Evening star., 1914-12-27


Strait, when Pericles interrupted him.
What do you know, Mr.. Graves, about this Rufus
Peabody, the Semnole's skipper?" he asked.
@No than what have from Nlsen & Rosen-
thai They told this morning that when they
bought the Seminole Peabody to them with let
tiers of the highest recommendation, and they en-
ployed him to bring the ship out. We chartered her
the day she arrived from the Delaware As it was to
be only month-tomonth party-as you know we
have been expecting two ships from the yards
since spring-we couldn't very we'll say didn't
Peabody As matter of fact we had nobody to put in
the command if we had been dissatisfied, and N.
& r. had agreed to it. Peabody had irst-cass
tifcate. 1t satisfied the insurance people. met Pea
body only once, and must say that he impressed
very favorably,-an American of splendid education.
He is quite as tall you, Captn OBrien built
in the fashion, bronzed by long years sea- but
naturally dark. 1 should put his age at about fifty
FIVE; although he looked younger, despite his gray hair
and mustache. 1 think it was his eyes that gave
the impression of YOUTH and sharp eagles"
Here Perices fixed Graves perturbed glance and
shot this question at him, "Did Nisen or Rosentha
at any time show you Peabodys letters of high
recommendation ?"
my coming here 1 asked about them. Nillsen told
he had returned them to Peabody back East"
"Didn't say he'd looked up the people who
wrote em2"
Il asked him that Said he hadn't because the letters
obviously genuine; but he promised to try
to recall the authors. He couldn't do it offhand"
didn't explain either did he, how the trading soop
happened to be Johnny thespot when the Seminole
struck3"
@No, he did not"
Perices' lips parted in cynical smile which he meant
,ny for Laysan; but Graves caught it.
Really, Captn OBrien, I think you unduy
suspicious. attach importance to the sloop's hav
ing been on hand My anxiety, my single concern,
IS the good of the Alaskan Northern and that is
why, Gentlemen, wish you Immediately to start
If vour vessels to the scene of the wreck
@You may think unduly suspicious, Mr.. Graves"
answered Percles shortly, @bu worked for Mill
zen & Rosenthal-and 1 know the damned pirates
50 does John Laysan."
JNDER of that night Pericles sent north the
West Coasts big wrecking tug Salvador to comb
Clarence Strait AS he gave her commander, Johnny
coogan, his final instructions, he discovered the
.fter bukhead of the chartroom Marian Craigs three
irawings framed in new narrow strips of gold
"Ran afoul of em in magazine, Skipper an thought
EN- so fine blew myself on havin' 'em framed, de-
Jared Coogan in glow. 4An' jes think woman did
EN-! Maybe she's friend O yours, Skipper?"
@No. Why, Johnny"
@Wel, that's ye she's got that bridge there, I
:an't see straight-that Master It's ye I've
seen ye fifty times!"
But Pericles made rejonder to this, and few
minutes later he watching the Salvador merge with
the night. Yet strangely enough, his thoughts were
not of of the lost gold ship she setting forth
to find. For second time that day the master savor
was wondering what of person Marian Craig
might be.
By the following morning telegraph and cable had
put the loss of the Seminole the way to become
nine days wonder of the civilized world In the
night the Kodiak had arrived Seattle. The published
statements of the Seminoe's deck officers and her
pilot might have been the story of one man. The liner
had left Juneau at six NJ February IA February 13,
ships time), having added there million and half
in bars the gold already aboard Resunng her way
che