Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-02-18

signed for speed rather than carrying
capacity.
A mile offshore she lay to, and IL
boat left her side Wondering and dis
quleted, we returned to the beach TO
await her coming. Was 1t another pi-
rate? What possible errand could
bring steamer to this remote, unvis-
lied, all but forgotten little island?
AS the oarsmen drove the boat upon
the beach the man In the stern sprang
agllely ashore. Dugald Shaw stepped
forward, and the stranger approached,
doffing his helmet courteously.
You are the American and English
party who landed here some weeks
ago from the Rufus Smith,?
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 card.
"Senor Don Enrique Gonzales" said
Dugald, bowling In his stiff-necked
fashion, Il am happy to see you. But
as you represent his excellency the
president of the republic Ct Santa
Marina l suppose you come on bust
ness, Senior Gonzales?"
Precisely. I am enchanted that
you apprehend the fact without the
tiresomeness of explanations. For
business Is cold, usually 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 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 have the honor to be
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 it Is a question Of treasure-of
very large treasure, senorT
The Scotchmans face was dark.
II 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 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.
~ 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
it would not be necessary-in short,
that he could fix the PRESIDENT EN-
ploy his own term-for considerable
sum, which (which my friend Miss
Harding gave him."
"And the name of this influential
personT' inquired the Santa Marinan,
suavely.
Hamilton H. Tubbs," croaked Miss
Browne.
Senior Gonzales smiled.
II remember the name well, madam
1t is that Of the pretended holder Of q
concession from our government, who
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 were discovered while he was
in our country, and he was obliged tc
leave between two days, according tc
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
our toll and peril no right even to be
here upon the island. Suddenly l be
gan to laugh; faces wearing various
shades of shocked surprise were
| turned on me. Still / laughed.
"Don't you see," cried, "how ride
ulous 1t all Isl All the time 1t is We
who have been piratesw
The Spaniard gave me a smile made
brilliant by the CLEAN Of smolderine
black eyes and the shine of white
teeth.
"SenorIta, with all regret, 1 must
agree"
whats in a manner" remarked Du
gald Shaw, struggling. 1--WE were
after other peoples property, anyway
/ am very sorry about it, Senior Con
zales, but would like to ask, If you
don't mind telling, how you happened
to learn of our being here, SO long as
1t was not through the authentic
channels. On general principles,
tried to keep the matter quiet"
I'VE learned In manner somewhat
what do you say?-curious," re-