Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1915-09-24
ChAPT Err VII.

and seized the glasses once again. He
passed them to lnez Tell me what
you see" he said
The woman shuddered slightly
Government vessel" she returned.
With the woman at his side he
strobe into the huge living room,
A moment later he reappeared tug.
cling with him a small steamer trunk.
With her aid he carried 1t to the We
randa; then they went back for an.
other--and another--and still another.
Senior" exclaimed Ponto, from the
inner edge Of small pit that he and
the brute had finished digging, behold,
the task Is now complete"
Come then" cried Hernandez
sharply, dump these In"
Half an hour later and half a mile
from shore a revenue cutter stopped
Its engines and later dropped an an.
Choir.
Another half an hour and Hernandez
and his dark.haired Inez sauntered
shoreward and stood bowling on the
crazy little wharf They waited calm.
ly. the woman smoking a cigarette
and Hernandez enjoying his panetela,
until the ships gig drew up to the
wharf.
Hernandez deity caught the rope AZ
It was thrown to him.
Mr.. Hernandez" said the officer
brusquely. I've got government
search warrant"
do not produce 1t, SIR" he said 81
take you at your word"
Mr.. Hernandez" went on the ON.
Ger, "a Porto Rican fisherman reported
to US yesterday that his kicker had
been hired three times by notorious
negro smuggler-that three times he
had watched the departure OF his boat
and Its return. Each time 1t had come
In this direction-each time returned
from this direction"
"rhe point is" went on the officer,
lust this. This is the only point south
OF Porto Rico within q given distance
The kicker owned by our informant.
when It left Its owner. sailed direct
toward you and returned direct from
you Possibly am on a FOOLS errand.
but I've got to do my duty"
Permit me to escort you, senior"
said Hernandez.
An hour later the officer was seated
on the veranda waiting for his men,
One by one they nled in and reported
NO go. sir" they all said We've
covered the whole place There's not
an ounce Of gum nor penny's worth
Of flake"
The officer shook his head and dis
missed his men.
You were speaking" he remarked.
slipping his glass OF ice-cold vichy,
you were speaking Of the Martinique
eruption"
OF that. assented Hernandez. and
OF something else-the steamship Prin.
cess Of New York"
Why" said the officer, "she was
burned, that tramp burned two days
Out from Martinique"
Hernande2's eyes narrowed How
do you know. senor?' he querled
81 know" returned the officer, be,
cause was a seaman on the gunboat
Eaglet-and the gunboat Eaglet res.
cued the survivors Of the Princess
Senior. said Hernandez gravely. Il
would hear about this Princess of New
York. She stood by. senor--l remem.
Der we'll for | thought my last hour
had come--she stood by to succor
refugees and | with my man Ponto
here-l Vas refugee | fed from
the smoke and lava of Mount Pelee
back In 1902"
Were you on the steamer Prin-
cess" asked the officer
No" returned Hernandez. they
would not let us on; they beat US
back But strange thing happened
senior There were four Of US myself
my servant Ponto and an American
named llington."
-Four of you?" querled the officer
All" said Hernandez, there was
a fourth member OF the party--we
had :ut 0ff In leaky boat She was
q baby girl--a child She was the
daughter of this Ilinston
The officer leaned forward His
mind was at work His memory traV.
eled back over some thirteen years
He nodded
Ellington, he repeated, "A chile
Ia baby girl. remember now,
That baby girl, senior. boarded the
ship--they took her out of all her
party--her and her native woman serv.
ant"
The officer slapped his thigh u re-
member now" he said. Il remember
all about 1t Let me see 1t was com
mon talk aboard the Eaglet. This
child came aboard with the wife Of
the Princess captain. She had two
boys with her and this little girl. |
don't remember the girl, but she was
young, say five years old The cap
tain's boy remember well--he slept
In my hammock the first night he
came aboard remember him. But
there was something about the girl
wait, have 1t. A bag Of gold-Span-
ish pieces most Of them, think--or
maybe French A bag Of gold--and
something else. Some note or pack.
age-some mystery at any rate, as !
recall"
Hernandez knocked the aches from
his panetela. "You don't say so, sen
Or" ha replied. with a show ot inter.
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