The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-05-04
By Crittenden Marriott
Author of The Isle of Dead Ships" Etc.
Copyright rhtenden Marriott

day longer, she would IEzz[37.17 Au
: ! q
probably not have gone at 80 lIElz53
all Al practically the EAWA
moment at which she arrived I|GA 4SzA
at st. Petersburg, Bill Will EAA~
kins left that city, having @8
completed arrangements for ~ N
the shipment OF the gold. ....l.
He had found the task OF
finding ship very difficult one Ten tons of gold
was not freight that would ordinarily be found in
the possession OF a man OF Wilkins appearance, and
the fact that he wanted to get it out of the country
secretly was abundant proof that he had by
ii Illegally To explain the true nature of the stuff
he wanted to ship was to risk betrayal to the police
Oh the one hand and treachery and murder from
those who aided him on the other.
Yet it was practically impossible conceal the
fact that it was gold with which he wished to
cape. Its mere weight would almost inevitably be-
tray its character, for it was not credible that
should be willing to pay the necessary to
duce captain to violate the laws and risk his ship
in order to carry off few tons of lead, which
about the only conceivable substance of approx
matey equal weight.
Gold. of course. might be packed in boxes too
large for it, so as to conceal its relative weight but
the Wilkins brothers had means at hand to
able them to do this.
Under these circumstances it surprising
that it took Wilkins practically all of the days
he had supposed might be required to make his
engagements. He made them at last however, with
vlainous looking captain, who drove very hard
bargain and whom Wilkins suspected would try TO
rob them if given the ghost of opportunity. Meth
er he nor Tom however, were men who shrank from
taking risks
ance long before Bill arrived, but found himself
helpless. Florence had taken the dinghy, and Will
kins, unable to swim, found himself marooned on
the schooner, unable to get ashore except by call
ing for aid Although he had to speak OF
and was reaLy at any time to fight his weight in
wild cats, even he found the situation appalling.
Alone in a strange city. unable to speak word of
the language, under ban OF the police, tied by the
leg pile OF gold, and deserted by his compan-
ions, weaker would have attempted to sail
away despite his ignorance in regard to the
agement of the boat. But Tom Wilkins
that sort He would stick till the last minute.
Florences desertion the hardest to bear. He
really loved the girl and he had almost persuaded
himself that she loved him; believing this, he found
it very hard to conclude that her absence spelled
treachery as it obviously seemed to do Rather,
knowing how she chafed against the long confne-
ment and remembering her hysterca fit of the night
before, he chung to the hope that she had merely
gone ashore and would soon be back
But the hours and she did not return,
he forced to believe that she had deserted and
perhaps had betrayed him. He had taken her as
partner in his fight when he had expected to reach
safety easily and quickly; if he had had any idea
OF what before him, he would have gone with
out her and sent for her after the toll and danger
OF the adventure But having taken her,
he expected her to stand by him and find that
she was a gutter the thing he despised most
earth, hurt him. According to his IDEAS his own
conduct in leaving the yacht quitting" but
frank piracy, thing which he by held
in the same disesteem
Bits arrival did not mend matters. Arriving at
the shore, his sailors quickly missed the dinghy
that had trailed behind the sloop and he promptly
hired shore boat and had himself rowed out.
AS he came alongside Tom, who had been watch
ing from below, came deck to him, but
showed no interest in the success of his errand.
Bill however, did not notice the others mood
ness.
It's all right, Tom,' he cried breathlessly. Its
all right. Everythings fixed, and we'll be off as
soon as it gets dark had id hard time of it
with them id nhilists side and the cops
on the other. But ! pulled it off at last Where's
the liquor? Let's splice the main brace the
strength of it,"
Without answering. Tom set out a bottle and
watched the other drink. But he himself took moth
ing.
Such disrespect to the conveniences reused Bills
Indignation What in his the matter with you?"
he demanded. "Anybody'd think I'd brought bad
news stead of teln' you I'd pulled the thing Off"