American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-12-09
PAGE THREE
Sennr Gnnrnles smiled.

concession from our government, who
a few years ago induced a number of
American school teachers and clergy
men and other financially Innocent
persons TO invest In Imaginary coffee
plantations, He had In some doubtful
fashion become possessed OF a little
entirely worthless land, which formed
the basis of his transactions. His
frauds we're discovered while he was
In our country. and he was obliged to
leave between two days, according to
your so picturesque idiom. Needless
to say his application for permission
to visit Leeward island for n pur-
pose would instantly have been re-
fused, but as a matter OF fact 1t was
never made"
In n benumbed silence we met tho
blow, The riches that had seemed
within our grasp would never be ours.
We had no claim upon them, for all
our toll and peril no right even to bo
here upon the Island. Suddenly | be-
gan TO laugh; faces wearing various
shades OF shocked surprise were
turned on me. Still | laughed.
"Don't you see" | cried, how ridic-
ulous II all is2 All the time It Is we
who have been piratesv'
The Spanlard gave me a smile made
brilliant by the CLEAN OF smoldering
black eyes and the shine of white
teeth.
"Senorlta. with all regret. ! must
agree"
whats In a manner, remarked Du-
guild Shaw, Struggling. I'VE were
after other peoples property, anyway.
| am very sorry about II, Senior Con
zales, but | would like to ask, II you
don't mind telling, how you happened
to learn OF our being here, so long IA
II was not through the authentic
channels. On general principles, !
tried TO keep the matter quiet"
1--WE learned In u manner somewhat
what do you say f--curious," re-
turned the Spuniard, who, having pre-
sented the men with cigars and by
permission lighted one himself. was
making himself extremely at homo N
appeared to have no Immediate inten-
ton Of hallng us away to captivity In
Santa Marlnan dungeons. "But before
| 20 further, kindly tell me whether
you have had any-ah-vlsltors dur
Ing your stay on the island9'
ave have" Mr.. Shaw replied. very
troublesome ones"
The .Spaninrd smiled.
"Then answer your own question.
These men, while unloading a contra
band cargo In q port of Mexico, near
the southern border, grew too merry
In a wlneshop, and let II be- known
where they were bound when again
they put TO sea. The news, after some
delay, found It's way TO our capital.
Az once the navy Of the republic was
dispatched TO investigate the matter.
ION the way here | put In at Pana-
ma. where certain Inquiries were sat
isfnctorily answered. There were
those In that port who had made q
shrewd guess at the destination Of the
party which had shipped on the Rufus
Smith. ! then pursued my course TO
Leeward. But admit, my friends, that
I have not by my arrival, caused you
any material loss, Except that have
unfortunately been compelled TO pre-
sent you to yourselves In the charac-
ter of-ns say the young lady-pi-
rates--madam, / speak under correc-
toni have done you no injury, eh
And TINT for the simple reason that
you have not discovered what you
sought, hence cannot be required TO
surrender IT,"
& kTu I.utFaH 40 ns.a .nnFIar ht fttI
ly. The ambiguous words OF the Span.
lard, the something humorous and
knocking which lay behind his %courtll
manner, put us quite In the dark.
J "Senor Gonzales" replied IN,
S%cotchman, after a moments hesita
I ton, st IL true tina. 40 far only I
negligible amount OF what we came 4
find has rewarded us. But | cnnno
+ In honesty conceal from you that w
know where 20 look for the rest OF 4,
! and that we had certainly expected Il
o leave the island with II In our posses
z sion"
, The dark indolent eyes OF our via
Y itos grew suddenly keen. Hnlf.yeile'
by the heavy lashes. they searched tn
INV VI ghhhlh VS. W. ~ N''Ahfh Aha
what they found Ia that bold and opeI
, countennnce satisfied them. His owl
; face cleared again.
~ think w speak M purposes
= Mr.. Shaw" he said cOurteOusly. "an,
! that We may better understand eac
. other. I am going 10 tell you n llttl
story. At about this season. two year
- ago. the navy OF Santa Marina. III
" same which nOw Hes on the islant
. was mixing a voyage Of ~lnspectio
: along the coast OF the republic.
!, wac decided 20 include Leewnrd /
u the cruise, as Il had been unyislted 10
q considerable time. / hold no naya
j., raDk-indecd. we are not n ~seafnrln
= people, and the captain OF La Color
= drlna II n person from Massachusettl
y Jeremiah BOwles by name. but as IN
representative 0f his excelleney / a.