Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-05-20

and we ate one Of the choicest and
best cooked dinners IL has yer been
my lot to taste. Chatter and I drank
wine Of a brand which only a million
aire could keep in his cellar, while our
host, apparently a most abstemious
man. took only a glass Of iced Gin
ciano water.
From his remarks l discerned that,
contrary to my first impression. Hyl-
ton Chatter was an experienced yachts
man. He owned a craft called the
Alicia, and was a member of the Cork
Yacht club. He lived in London, he
told me, but gave me no information
as to his profession. 1t might be the
law, as l had surmised.
you've seen our ass of a captain,
Mr.. Gregg?" he remarked presently.
What do you think of him?"
Well" l said rather hesitatingly,
to tell the truth, | don't think very
much of his seamanship-nor will the
board of trade when his report reaches
them"
"Ah!" exclaimed Horribly, Il vas a
fool to engage him. From the very
first ! m~istrusted him, only my wife
somehow took a fancy to the fellow,
and, as you know, if you want peace
you must always please the women.
In this case, however, her choice al
most cost me the vessel, and perhaps
our lives into the bargain"
THE captain seems to have had a
nasty cut across the cheek" ! re-
marked, whereupon my two compan-
ions again exchanged quick, appre-
hensive glances.
He fell down the other day." ex-
planned Chatter, with a rather sickly
smile, l thought. His face caught
the edge of an iron stair in the en-
CINE room and caused a nasty cash"
Ismiled within myself, for l knew too
well that the ugly wound in the cap
tain's face had never been inflicted by
falling on the edge of a stair. But
remained silent, being content that
they should endeavor to mislead me.
After dessert had been. served we
rose, and in the summer twilight, when
all the ports were opened, Horribly took
me over the vessel. AS he was con-
Quoting me from his own cabin to the
boudoir we passed a door that had
been blown open by the wind, and
which he fastened to close, not, how
ever, before | had time to glance with
in. To my surprise | discovered that
it was an armory crammed with rifles,
revolvers and ammunition.
1t had not been intended that /
should see that interior, and the rea
son why the customs officers had been
bribed was now apparent.
passed on without remark, making
believe that / had not discerned any
thing unusual, and we entered the
boudoir, Chatter having gone back to
the saloon to obtain cigars.
The dainty little chamber bore
everywhere the trace of having been
arranged by a woman's hand, although
no lady passenger was on board.
Just as we had entered, and l was
admiring the dainty nest Of luxury,
Chatter shouted to his host asking for
the keys of the cigar cupboard, and
Horribly turned back along the gang
way to hand them to his friend, leav-
ing me alone for a few moments.
l stood ~glancing around, and rs l
did SO my eyes fell upon a quantity Of
photographs, framed and unframed,
that were scattered about-evidently
portraits of Hornby's friends. Upon
a small side table, however, stood a
heavy oxidized silver frame, but
empty, while lying on the floor be-
meath a couch was the photograph it
had contained, which had apparently
been taken hastily out, torn first in
half and then in half again, and cast
away.
Curiosity prompted me to stoop,
pick up the four pieces and place them
together, when | found them to form
the cabinet portrait of a sweet-looking
and extremely pretty English girl of
eighteen or nineteen, with a bright,
smiling expression, and wearing a
fresh morning blouse Of white pique.
About the expression Of the pictured
face was something which. l cannot
d~escribe-a curious look in the eyes
which was at the same time both at.
tractive and mysterious. In that brief
moment the girls features were in.
delibly impressed upon my memory.
| looked at the back Of the torn
photograph. and saw that it had been
taken by a well-known and fashionable
firm in New Bond street.
Next second, however, hearing
Hornby's returning footsteps, flung
the fragments hastily beneath the
couch where had discovered them.
Why, I wondered, had the picture
been destroyed-and by whom?
Afterwards On deck l purposely lee
the conversation to Hornby's family
and learned from him that he had nj
children.
You'll get the repairs to your en-
gines done at Orlando's, | supposed"
remarked, naming the great ship-build
ing firm of Leghorn.
yes. I have already given the or
der. They are contracted to be fin
ished by next Thursday, and then W,
shall be off to Zante and Chic"
For what reason, | wondered. recol
lecting that formidable armory OF
board. Already ! had seen quite sui
ficient to convince me that the Lola
although outwardly a pleasure yacht