Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-03-02

1 O~~N@@-N-S =
boat left her side. Wondering and dis
Quieted, we returned to the beach to
await her coming, Was 1t another pr
rate? What possible errand could
bring steamer to this remote, unvis-
tied, all but forgotten little island2
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.
dOfting 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 a pronounced
Spanish accent. His dark high-fea-
tured face was the face Of a Spaniard.
And his grace was the grace Of
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 excellency the
president of the republic c[ Santa
Marina suppose you come on bust
ness, Senior GonzalesT'
Precisely. l am enchanted that
you apprehend the fact without the
tiresomeneSs of explanations. For
business is a cold, usually disagree
able affair, is 1t not SO? That being
the case, let us get it 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 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 1t is question of treasure-of
a very large treasure, senOr?"
The Scotchman's 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 a successful conclusion
fhof in oh x,,fAh hn
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 IA 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
person?" inquired the Santa Marinan,
suavely.
Hamilton H. Tubbs," croaked Miss
Browne.
Senior Gonzales smiled.
II remember the name WE'LL madam.
1t is that of the pretended holder of
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 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 matter of fact 1t was
never made"
In 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 / 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 pirates"
The Spaniard gave me smile made
brilliant bY the CLEAN of smOldering
black eyes and the shine Of white
teeth. .s
"Senorita, with all regret, l must
agree ~
What's in nameT" 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, II you
don't mind telling, how you happened
to learn of our being here, so long as
it was not through the authentic
On general principles, L
tried to keep the matter quiet"
''Weelearned In manner somewhat
what do Won sav9-.curiOus." re-