The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
CHAPTER XII.
VI. Ferraud Introduce. Himself.

"Yessir Mr. Donovan" said Capt
Flanagan. his peg-leg crossed and one
hand abstractedly polishing the brass
ferrule; "Yessir, the question is, what
did y hear
Mr.. Donovan caressed his beer-glass and
reflected. The two were seated in the
office Of Swans Hotel We'll, 1 took
them bricks out an it seems that loony
Of Frenchman our grandpas use to blow
about had hid box in tn chimbley"
"A box in the chimbley. An what was
in the box?"
Mr.. Donovan considered again. TIL
tell you the truth, Cap'n. 1t wus a lot
Of rigermarole about a treasure l
wanted t laugh. Your commodore's a
hoodoo on pirates an treasures, an he
amt found either yet"
NO jokin'; keep a clear course"
No harm. TIL admirars all right, and
don't you forget it. AS l wus sayin',
they finds this ere box. The dockey-
ments wus in French, but tn daughter
read 'em OF sumpin wonderful. You've
heard OF Napoleon
Yes; l recollects the name" replied
the captain. with quiet ridicule.
We'll, this business pertained L him.
Seems some o his friends got money
tgether t rescue him from some island
or other"
st Helena"
That wus it. They left the cash in a
box in Corsiker, mother island: I-taIyan.
l take it But I'll bet a dollar you never
find anythin' there"
That is as may be" The captain
liberated full sigh and dug a hand into
a trousers pocket. He looked cautiously
about. The two Of them were without
witnesses. The landlord was always will
ing to serve beer to those in quest of IT.;
but Immediately on providing it, he re-
sumed his Interrupted perusal of the
sporting column. At this moment his
soul was flying around the track at Ben
nington. When the captain pulled out
his hand it seemed full of bright autumn
leaves. Donovan's glass was suspended
midway between the table and his lips
Slowly the glass reraced the half-cfrcIe
and resumed its perpendicular position
upon the oak.
Beauties; huh?" said the captain.
Twenty bills
''Yessir; every one of 'en as good as
gold; payable to bearer on demand, says
your Uncle Sam"
An why are you maxim me envious
this way?" said Donovan Grossly.
Donovan. you and mes been friends
off an on these ten years, ever since tn
commodore bought tn Laura Well. says
he t me 'Capt'n, we forgot that MI
Donovan was in tn room at tn time O.
tn discovery. Will you be so kind as to
impress him with the fact that this ex-
pedidon is on the Q. T.? Not that think
l, l. -
these few bits o paper to his promise
not { speak Says I, I'll trust Mr..
Donovan An l do. You never broke no
promise yet
1T pays in the long rum" replied Mr.
Donovan, vainly endeavoring to count
the bills.
We'll, this ere little fortune is yours
if you promise to abide by tn condi-
tons"
That keeps my mouth shut"
An not open it even to tn Mrs"
kle his brow. ''That1I be a tough propo-
Put tn money in tn bank and say
nothfn' till you hear from me-" advised
the captain.
That's a CO."
Then I give you these five nice ones
with tn regards o. tn commodore"
The captain stripped each bill and slowly
laid 1t down on the table for the fear that
by some curious circumstance there
might be six.
"One hundred? Capt'n. I'm a" Mr..
Donovan emptied his glass with a few
swift gulps and banged the table. Two
more"
The landlord lowered his paper wearily
would they never let him alone0 and
stepped behind the bar. At the same time
Mr.. Donovan folded the bills and slowed
them away.
Not even t tn Mrs." he swore.
Here's luck. Capt'n.'
Same L you; an dor't get drunk this
side o. Jersey City,
And with this admonition the captain
drank his beer and thumped of for the
water front, satisfied that the village
would hear nothing from Mr.. Donovan.
II was shameful to let a
hundred go that easy; twenty would have
served. He was about to hail the skin
when he was accosted by the quiet little
nan he had recently observed sitting
alone in the corner of Swans office.
Pardon, but you are Capt. Flanagan
,f the yacht Laura?''
"Yessir." patiently. But the owner
never lets anybody aboard he don't know,
sir"
"I do not desire to come aboard, my
captain. What / wish to know Is IL his
,xcellency the admiral is at home"
His excellency'[ rather confounded
he captain for moment; but he
anne about without ''takin' more n |
bucketful," as he afterward ex-
pressed II TO Halloran, the engi-
leer "I knew right then he wus
urriner: / know 'em. They amt no ex-
in tn navy. But 1 tells him |
hat the commodore was snug in his |
,erth up yonder. and with that he looks !
o me like ] wus lady. I've seen him |
n Swans at night readin'; allus chasin'