Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
THE GOLD SHIP

peasant girl OF Venezuela. Is 1t you who
have bound these men,
Unfortunately, no, Senorita.' Gring
waved regretful hand. "Let me present
Senior Barnes, the engineer of this ship: Bow
to the lady, H. ]. Don't be afraid of him,
Senorita: he won't hurt you. I'll admit he's
been a little rough with your friends; but
YOU mustn't scold him. You see it was his
duty to ward off what he thought was an at
tack of pirates. BY the way, how did you, a
peasant girl of Venezuela, come to be mixed
up in this business?"
The girl flushed under his mockery, and
turned appealing eyes on Barnes, who was
still holding the lantern. With swift in
stinct, she recognized him for the more
sympathetic of the two, a man with more
heart than head.
as it you who have bound these men.
Senor?" She turned to him with her query,
speaking in low, vibrant voice. "Ah, l do
not believe it! Or, if you did, it was at the
bidding of this man with the bitter tongue.
Gring snickered; but she paid no heed.
IL am sure that you would not willingly
harm them-or me- And when YOU under
stand all you will release them; for you are
kind-oh, know you are kind This poor
Ramon-he loves me. Therefore, and for
no other reason, he has done what he has
done. 1t is all for me-you see, Senior? And
these others-they are my friends. They
are not to- blame. 1t is l who persuaded
them to come by night to take away the
gold"
She paused, and Gring laughed delight
edly. "Look out, H. J! She's trying to vince
die your he cried to the embarrassed en-
gneer. "She'n be kissing you in a minute!'
ooh. shut up, George! Let the lady talk. y
Nevertheless Barnes contrved to edge away
from the girl under pretense of setting the
lantern in corner He was too greatly
flustered to air his stock of Venezuelan and
his go on, Miss-don't mind him." only
made Gring laugh the more.
IN the midst of the laughter Ramon found
utterance. More than once during the
girls plea he had attempted to speak; but
his tongue was still CONSTRUCTED. Now he
broke into impetuouS speech.
"Encarnacion!' The name sounded like
an oath as he shot it forth. "Be silent! Say
nothing to these men. He with the red face
will but mock you the more. They mean to
steal the gold. We have lost, Carissima!7
With an agonized cry. the girl turned her
large eyes on Gring. as this true, Senior
what Ramon says? All tell me it is not true!
Cease to laugh, for the love of God, and an
swer me! You cannot mean to take the gold
1T IS not yours. on must not take 1t!
Have care, Senior! The ghosts of million
peons-a million men and women and little
children who have given their blood for it
drop by drop-will haunt you when you
come to die! 1t is theirs: it is not yours
You have no right to it. save that you are
strong like that monster Paroles who stole
it first-rnay he go hungry like the little ones
| have seen in Ocumare where | was born!
See, Seilor-I ask you on my knees to have
pity on those little ones!" She cast herself
at his feet, sobbing with emotion.
"Here-here! Get up, Senonta." Gring
was not laughing now: he felt uncomforta-
ble-so uncomfortable that he lapsed into
his native speech. The hussy was only act
ing, of course; but it was mighty realistic.
1t gave him the creeps. "We amt going to
swipe the gold-no such luck" He recol-
lected himself, and switched to Spanish.
"Anse, Senorita. Ramon has misinforned
you. We have no intention of stealing the
gold. As you say, it is not ours. We are
going to take the ship back to La Guayra."
ooh, no, Senor-no" She clasped his
knees. "For the love of God, no! They
would send her out again, and the gold with
her. They would reward you. doubtless.
and you would not care that Paroles, wher-
ever he may flee, will be feasting while those
little ones are starving in Ocumare and
Tinaquillo and thousand villages of Vene