Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-01-04

entity reacneu some decision, MS gaze
shifted to the face of tn, burly engi-
| neer.
II will talk with Captain Hollis" he
said quietly, "and perhaps you had bet
ter return on deck, Masters, and keep
an eye out; the fog thickens, and we
are in the track of ships"
"Very well, SIR
AS the door closed behind the engi-
| neer's bulky figure, the owner mo-
toned me to a chair, while he took an
other himself
81 hardly know how best to approach
my subject" he said soberly. IF you
were merely a shipwrecked merchant
captain, could make you rather at
tractive offer; but, as you have retired
from the sea, that would probably
prove no special inducement."
'The pay, you mean? Well, hardly |;
I have no desire for a BERTH.
$50 I supposed, or else you would
scarcely have been one of Caring
toms guests for a yachting cruise. I
presume Masters told you the fix we
are in?''
eyes, as strange an accident as
ever heard of at sea. You have got
| to have a navigator, and / am perfectly
willing to serve you so far as | can.
I owe you this for picking us up from
| an open boat. With your permission,
| sir, and without mentioning pay, / will
agree to take command of the Indian
| Chief, and sail her to the nearest
American port, where you can procure
| officers, and, if necessary, new crew."
He sat silent, one white hand crum-
ping paper on the desk, his forehead
creased, the lines of his face showing
| clearly. He appeared to hesitate, I'M
certain how best TO answer me.
Il certainly appreciate your Of
| fer, Captain Hollis 1t is a most lib
| eral one, because, if I know anything
| of maritime law, you would be justly
entitled to high compensation for thus
| saving both ship and cargo. I had in
| tended offering you-at least that was
my first thought-the sum of three
hundred month to take command, the
contract to remain in force after the
conclusion of this voyage, if you so de-
sired. This you will not consider? The
money argument has no weight?"
! I smiled, but shook my head.
'Then there is nothing left me, ex-
| cept to appeal to your humanity" he
went on, leaning forward, his eyes on
mine "You belong, I suspect, to my
class, and I can give you my conf
dence, trust you with my secret. Is
| this not true?"
81 hope I am worthy of such faith"
I answered wonderingly, as he paused.
II repose that faith in you, and ask
| you to face this situation from my
| standpoint. I am the sole owner OF
| the Indian Chief, and also of her cargo.
Every dollar possess on this earth is
| tied up on board this vessel. That liz
| why / sailed as supercargO; dare
not trust the venture to anyone else.
Under the matches have cargo VAL
ued at nearly half a million dollars.
| 1t was purchased and shipped on the
strength of a contract signed by a
| high official of one of the European
/ governments, yet the responsibility Of
| payment rests upon myself and few
| intimate friends. IF the Indian Chief
safely discharges this cargo, within a
| designated time, at certain port, or
contingent thereto, shall make a for
! tune, and retain my honor as mer-
| chant. If not, then am ruined man,
| Mr.. Hollis, and my reputation is gone
| also.''
"What port?"
Hamburg"
1 leaned forward; deeply interested
by now in his unusual story.
"Then I presume your cargo is large
| ~ munitions of WARP"
| "Of that nature-yes.'
'From what port did you sail?''
Baltimore, July Goth; we were held
| back within the capes for two days
by a severe storm"
"Then you have not heard of the
| declarations of war in Europe?"
His eyes widened, his pale face
grew winter than ever.
"War in Europe; already declared y
| u6N OAC1dlluSu. 1S tlttL dSIuully u uC
We carry no wireless, and have spoken
| with no vessel since we left the Chesa-
| peale What nations are at warp
"The last message we received on
the Esmeralda was that Germany and
Austria were already pitted against
France, Russia and England. The Ger
man troops had invaded Belgium in an
effort to reach Paris. The night before
our accident great British battleship,
racing toward New York, passed us.
She was under orders to bottle up the
German liners. May I see your mani
fest?"
He took the list from an inner
drawer, and handed it over to me with
out word, evidently stunned by this
unexpected news, and unable to speak.
I turned the typewriter pages slowly,
glancing quietly over the various items.
They were astounding.
"Why, really, I can hardly credit my
own eyes," I exclaimed. ''You tell me
these goods were actually contracted
for by the German government agent
II. -0+C