The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-11-07

IfITI| lay at anchor in the River Mersey.
- She had completed a successful vOy-
age under the command Of Captain BlOndin
and was about 10 start upon another
Her decks clean as those OF yacht gave
no indication Of her being the carrier Of a
cargo Of great value 10 the COnfederacy, but
below decks il was different Huge ObOng
cases had been carefully hoisted aboard and
slowed away. machinery" they we're
markell "machinery Of war" would have
been nearer the truth, for they were rifled
guns, destined for use by the SOutherners
Other cases there were, smaller and more
nearly square. also labeled machinery"
containing the gun mounts and the ammunl-
ton, and further aft still smaller cases con
tanning small arms and ammunition for use
in the Confederate army. Nor were the means
Of repairing physical damage forgotten The
after part Of the hold was filled with small
packages Of surgical instruments and medical
supplies.
Taken all in all, the cargo was valuable
one and Messrs Croft & Duncan, brokers,
the owners Of the Banshee, had good reason
TO congratulate themselves upon the selection
by the Confederate agents Of ship to carry
this cargo. and still more reason TO congTat-
ulate Captain Blondn, whose skill and dar-
ing had made this selection possible.
Captain Blondin, small and slim Of figure
and immaculate as TO dress, was simple and
unaffected, as Of old. Success had not turned
his head and his happiest moments were
spent in the seclusion Of his cabin and upon
the high seas.
he had Just finished an interview with Mr..
Croft when Dalton, his first mate came be
low TO say that Mr. Rutherford desired to
see him.
~ suppose that must see him. Dalton"
he said with sigh "but / wish that all this
calling would come TO an end; / am heartily
sick Of II "
Big and coarse. a red faced giant with
small gray ewes that twinklcd genlallv vet
never looked one squarely in the face and
would be iovial and familiar manner sOiled
as TO linen and unkempt as 10 persOn-such
a man was Mr. Rutherford. the very antlth-
esia Of Captain Bondin in all things.
As Captain Blondin looked AT him for a
moment. before speaking a feeling Of dis
gust overcame him He was a man of strong
likes and dislikes, and there was that about
Mr.. rutherford which was calculated 70
arouse the latter feeling within him. It was
hard, however, 10 overcome his natural hab-
it's Of courtesy and almost iuvountarily he
inquired what he could do for his visitor
"Much or little Captain" replied Ruther-
ford as he took q seat. unbidden, and placed
his elbows upon the table and rested his face
in his hands "Much or little. Captain. My
names Rutherford Ny errand here is 10
put money into your pocket If Won re will
ing TO have it put there How would You like
to turn over cool hundred thousand dol
lars, Captainf'
For a few moments the two men sat Raz.
ing at each other in silence Captain Blon-
din 3 face flushed then paled, as he looked
steadily at his visitor; Ruthcrford's shfty
eyes wavcrcd between Captain Blondn's face
and the objects i'm the cabin, but not the slight
est movement or expression upon the former
escaped him.
"What is expected from me in return for
this sunni" inquired Captain Blondin at last
his voice quite calm and even
Nothing much, Captain Nothing that
is hard 10 do. Are we ulonel' lie cast
suspicious glance around the cabin.
1--WE are alone. Go on, SIR
"Well then, Captain, it's this IN rep
resentative Of the United States govern
ment. We want 10 put n stop 10 this block
ade running ] know Just what YOU have
below matches. It's n cargo that we can't
afford TO have get away. and we are willing
TO pay you we'll for IT, A hundred thousand
dollars is not TO be picked MP every day, even
in trade that pays as well as the contra
band What do YOU say 10 tho propositioni"
Captain Blondin's reply was prompt and
decisive.
"You scoundreli" ne said hotly. "You
hound DO You think that your paltry dol
lars will buy met"
Rutherford IS assurance was Of proof; he
did not move from his seat
"Hear me out, Captain, before YOU decide
finally" he said coolly Remember don't
ask YOU 10 do much. and van stand To make
n fortune ont of IL, fortune without risk
All ! ask Of Won is that YOU will take the
Banshee 10 n certain port that ] will name.
anchor her in the harbor and leave her with
your crew And for this, merely this" his
voice sank 10 a whisper, "for this You n re
ceive the sum Of just 100000 in good British
gold"