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About The Eugene City guard. (Eugene City, Or.) 1870-1899 | View Entire Issue (July 27, 1889)
The Caplaiifs Money. A Tale ol Buried Treasure, Cuban Revolt and Adventure Upon the Seal. IN FOUR PARTS. BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITT8. When t Ittt the two Americans whom iTi tan MM at tlic Pasco were able to disentangle themselves from the crowd, they began to nrnkB their way down U the quay. Their progress wua alow. 8iiinds o( soldiers patrolled every street, and they were often halted and commanded to give an ac count of themselves. On these occa sions Louis Hunter would ataud care lessly by with hla handa In his pockets, while the nnilor, who had been pre pared by the latter evonta of the day to act and talk temperately, would pull aome folded paperafrom hi breast pocket, and declared: "We are both Americans, but per fectly MMMblti We belong to the bark' 'Nellie Willli,' In the harbor. I nm her Captain, Aaron Willis; thla la my nephew, Lmds Hunter, who sail with me. Ben are my maiiifeKt and clearance; we're most ready to aail-only waiting to Hhip more handa. We've been to the Paaeo to aee the execution." This full explanation, with a glance at the papera, and sometimes a ques tion or two, Hiiftlced to paaa the two along; and when the Captain'a Span ish waa not understood, Louis was called upon to explain. As they roared tliu water the crowd became thinner,nnd they were able to walk more rapidly, and converse aa they walked. "By all odds, the moat daring thing I ever saw in my Ufa," the Captain de clared. "A man couldn't try It once out of ten thousand times, and escape a bul let," said the other. "Just so; and that'a what makes the thing so wonderful. Don't you think so?" I think it waa fool-luck," aald Louis. The. Captain eyed him savagely. Anger ami disgust by turns ruled his face. "I tell you what, Iouia," he Nil id, aa he smole his open palm with his list, "the time Is coming pretty fast when the cabin ol the "Nellie Willis" won't Ihi big enough to hold you and me. You've angered me more I his after noon than I waul to be angered in a whole month. Are you all scllishness, from head fa heels? Iid vni ITtf say a generous thing, or admire another man's words or acta, in your life aa f" '() Jioiher, uncle you lire me with your aeiilimenU" "Very well, sir -I won't tire you much longer. Your knowledge of Spanish has been of service to me, in getting my cargo and doing my busi neaa here; but I can't put up with your ways and manners, 1 sha'ii'l ask you t make another trip with me." "I'm delighted to hear you say so," Ixmis replied, in his most oll'cusive tone. After this explosion, the two walked on in silence. At tin quay a disagree able surprise awaited them. A strong guard of soldiers was posted wherever a boat could approach or h ave it, and all communication with the veeieli an chored out in the harbor was absolute ly cut oft'. Several boats had ap proached as near the landings as they Wen' permitted; amoivg them Captain Willis rceoguiacd one from bis own Vessel. "How long is this to last, I'd like to know ?" the indignant Captain inquired of the ollircr of the guard, and received in reply the laconic answer which all Spaniards in authority delight to make to questioners, and w hich slguillca in Knglish: "Who knowaP" 'I guess it will last nil night, easy enough," Louis remarked. Captain Willis silently assented: and the two turned back to the city to secure a lodging. TAUT I I'HAITER IV. INK i. 11. i, ASU miii CAPTAIN. Thl good bark "Nellie Willis" hail been for some years voyaging lift ween ltostou and Havana. Her ordinary cargo for the low latitudes was salted lish, and her return cargo was rum. molasses or tobacco; sometimes all three. Her master w as also her ow ner, and bluff Captain Willis had been so long in the OOMtwkM trade, hud for so mam years sailed hla own vessels and purchased and disposed of his freights, and had sm ha rare combination of busi ness shrewdness w ith good .seamanship, that those ho knew bun thought that he must have much wealth laid up. Hut the fact was that nobody knew the Captain very well; and aa he was ae custoincd to keep his own counsels, alt that was said about his possessions waa based on guesses, and not on kuow ledge. The experience of Captain Willis ro,-ie. many years and embraced many voyages; Inn something