New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-12
THE GOLD SHIP


have bound these men,;
unfortunately. no. Scnorita. Gring
waved a rcgrcttul hand. Let me present
Senior Barnes. the engineer OF this ship. Bow
To the lady. II. !. Don't be afraid OF him,
Scnor1ta: 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 II was his
duty to ward of what he thought was an at
tack Of pirates. BY the way, how did you,
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.
is il YOU who have bound these men,
Scnor?" She turned 70 him with her query,
speaking in a low. vibrant voice. "Ah, do
not believe it. Or, if YOU did, it was at the
bidding of this man with the bitter tongue.
Gring Snlckcrci; but she paid no heed.
81 am sure that YOU would not willingly
harm thcm-or me And when YOU under
stand all YOU will release them; for you are
kni-oh. know YOU are kind. This poor
Ramon-hc loves me. Therefore. and for
no other reason. he has done what he has
done. II is all for mc-you see, Senior; And
these others they are my friends They
are not TO blame. II is | who persuaded
them to come by night 20 take away the
gold"
She paused. and Grng laughed delight
cilv. Look out. II. J. Shes trying 10 vince
gnccr. Shell be kissing YOU in minutcl
| Il lt.l, coll
Nevertheless Barnes contnvcd TO edge away
from the girl under prctcnSc of setting the
lantern in corner. He was too greatly
hus,crcd TO air his stock OF Venezuelan, and
I'M, "Go on. Mis,-don't mind HIM" only
made Gring laugh the more.
II the midst Of the laughter Ramon found
uttcrancc More than once during the
girls plea he had attempted to speak; but
his tongue was still constructed. Now he
broke into impctuous speech.
"Encarnacion," The name sounded Ike
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, CdyiSSimd!"
With an agonizcd cry, the girl turned her
large ewes on Gring. is this true, Senior.
WIKI Nttloll NtNN al, ltll lllt IL ~ llpl NllN
Cease to laugh, for the love of God, and an
swcr me, You cannot mean 10 take the gold
it is not yours. You must not take il.
Have a care, Senior, The ghosts of a million
pcons-a million men and women and little
children who have given their blood for 1t
drop by drop-will haunt YOU when YOU
come to die 1t is theirs: it is not yours.
You have no right To il, save that YOU are
strong like that monster Paroles who stole
it st-may he 60 hungry ike the little ones
| have seen in Ocumarc where | was born.
See, Scnor-l ask YOU on my knees To have
pity on those little ones" She cast herself
at his feet sobbing with emotion.
"EIcrc-hcrc, Get up. Scnorltai Gring
was not laughing now: ne felt uncomtorta-
blc-so uncomfortable that he lapScd into
his native speech. The hussy was only act
ing of course; but it was mighty realistic
1t gave him the crceps. I'VE amt going to
swpc the gold-no such luck" He rccol-
lccted himself and switched to Spanish
arise, Scnorita. Ramon has miSinformcd
you. We have no intention of stealing the
gold. As YOU say, it is not ours. We are
going TO take the ship back 70 La Guayra.
"Oh, no. Scnor-noi" She claSpcd 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, whcr-
ever he may flee, will be fcasting while those
little ones are starving in Ocumarc and