The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-03-23

or so out of that ship Id like to do it. And
of course ia like to do up the fellows that
did for jim"
Miss Fitzhugh stared at him questioningly.
There is a chance of doing It," she an
swered. meaninsly. But it isn't as easy as
you may suppose. You may have to fight
for it,"
wilkins right hand wandered back to his
hip pocket, reappcaring with a huge ,revolv-
possessed of Il great knife. I'm heeled,
he responded grimly.
Miss Fitzhugh showed no surprise. Delhi
plainsman's hand and with practiced fingers
twirled the cylinder and drew back the
hammer, smiling at the mans warming ex-
clamation. I'm used to them,' she eX-
planned.
She handed back the weapon and went
on. Your brothers. ship was the Orkney,
MIR. Wilkins. 1t sailed from Liverpool March
>, nearly two years ago, and was wrecked
somewhere in the Baltic four days later. 1t
had ON board more than a million pounds
sterling-nearly five million dollars. That
money really belongs to me and my friends,
though it is claimed by others who have
been moving heaven and earth to get it.
Your brother, who wrote the letter, had no
right to amy part of it. Your brother who
was murdered had no right to it. You have
no right to it. But We are very generous
TO our friends. 1t is really impossible that
YOU should get this gold yourself. You will
have to call either on us or on our enemies
TO help YOU. If your letter proves valuable
and enables us TO get ito get our own
illl'lty, IllllIl you've VIII oHdi IL Win
YOU
The plainsman's eyes narrowed, and his
mouth changed to a straight slit above his
chin. For the first time Caruth noticed his
likeness to the dead man This was bust
ness. and accordingly Wilkins promptly re-
tired sentiment to the background; How
big a share:" he demanded, roughly.
We'll" Miss F~itzhugh hesitated. First
let me explain. she went on at last. The
orkney was wrecked in the Baltic sea about
,.Wm miles from here. We shall have to
.Iurtnr. ~ stnD1plr and seek for her. Our
letter may or lnay not enable us to find
her. If we do find her, we will have to
send down divers and bring the gold up-not
II very easy task, imagine. The search
will have to be made secretly, for our foes
are watchful and able. We may have to
fight to save both the gold and ourselves
whole trip will cost money-a great deal
of money. 1t will strain our resources to
the utmost-and it may come to nothing IN
the end. We need the M%oneym y led. 1T m dies.
ap 81 N''N !" -
dered from Miss E~itzhugh to Caruth and
back again. but his impassive face gave no
clue to the thoughts that were passing in
his mind. The others believed that he was
calculating how large u share he could de-
mand: long afterwards they suspected that
his IDEAS had been very .iitrerent.
-. .Wel n o1 he ars,aTsd' M It 1ns'; you're s aSh
it to me straight. But ! reckon the other
side would have about as good Il yarn to
tell, and maybe it would have more money
to nav with. | guess this money don ne
long TO either of you. If 1t did you would
not be so burned mysterious about it,: !
reckon you're both out to steal. But,
hell. that don't make no difference to 1ne.
I'll steal just as soon as amy other lombree
will if he can steal enough to make lt
worth while and can get away With me
goods. Now, lets talk straight. VINO are
your fellows, anyway"
NJ ISIS Fitzhugh hcsitated. but only for a
1VA moment. After all, it was better to tell
this plain-spoken frontiersman what he
wanted to know rather than TO nave nm
make inquiries that might perhaps come TO
the ears of the Russian government ana
lead to the betrayal of the whole plan. II
he was Il traitor or y spy. everything was
lost anyhow. He could ruin everything. ny
telling what he already knew in the right
quarter: he could do no worse if he knew
more. Perhaps he might be forced to holt
his tongue by fear lear although 1amsIa tins n w asd nn nGi
or nothing.
She leanrd forward. Did you ever hear
of the Russian revolutionlsts, MI. Wliklhs:
Then fellows that are tryin' to knock
the ear into the middle of a puddle duck,
ski? sure: They're AL right, n they d oh's
talk less like Il seidlitz powder
II am a member of the inner circle OF
the brotherhood. This belongs TO us. 1t
was borrowed on our credit by tne RnsslaI
Government, W. tried to wrest II IRON
ihem. ana we succeeded, but lost it in the
moment of success. We need 1t to help TN
cause of frccdom-to get for our people I'M
freedom that YOU have as n birthright. w
are trying to get it back. Your letter may
enable US In do 50. Will you help us:
wilkins nodded. ~ reckon so: ne re
sponded. .'Whatll they do to us If the!
catch ms!' .,
.Do.' The girl laughed harshly- II don, 4,
know. Shoot us. hang us. drown us OF J"i
us for life. Are you afrnid!. j,
"No'm! Not TO say afraid. But | AZ
ways like to know what I'm goih NJ
against. Buckin' the ear looks 10 me
rnna dnal like rninr ngninst Il phOny far'