quite uncoini i bad occurred upon the present trip When he cast anchor in Havana harbor, more than two weeks before, he found himself almost with out a crew. A Nora off Mallei as, un usual at Ihis season of the year, had eeverely tried his staunch vessel; and though she rode it out in safety, it was with the loss of three able seamen who fell o ei hoard in the gale. Before the coast of Cuba waa sighted five more men were taken lon almost in a day with a malignant fever. One died in a few hours, tl. other four Were s. i.l to i he hospital as soon as the anchor was dropped in the harbor. Short -hamlisil n , , lft, it had haM with the greatest ihthYully that Captain Willis had I n aide to work hi ship in, and now came tin crown ing calamity of the voyage. Sailora are provei l.ially superstitious, and the occun am . , of this passage had made a deep iinn. ssion upon the re mainder of the eivw of the "Nel lie Willi." The Captain observed whiK rlug ami consultation, among mom, ami. in..ntl. they worked faith fully taking in the return cargo, he could ve that there waa trouble brew ing Two day before September 1. when the freight of tobacco and mo las. i was all stored beluw, live of lli. -(allien e hiie lift, and one of them, cap in baud, addie-sed him. The spokes man said that I ml hi- mates had made up their minds that the "Nellie" had become an unlucky ship, and that they dared not return to Huston in her. They had worked the -hip faithfully on the voyage dow n, and they aked to he paid off for the half-voyage, and dis charged. Captain Willis was the very lu.it man afloat who would tolerate any conduct of this l in. I from his sailors. He tleruly ordered I hem back to their duty, lelliugthcm that they had shipped for the w hole voyage, and the whole voyage they must make. Ho added in a significant way that such men could not be trusted with ahore leave, and that they must stay on board till the anchor was up again. The Captain flattered himself that he had settled the matter by his linn words anil decided way; but he did not know the spirit of these men. They had determined that they would never ret urn to Boston on the "Nellie." That night the whole five fried to swim ashore. Two were carried out to sea by the swift current and drowned; the mangled IhmIv of another was found floating the next morning, al most bitten in two by a shark; a-the other two were not heard of again.it vi a - never known whether they reached the quay safely, or whether the succumbed to some of the many perils of this bHrOOfi Captain Willis now found himself reduced to his mate. Hen Hardy, the cook, ami a single seaman, beside his nephew, who knew nothing about working the ship. In no pleasant frame of mind, he went ashore and of fered a large premium to a shipping agent lo procure him a crew immedi ately. The agent promised to do his beet, and went lo work. The same evening lie visited the Captain on board his vessel. "It's no use, air," he said. "I've found a doen able seamen in Havana who want to ship; but one and all flatly refuse to sail w Ith you." "What do the rascals men in?" the 'aplalll demanded. "Wliv, the truth is, sir, the storv uIhuiI four bark being unlucky bas ( been spread all over, and tliey won't go in her." "Tile idiots!" shouted Captain Willis, temping about his cabin. "I've sailed this bark for more than u dozen years, ami nothing has gotio amiss until this voy age. Never lost a tl'un overboard before; never had more than a day's siekuc-s before," "Well, sir, yon know what sailors are belter than I do. Those fellowi de serting, and at least three of 'cm gel ling wound i.p at it, lias fixed the thing, so there's no use in my talking about it. I'll Iry and get you a picked UD lot, of all sorts; but better than that I can't do." The Caplain raged ami stormed at the idea of Ills going back lo Huston with a clew of 'fore-llie-masteis; but he had to yield to the inevitable, and the agent went ashore with instruc tions to do the best he could. All I he next ila the agent was bringing out to the bark by ones and twos the newly-shipped crew, until eleven had la-en secured. The Cap tain examined each man, and hi temper was by no means improved when he found that there was not one able seaman among the lot. There were four negroes, powerful, muscu lar fellows, who had been working as stevedores, and who had made up their iniiuls that thy would like a