White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-05-09

muSt nave decided to have 60 at the
wreck, no doubt as the result of that
quick contagion of treasure seeking to
which nobody seems immune, and that
his operations were based on some very
intelligent deduction. So here now was
Tom pledged to Robert that Doctor
White would on learning all the facts,
back him up in his agreement, and
Doctor White acting as it appeared in
behalf of Jessica, the latest claimant
on the Fourquet.
The same reflection was flashed on
Roberts mind. His face hardened, but
he asked politely, ION what does Miss
Poole base her claim, sir?"
"On that buoyed line, of course,
Lieutenant"
Robert made despairing little ges-
ture. But surely, sir, you don't pre-
tend to consider the buoying of a spot
where the wreck might lie as enough
to constitute an actual claim?"
Doctor White smiled. "That sort of
location is sufficient in the case of gold
or other mineral. You have only to
drive your stakes, whether or not you
know the stuff is there"
"But this is different Robert pro-
tested. cit is not-how shall say
wild, or hitherto undiscovered. 1t is
actual property-lost property"
"Then what" asked Doctor White,
would you consider to constitute a
really valid CLAMP"
Nothing short of line actually
made fast to the wreck" Robert an
swered promptly. "And even such a
claim would of course be subject to
contest if proofs of former ownership
were established. That would, admit,
be rather difficult in such a case as
! this But until line is actually at
tached to the wreck, she is almost any,
body's prize, sir. The same holds true
of any 'fostam and jetsam', according
to an ancient finding of the British
admiralty, which has become prac-
tically an international law"
Doctor White nodded. Precisely my
idea. But in the case of a wreck on
bottom where there is no immediate
danger of her breaking up, 1t must be
evident, as you say, that line made
fast to some part of her bulk would
be sufficient, I think, to entitle the
1AO4OCA w I'LL A1Ju11CU1O1 dSd4llSU dlly.
body else's undertaking salvage oper-
ations"
Most probably, SIR Robert adj
mitted. But that would be only after
the line was actually made fast"
Granted, Lieutenant. I'm glad that
we are in agreement on that point"
| Doctor White dipped his oars, rowed
several strokes to the buoy, hauled 1t
aboard and taking blight in the line
passed it through the ringbolt in the,
rowboats stern and caught two half
bitches. CHANGING then at Robert he
said pleasantly, Il have the honor to
inform you, sir, that the other end
OF this line is fast to the F'ourquet, if
indeed the hulk below us is the wreck
OF that vessel"
to see light. The heavy wooden gown
in which Jessica was completely en-
veloped, together with her thick damp
hair, combined with his own knowl-
edge of her amphibious abilities, al
ready had set him thinking, but Robert
so far had suspected nothing. The
gown might have been merely pro-
lection against the morning chill, and
AASA 0oAAAP AAcaAA A4O111 G11c LUZ. I1C GILL
not, therefore, be blamed for suspect
ing a Yankee trick, especially after
having been educated a little in the
daring possibilities of such.
He said with frown, but still po-
litely, II fail to see, sir, how this line
actually can be fast to the wreck, since
your diver has not yet put in an ap-
pearance. An anchor dropped over or
beside the hulk would scarcely be the
same thing"
"Of course not, Lieutenant" Doctor
White admitted, "but such is not the
case. My ward, who is an expert diver
went down about an hour ago in four
fathoms Of water and made the end
of this line fast to shattered plank
end in the bottom of the wreck"
Tom fell back with a sort of stran-
gled Whoop. Robert stared wildly for
an instant, then flung up his hands
with a gesture of dismay. Holy
mackerel!" -borrowing from TOMS list
Of censored expletives Then, being
really good sport, which is to say a
game loser, he added softly, Torpedo