American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-03-11

And though Steve made a perrect
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 Dunkers again. On the
voyage home he brooded continually,
n was frequently found blubbering;
and n night he skipped his watch
and went to Davy Jones' locker.
Dunkers had not told about the
name he had seen on the box; and
Blossom had not thought to. The name
Hargreave had instantly brought back
to Dunkers' mind the newspaper
stories he had recently read. There
was no doubt in the world that this
box belonged to the missing million
aire, h had drawn a million from
his banks and vanished; and, more
over, there was no doubt in Dunkers'
mind that this million lay in the Ba-
haman waters. 1t had been drawn up
from the bottom of the sound, under
the path of the balloon. He proceeded,
then, to taxi a most minute range.
1t would require money and partners;
but half a loaf would be far better
than no loaf at all; and he was deter
mined to return to New York to find
backing. Finding is keeping, on land
or sea.
Now 1t happened that his favorite
grog shop was a cheap saloon across
the way from the headquarters of the
Black Hundred; and Vroon occasion
ally dropped in, for he often picked up
a valuable bit of maritime news.
Dunkers was an old friend of the bar
keeper, and he proceeded to pour and
guzzle down his throat a very poor
substitute for whisky. He became
communicative. He Dragged. He knew
where there was a million, and all he
needed was a first-class diving bell. A
year from now he would not be drink
ing cheap whisky; he'd be steering a
course up and down Broadway and
buying wine when he was thirsty.
He was no miser. But he had to have
a diving bell; and where the blue devil
could he get one with $12 and an
lngersoll watch in his pocket?
From his table Vroon made a sign
which the bartender understood. Then
he rose and approached Dunkers.
II 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 a drink; and. Bill,
give us a zeal whisky and none of
your soap-lye. Now, let's hear your
yarn"
Il don't know yuh," said Dunkers,
with drunken caution. How is 1t,
Bill?" 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
We'll, this gent here is Mr.. Brooks,
general manager for Wyant G. Co. I
can o. X. him."
Vroon threw an appreciative glance
at the bartender. He was not affiliated
with the Black Hundred, but he had
aided Vroon in minor affairs.
"All right, If yuh say so, Bill. Well,
here's tn yarn
And when he had done. Vroon
smoked quietly without speaking.
Don't yuh believe IT." demanded
Dunkers, trucufently.
But 600 feet Of water. In a coral
bottom, and nj way of telling Just
where it fell overheard. That's a tough
proposition"
%. it is. is 1t! I'm a sailor. / can
Iay my hand right over tn spot. Do
Yuh think I'd be fool enough t. hunt
Tor it without a perfect ranger" Dunk.
ers tapped his coat pocket suggestive,
".
And Vroon knew that the one thing
wanted was there. a plan or a draw
.ng of the range. So there was another
man shanghaied that night, and his
was Cape Town, % DAYS
by the calendar.
Nroon carried his information to the
hat same night. They
would start the expedition at once. /
till this was accomplished. Har-
daughter was to be immune
rom attacks. Besides, 1t would give
Hargreave wherever he wasl and the
the Idea that the Black Hun
ired had concluded to give up the
,hase.
Above. with his a to a small hole,
'killfully bored through the ceiling
without permitting the plaster to fall,
inelt a man with a bandaged arm. He
'ould never see any faces: no one
'vor took OF a mask in this sinister