Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-04-14

capacity.
A mile offshore she lay to, and a
boat left her side. Wondering and dis
quieted, we returned to the beach to
await her coming. Was it another pi-
ratef What possible errand could
bring steamer to this remote, unvis-
tied, all but forgotten little island?
AS the oarsmen drove the boat upon
the beach the man In the stern sprang
agilely ashore. Dugald Shaw stepped
forward, and the stranger approached,
dofing his helmet courteously.
You are the American and English
party who landed here some weeks
ago from the Rufus SmithT'
| His English was easy and correct,
though spoken with pronounced
Spanish accent. His dark high-fea-
tured face was the face Of Spaniard.
And his grace was the grace of a
Spaniard. as he bowed sweepingly and
handed Mr.. Shaw a card.
"Senor Don Enrique Gonzales" said
| Dugald, bowling in his stiff-necked
fashion, Il am happy to see you. But
as you represent his excellercy the
| president of the republic # Santa
Marina l suppose you come on bust
ness, Senior Gonzales?"
Precisely. l am enchanted that
you apprehend the fact without the
| tiresomeness Of explanations. For
business is cold usually a disagree
able affair, is 1t not so? That being
the case, let us get 1t over"
First do us the honor to be seated,
Senior Gonzales"
Comfortably bestowed in a camp
chair In the shade, the Spaniard re-
sumed:
MY friend, this island belongs, as
Of course you are aware, to the re-
public, Of which l have the honor to be
a citizen. All rights and privileges,
such as harvesting the copra crop, are
strictly conserved by the republic. All
persons desiring such are required to
negotiate with the minister Of state OF
the republic. And how much more,
when 1t Is a question of treasure-of
very large treasure. senor?"
The Scotchman's face was dark.
Il had understood" he replied,
without looking In the direction OF
Miss Higglesby-Browne, who seemed
in the last few moments TO have I'M
dergone some mysterious shrinking
process, that negotiations In the
proper quarter had been undertaken
and brought to a successful conclusion
that In short we were here with the
express permission Of the government
Of Santa Marina"
This was a challenge which Miss
Browne could not but meet.
Il had" she said hoarsely, II had
the assurance Of "a person high in
the financial circles Of the United
States, that through his-his influence
with the government of Santa Marina
1t would not be necessary-in short,
that he could fix the PRESIDENT en-
ploy his own term-for q considerable
sum, which (which my friend Miss
Harding gave him."
"And the name of this influential
personY inquired the Santa Marinan,
suavely.
Hamilton II. Tubbs." croaked Miss
Browne.
Senior Gonzales smiled.
Il remember the name well, madam. |
1t Is that Of the pretended holder Of a |
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 |
He had in some doubtful |
fashion become possessed Of a little |
entirely worthless land, which formed |
the basis Of his transactions. His
frauds were 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 any pur-
pose would instantly have been re-
fused, but as a matter of fact 1t was
never made"
In a benumbed silence we met the
blow. The riches that had seemed
within our grasp would never be ours.
We had no claim upon them for all
,ur toll and peril; no right even to be
lere upon the island. Suddenly 1 be-
IAN to laugh; faces wearing various
shades of shocked surprise were
urned on me. Still / laughed.
Don't you see." I cried. "how rldic-
llous 1t all is7 All the time It is we
Who have been pirates!'
The Spaniard gave me smile made
brilliant by the CLEAN of smoldering
lack eyes and the shine OF white
ecth.
''Senorta. with all regret. must
gree"
whats In q namef" remarked Du-
aid Shaw. Struggling. 1--WE were
fter other peoples property. anyway.
am very sorry about II. Senior Con
ales, but | would like to ask, II you
ont mind telling. how you happened
D learn OF our being here. so long AS
was not through the authentic
hanDels. On general principles, j d