Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-22
BY MAUDE RADFORD WARREN

happy quarter of an hour. And what he gave will
be VERY valuable to YOU Mr. Henderson Not that
complete information, but it puts on the track.
"And what is it," asked Henderson eagerly.
Il must tell you something of Captain Bates. He is
an Englishan cursed with periodical fits of drunken
ness If only he could have always sailed between
bouts there would have been better Captain on the
Pacific. But owners can't match their cruises with
Captains pecuarities. He lost ship, and he's had
nothing since His wife, proud woman, cut above
him socially died inch by inch, from his disgrace and
his inability rehabilitate himself. There one
daughter and she kept looking for rehabilitation too;
but while the wife wanted it for the sake of her hus
bands character the girl wanted it for the sake OF
sheer success. Money what she was after: She
married trader on Rapa Island and he did badly
She seemed to think she had bad luck in both father and
husband. This hear from Jack Hastings, who has a
taste for what bookish people call psychology and tor
what call human nature
"Jack knows Bates well; though not in a friendly
way About year ago Hastings heard that Bates was
in command of the Urania, under two joint owners
won't trouble you with the history of the Uranla: she
had name for bad luck among sailors Everyone
knew that these two must be greenhorns, and
that Bates had signed with them as his last chance
They were all heard of the Tuanotu group and 1t
supposed from current gossip that they were Two
wetodo young fools, with visions of increasing their
wealth through copra or pearls or perhaps by mere
trading Perhaps they in it for the sheer lark.
well, now Sir, the significant part OF the
story Weeks later Bates dropped in at the Marque-
sas His daughter had come to those islands on visit
He saw her. and he had that to tell her which affected
a reconciliation between them for disguised with his
failure she had had little do with him since her mar
rage He dolzed her, and celebration at getting
into her good graces he began drinking hard When ne
half he contided to Hastings that ne had
bought the Urana from the owners and was going to
trade in Peru
THEN-you mean?" hesitated Henderson.
IL mean, Sir, that Bates had no money except his
wages to buy anything with and wages however gen.
erous, don't high as the purchasing OF ships
mean Sir that rich young even greenhorns, don
let themselves be dropped in the Pacific with no special
way of returning In short Sir Bates stole the Uranla
R11t hats
lessly and Damon grinned at him ironically.
@Illega Sir, gentle word 1t is illegal; but it has
been done than once one form or another, and
have no doubt it will be done again.
al iudge Captain BarStowe, that you have your plan
of action laid?' inquired Damon
81 have Sir subject to Mr. Henderson, revision 1t
goes without saying that your friends may be anywhere
in this part of the Pacific Obviously the thing to do
is them They have been heard OF IN Iuamotu
we'll 60 there. Now there is this difficulty: they
may have wished to keep dark the place they were
going to- and their reasons for going
From the little know, l am they did, sighed
Henderson.
THAT will make things harder for us; but, the
other hand people will have been specializing about
them, and among all those specuations we may hit on
the truth l am confident that we shall find them, be-
cause have something up my sleeve, last resort
that scarcely fail us.
"And what is that, Captan?
"Bates daughter l told you she was in Rapa Island
God-forsaken place, under the French protectorate
When Bates comes back from Peru he will 60 to see
her. he won't be able to keep away from her. Hell
have go and pour tangible gold in her lap Now, he
may have had enough to sell the Uranla in Peru
where she isn't known, he may not have been able
to sell her. and may be fool enough risk bringing her
back. But, whatever his luck has been, he won't be
able to keep away from his girl And it can't be long
now till he S due Well go to Rapa and it will be
strange thing if can't make Bates tell where your
friends are. Gentlemen, don't believe ever talked
much in my ife!'
Captain Barstowe drank goody portion of the
brandy and for all his nscrutabty it clear that
he thought he deserved it. Henderson and grsped