The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-11-11

Some weeks G~teI, tS 1ioS SESo
More the OreIna! Box.
tain Manners And the sooner you 90,
the better"
TIL go, sir" said Drinkers, readily
enough. Had the misfortune happened
to him and had Blossom been the ag-
gresscr, he would want his life. He
understood. Like the valet in "Ol!v-
ette," it was the time for disappearing.
"An' keep out o my way. III git
y yet" growled Blossom.
Keep your mouth shut" said the
mate, "or III have you put in irons,
you pig"
AL right sir. I've said all I'm goiH
t say t'day;;" and Blossom strode of.
What was the box like?' asked the
captain Of Dunkers.
Chinese contraption, sir; leastwise
It locked that way to me. Didn't look
as il it'd been in tn water long, si-.
Somethin' lost overheard by some pri-
vate yacht, Z my thinkin'. III keep
out O. Steve's way III lay low on
shore, sir
And though Steve made perfect
range Of the spot, he never came back
to find the mysterious box, never saw
the ellison house back home, nor did
he ever see Durkers again. On the
voyage home he brooded continually,
and was frequently found blubbering;
and one night he skipped his watch
and went to Davy Jones locker. E..
Dunkers had not told about the
name he had seen on the box; and
Blossom had not thought to. The name
Hargreaye had instantly brought back
to Dunkers' mind the newspaper
stories he had recently read. There
was 70 doubt in the world that this
box belonged to the missing millicn-
aire, who had drawn a million from
his banks and vanished; and, more
over, there vas no doubt in Dunkers'
rlind that this million lay in the Ba-
haman waters. It had been drawn up
from the bottom CT the sound. under
the path Of the balloon. He proceeded;
then, to take most minute range
It would require money and partners;
but half loaf would be far better
than no loaf at ali; and he was deter
mined to return to New York to fna
backing. Finding is keeping, on lard
Or sea.
Nov it happened that his favorite
grog shc2 vas a cheap saloon across
t::t Ny from the headquarters Of the
Black Hundred; and Troon occasion
ally dropped; II, for he often picked up
e valuable bit OF maritime news.
Duaker9 las Al OK; friend of the bar
keeper, 2nd ne proceeded to pour and
guzz!e down his throat l very poor
substitute fer whisky. He became
communicative. He Dragged. He knew
where there was million, ard all he
needed was Grst-class diving bell. a
year from now he would not be drink
ing cheap whisky; ned be steering
course up and down Broadway and
buying wine when he was thirsty.
He was 10 miser. But he had to have
diving bell; and where the blue devil
could he get one with S12 and an
Ingersoll watch in lis pocket?
From his table Vroon made a sign
which the bartender understood. Then
he rose and approached Dunkers.
"I own a pretty good diving appar-
atus," he said. IF you've got the
goods, I'll take a chance on a fifty
fifty basis" Vroon did not believe
there was anything back Of his talk;
but it always paid to dig deep enough
to find out. Have drink; and. Bill,
give US real whisky and none Of
your soap-lye Now, lets hear your
yarn"
"I don't know ?uh," said Dunkers,
with drunken caution. How IS it,
Bin?" turning to the bartender.
Hes the goods. jim. You've heard
Of Wyant & Coz"
"Sure I've heard o them. Best
divin' Apparatus they is
well, this gent here is Mr.. Brooks,
general manager for Wyant & Co. I
can o. K. him"
Vroon threw ar arrreciative glance
at the bartender. He MAS not affiliated
with the Black Hundred, but he had
eften aided VrooL IL minor affairs.
All right, il yuh say so, Bill. Well,
here's th' yarn
And when he had done, Vroon
smoked quietly without speaking.