sea-voyage. They carried clasp-knives in their wai-lbamls, and were not a very pleas ant lot lo look al. Four more were depraved-looking Creoles, the very dreg- of the Spanish population, with four as vIllaiuuua-liKjking faces a were ever seen aboard ship. Two mure, were vagrant stowaways, who had come from Liverpool on a mer chant Vessel, getting the rope's-end liberally on the passage, ami after -pending a month at Havana in the calaboose, upon being released they went straight to the shippiug-ollicc, not knowing where else lo go. The eleventh was a mulatto, almost a giant Ifl sie, with a sullen, ugly look about the eyes. His account of himself was that he was a free man. had Worked on tobacco-lamls back of Cardenas, and had cotnc to Havana to engage in some thing difl'crcut; he didn't much care what This man I he Captain eyed very olnsoly. "There's something about your mo tions, my man," he said, "that makes Hie think that you know more of the sea than oii want to tell. Walk across the deck." The mulatto hesitated. start!" thundered the Capteln. The man walked to the other side, ami returned. "That walk can't lie disguised. Vou'rc an old sailor; what your reason is for concealing it, I don't know nor "stakC tin npkkko nit , utain. care; ojily don't try to play up queer with me. (io forward." The mulatto sullenly obeyed. I'pon the morning of the 1st of Sct tcnils r the Captain went ashore w ith his nephew, leaving faithful Hen Har dy, the mate, iu charge of the vessel and the uupmmudug crew. His chief errand waa to are the agent; but the agent waa aide to tell him nothing en courag iug aliout the iNMM t ol obtain iug any good men. He had ordered the mate to kequ cite watch MjhjQ MQ men, and VI snoot without hesitation any of them whom lie found trying to desert; and also to keep Dick Purvis, the only remaining seaman of the old crew, at the landing all day, for the uae of the agent, should he secure any more men. We. have aeen that the boat was waiting off the pier when the Captain and Lottl came down that afternoon from the Paaeo, but that the vigilance of the military aullioritiea in the search for the escaped pii-oner pre vented them from returning to the bark at that time. The two walked up to the city, called at the agents and learned that "he bad had no furthersue cess, ami then repaired to an Ameri can lodging house which waa well known to both of them. Louis Hunter bad made the acquaint ance of some boon companions among the Cuban youth while the bark bad been in the harbor, and be now pro mised to "make a night of it." Caplain Willis, fatigued with the excitement of the day, and much disturbed by the re cent occurrences upon and about bia vessel, went to bed soon after supper. Shortly after dark Louis sallied forth to look up Ida friends. He had not reached the next street when he waa stopped by the patrol and examined. That he was an American subjected him to instant suspicion, and he waa therefore taken to the guard-house for further examination. Here he was eon- flned In a dark and ill-ventilated n for three hours with a lot of "suspects" who had fallen into the (dutches of the patrol. One at a time they were taken out and interrogated by an officer. It waa near eleven o'clock when Louis' turn came. After a close question ing the officer was apparently sat isfied that the voting man was not filibuster, and discharged him, with a warning to go back to his lodgings and not be seen in the streets again that night. In not the best of tempers tit the loss of hia night's carouse, lie obeyed. I'pon inquiring of his uncle, he found thai he, too, had had more experience with the Cuban authorities. The house had been visileil by an armed party, and thoroughly searched. Captain Willis had been examined, bis papers again scrutinized, ami tl tu cor appearing suspicions of all Amer ican ship-captains, because, as he wife ly observed, "they might have brought aome filibusters into port," had com pelled him to dratl himself and ac company him to the Araerioan Coniul to bo identilied. This irritating pro cedure bad been gone through with, and Louis found his uncle walking his chamber by the light of a tallow candle, literally cursing all Spaniards and Cubans, and raging like a caged lion. " So you're buck, are youP" he said, in a rather milder tone, aa Louis en tered. " I waa thinking thosu high waymen had got you." "They did, and