The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-04-23

'"Then he is at the bottom of this
plot:"
"Probably is the plot-with a few
helpers" replied Marsh, with an oracu-
lar smile.
but the captain? Can he be- be-
gan Brill.
mo need. Benedict has the wireless,
thanks to Thurston's not showing up.
Perhaps I've done Thurston an injus-
tice. Mebbe Benedict fixed him SO he
couldn't come aboard. Anyway, I'd
give a good deal for half an hour Of
that gentleman's services right now"
Neither spoke again for a few min
utes. Brill chewed viciously at an I'M
lighted cigar, while Marsh balanced
one Of Aristides' files on a fat fore6n-
ger, watching the process as if the bit
of iron were some divining rod that
would presently swing toward a solu-
ton of the mystery. Brill was the
first to break the silence.
II suppose the best thing we can do
is to lay the facts before Captain Hum
phries," he %ventured, more for the sake
Of drawing Marsh out than from any
definite conviction on the subject, The
stout man shook his head.
"The best thing we can do, my boy
he said quietly, els to keep our fingers
You and l know Benedict read Jenni-
sons message and wrote the answer,
but can we prove it?'
Brill nodded acquiescence. He knew
that the penciled vagaries that had
convinced them were even less than
circumstantial evidence, and he ac-
knowledged that, in his own case at
least, personal hatred had already
Judged a man guilty. But it seemed to
him that there must be something that
could defeat this plot, if plot it were,
and he said as much to his companion.
THE best thing we can do" repeated
Marsh, els to say nothing and saw
~wood-unless, of course, VIC get gem
uine proof. Anyway, it's the insurance
and steamship companies that will be
robbed if we are right. The Jenni-
sons
At the sound of the name he loved
so we'll, Brill dropped into a chair and
grasped the arms, as if some physical
shock had deprived him Of all his
strength. For a moment his heart grew
trust himself to speak, but with a hand
that actually shook he drew his copy
of the Dorr dispatch from his pocket
and held it before Marsh. pointing to
the words, eco yourself with the ship
ment."
Then did their significance and what
they meant to Overton dawn upon his
friend.
"Hc will go:" he asked.
ole says it is his duty" was the
grave reply.
Marsh appeared to soliloquize.
ut will do no good to try to persuade
him. he murmured. "Benedict's his
friend. He doesn't know us. Even
Toms newfangled signature didn't
give him any doubt, did it," he asked
III IOuuCL lOlCs AlANlIIS AAo SSNo ~ oAA1As
NO; he thought it was because Of
the Importance Of the affair. He be-
lieves the money will be lost. or at the
best. the deal spoiled, if he doesn't CO."
The rubicund face was here disfig-
ured by a heavy frown, and the lids
almost closed over the blue eyes. CIV
ing the commercial man the air Of see
ing a distant vision.
what could he do, ven if he be-
lieved us?" he asked slowly. They'll
have a nice time digging out the gold
and transferring it. The stuff must
weigh something like seventy OF eighty
TONS"
Brill recalled that there was a point
upon which he could astonish even
Marsh.
"The thirty millions in the hold are
billed as pig lead" he said impress
lively.
The other gave a long whistle.
THE devil you say!!' he shouted.
"And not insured:'
Brill shook his head.
"Jennison's people will be ruined.
The. companies will claim fraud and
shirk all responsibility. Docs Benedict
know Of this:"
"Mr. Jennison himself told him. re-
piled Brill, proceeding to give an &C
count Of the conversation he had heard
outside his stateroom early in the voy-
age. Marsh communed with his own
interior consciousness for a moment,
%hon cold e,66oulVe