The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1916-06-29
the first box that met his hand.

Ill lllSI IVA NAuS AASt HAo AssAhN
He lifted the cover and ran his hand
under the excelsior. His fingers struck
something. He knew what it was the
instant his fingers touched it. Con-
tinuing on the top Of the bag, he felt
a tag. The light was poor.
Feverishly he struck a match and
read the tag.
"Holy suffering cats, my bank!
What do you know about that?' he
exclaimed. Hastily adjusting the Gov
er he screwed it down. Then carefully
gathering up the bits of excelsior from
the floor and pressing them together,
he showed them in his pocket.
Eight bells struck. He started. It
was his trick at the wheel. He went
on deck to relieve Hemenway.
"~Sou'sou'west, half west" said
Hemenway as he released the spokes
to Lent.
"Sou'sou'west, half west" repeated
Lent. @~~ y r.
Suddenly Hemenway grew deathly
pale, then fiery red.
where did you, Hemenway
checked himself up short. On the
right sleeve of Lent's coat under the
cuff, were two or three bits of excel.
sior that had stuck to the material.
! The truth flashed through Hemenway
in an instant.
| "What's the matter?" asked Lent
%nervously.
Nothing" replied Hemenway with
a laugh. II must have been a dream
ing"
He walked forward thoughtrulIy.
"Yes, sir,' he said to himself;
"that fellow has been in my boxes.
He didn't have time to open many, but
one is enough. They are all alike
AS the full realization of Lent's ac-
lions dawned on his his hair began to
bristle. He felt weak and grasped q
stay to steady himself.
"Tve never killed a man; but, by
God! I'll kill him. he breathed fer
vently. He gazed off to windward.
trying to collect his thoughts. Finally
he was able to think clearly.
II can't get rid of him now; that's
certain. 1t would leave us too short.
handed, but when we get ashore
"What's the matter, Archie? You
look like somebody had tapped you for
your last two bits"
Hemenway looked around and dis
covered Mcdonald in the lee of the
foremost peeling potatoes.
Hello, Dennis! How are the muir.
plies holding out?" replied Hemen'
way cheerfully pulling himself togeth:
er. II guess l must be growing home
SICK" he added throwing himself on
the deck beside the detective.
Then after a pause he said:
Tell me what you know about
Lent, will you: never heard your
story"
"Sure, I'll give you the whole his
tory. You see, Lent was ~bookkeepel
in a bank and"
"'What bank?"
s"The Merchants and Drovers'.'
Hemenway let out a low whistle.
"What's wrong?" demanded Nc
, Donald.
;. "Just a condolences; that's all.
had an office in the same building.
Mcdonald started again and told al
he knew of Lent's affairs. When HI
had finished Hemenway asked:
EDO you think he is crooked"
"Surest thing you know!"
"Well, he's a queer chap all right
and I'm sorry l brought him along. /
you had only played on the level will
me, Dennis, all this could have beer
avoided"
/ 81 know it, and l have been kickin;
myself ever since l got in this scrape
Never mind, IN get him yet"
y Hemenway went below shortly at
terward and carefully examined hi
boxes Bright, new scratches in tn
screw heads of one box proved beyont
a doubt that Lent had opened it. Onl.
one box had been tempered with
Hemenway was sure.
Next day. after bordering the mat
ter overnight, he resolved to stow tn
boxes and trunk in the forehOld, TO-
there would be absolutely no excuse
for Lent going there. To throw Of
suspicion, he got Lent to help hin
move the boxes, making the plea tina,
they took up too much where
they were.
Lent helped him without saying a
word. Hemenway felt life choking
him while they were down in the fore
mold together, but he conquered his
desire and to all outward appearances
was as cheerful as ever toward his
companion.
There was no other incident wor.
thy of record in their long run south.
The weather was remarkably fine all
the way. Even the squalls, which
sometimes had a dangerous appear.
ance and gave the crew busy half
hours shortening sail to be on the safe
side. proved harmless as they passed.
There were days Of calm and there
were days of head wind; but, on the
~rI~~H kA~.x -o~54 cso~ 1880 ..-S~.