only just let me go," said tlie other, sulkily. "Well, I'll bo cursed! But never mind; we'll get to sea to-morrow, in some shape, crew or no crew; arid if tint "Nellie" ever conies down this w ay again, it will be when a few Americans and Cuban patriots haven't half seared the whole Spanish nation out of their wita." Had Louis Hunter possessed a frank, sympathizing nature he would have embraced this opportunity to remove all misunderstandings with his uncle. The old sea-dog was now in that frame of mind that made him wish to talk with some one, and with Louis espec ially, about the stirring events of the day, the inconveniences and annoy ances aiifl'crcd from the Cuban authori ties, and the dubious prospects of the return voyage of the bark, with her picked-up crew. Hut Louis bad neither generosity of heart nor nobility of nat ure. He was cold, selfish and sinister; he had no real affection for the man who had faithfully tried, in his own rough, hearty way , to benefit him; and it may be I do not know that some dark schemes of self-aggrandizement, prompted by late events, had already entered the young man's brain. Howcer that may la1, it is certain that he repelled all the Cup tain'a friendly advances, went to bed, and was presently asleep. Captain Willis also soon retired; but this rude disturbance of his slumbers had made him wakeful, and it wits not until the clock struck two that sleep visited his eyes. Then his rest was uneasy, and troubled by dreams ill which were mingled in one grand confusion Cuban gnnotes, escaping filibusters, sick sail ors, storms, calms and helpless vessels drifting without crews. Nor did his slumbers become calm and peaceful till another vision bad soothed them a dream of a quiet homo in far-away New Bngbind, and faces there that were very dear to the old sea-dog's heart. 1WKT l.-UHAITKR V. ON THK MM The master of the "Nellie" awoke the next morning in a state of uneasi ness lest he should be kept away from his vessel for another day. Louis wanted to remain iu the city some hours longer; but the Captain declared that he should get back to tliehaik just as soon as he was allowed, and would then weigh anchor at mice. After an early breakfast Louis sullenly followed him down to the ipiay. Mauv small boats were waiting here under the surveillance of the guard, the "Nellie's" among them. The hour was not yet nine, but quite a crowd of sailors had gathered, anxious to return to their vessels. The officer of the guard closely examined all of them. ermi(tel the greater number to enter their boats, and detained a few for further examination. Captain Willis and Louis easily passed, and were about!)) step into the Lo.it which Dick Purvis pulled up to the steps, when the shipping-agent hastened up, followed by a man ia a wuu suit of sailor'a clothe. "I've pit another man for you. Cap tain," lie said. "He claims lo be an able aeaman; hut. unluckily, he can't apeak a word of Knglish. Hut I thought, considering everything, you'd bk- to lake him. He talks Spanish fast enough, anyway." This last acquisition of the agent was a man of apparently fifty years of age. Hia bristly hair waa griaxled, hit shoul der were slightly stooped, ami his forehead and cheeka were wrinkled. .....- hiJ .i ds.ded Luc of the an. ns Spaniard. A great patch almost con cealing his left eve gave rather an un pleasant aspect to his face. He was not heavily built; his motions were alert, and he teemed strong. "Will you lake him, sir?" asked the agent. The Caplain looked at lhl new sailor with no grwtl enthusiasm in his face. "Mr. Simmon'." he aaid, "you've ab end v brought me eleven of the worst looking fellows that ever stood on a ANOTIIKIt OK THK SAMK SHUT. deck; and now here's another of the same soli. Siqqiose he it a seaman I can't swear in Spanish. Hut I suppose we might as well have a round dozen of 'em. Put him i" the boat." Before this could be done the man had tO be exaini I by ll BfatHf. He answered all the questions asked him in good Spanish, which the Caplain caused Louis to interpret lo him. He said hi. name was Jose (iardcz; that he vv a-lift) -live years old. and was lairn at Hahia Honda, of Spanish parents. He was bred a sailor, and had always followed the sea. He had lately la-ell i,u the i chant ship "Cid Campeador" between Cadiz ami Havana; hut he had been sick, and bis ship hail sailed a week before without him. He did not waul