. you overrun
-he place by night, kill several soldiers.
seize launch, despOil peasants of
heir crops and stores and make off |
with a good deal Of property belonging
% the Brazilian government. not to
mention the presence in your midst of
such significant parsonage as myself
speaking candidly. Senior Captain
what chance have you of convincing
my international court of your inno-
'ence? Who will believe that YOU were
lot true filibusterI"
"Wot exactly is your offer?"
Ample compensation officially. Five
housand pounds to you in person."
Five thousandw Coke cleared
hroat husky with doubt. THAT 'ud
make things pretty easy for the missus
n the girls" he muttered "An'
here's no new ship for me wen
)ickey Bulmer cocks is eye at Hozier.
ts moral therell be holy row be-
ween i'm an David. Dye mean it,
1ister?"
Even IL fail and my life is spared
will pay you the money out of my
wn private funds" was the vehement
eply.
well, well. leave the job to me-"
Il promise on my honor" De Sylvia
egan./
But the nearer surface Of the sea
ashed into a dazzling distlnctness,
nd Coke dragged him down to the
lunch. The cruiser had rounded Rat
land and was devoting one sweeping
lance eastward ere she sought her
rey in creek or tortuous channel.
At last after a weaFying delay she
anished. Five minutes later Watts