lo be idle, and this was the tirst chance he had got. This account was perfectly satisfac tory to the officer; he nodded permis sion; and iu a few moments the stout arms of Dick I'urvis were propelling the parly across the harbor. Caplain Willis was no sooner on deck than be called for the male. "Call the crew aft, .Mr. Hardy," he said. "I've a Word to say to them." They came, most of them sauntering along w ith their hands iu their pocket-, and looking altogether very unlike a good ship's company. The four negroes stood in I group by them selves. Kick Purvis .loud with his cap iu his hand, in an attitude of respectful attention; (he others were collected behind theee. Captain Willis surveyed them a moment with an eye like a hawk, and then spoke clearly and dis tinctly: "My men, I've sailed the seas for well nigh forty years, and I've com manded -hip- for thirty; but this is the first time I ever went out with a lot of green bauds. Dick I'urvis, avast there! stand aside; you know this talk ain't for you, Lxeept Mr. Hardy and Dick. I learn that there's only two seamen now in tile ship. We've got a voyage of nearly two thousand miles to make, and a valuable cargo aboard. You can't learn to be sailors on this trip lull you can learn a good deal. You'll be well treated b Mr. llardv and my self but there's one thing you must Understand now, right at the start. You tttUtt obtjt Wdtn d'ye hear. I'm the Captain, and Mr. Hardy is the male of this ship. Louis, put that iu Span ish for the benefit of those that don't understand me." The nephew did as requested. "That's all. Go forward now. Mr. Hardy, up anchor at once." The four negroes did not stir. The Others had started, but seeing that something was about to happen, the paused. "(io forward, I sayl" repeated the Captain, sternly. One of the negroes took a single step in advance of Ids comrades. "We hab been deceibed," he said, speaking iu a thick voice and iu broken Knglish. "Dis bad ship; dis unlucky ship; debbil in de ship. Wc four neh ber go in urn! Put us ashore, sab, quick." The others heard thisstartliugileclar ntlon with various feelings, but every eve was UPDO the Captain. They saw his face darken, ami his little eves shine like coals. He stood motionless as a post, his head slightly thrown back, ai d his right hand thrust Into the breast of his tighllv-buttoneil coat, lie snoke low, but there was a danger ous rasp in Ids voice. "Mr. Hardy, gel a pair of handcuffs. Shackle that man. and con tine him be low three days on bread ami water." Then was a low muttering among the negroes as the male Started to bey the order. The balance of the crew edged back a little, as though they wanted to be out of the way of the Impending trouble. Dick I'urvis stood aside, somewhat nearer the Cap tain, holding a capstan-bar behind him. To bis surprise ami delight, he found Jose (ende by his side with an other such bar in his hand, MMMiM his head to him, as much at to say: "I'm with ou." The Male stood MOM up to the Captain when he ipofco, ami ini- inedi atel v started for the handcuffs. The strain and susieuse of such a moment is exquisitely painful. All on thai deck Ml it. though with different thoughts ami emotions. The mate was certainly not gone two minutes: but the time that passed before his head MMMfgli. alsive the deck as he ran up the cabin-stairs seemed an age. The altitude and apvarance of one man there ought t, be mentioned. Thia waa Loiii- Hunter. He stood at the right of the Caplain. leaning up against the quarter-rail, smoking a cigarette. He looked on as carelessly as though he had not the slightest interest in bat occurred. I'he mate went directly to the negro. " Hold out your hands," he aaid. With a motiou like a flash, the fel low tailed the handcuffs and tos.ed hem overboard. One sweep of his powerful arm thrust the mate aide. llis clasp-knife wa plucked from his Taistband. opened, and brandished, with a yell I 1 ' J , in. eyes ere hloodehol and .flaring. IhOM who saw his face M 0 r. . I ferocious something more pom than i- In the f ice- of wild Leasts. gome of the men on the deck - I- .lercd; some closed iheir eyes. H rejoiced like BMM Twai, at Ica-t-slarted forward, brandishing cup.tau. bars Yet tliev could not have la-en in lini). ,0 avail agninsl the agile, si. n movements Of tills mad human animal. There was a loud report: the negro suddenly slo, d. His eyes rolled hor- rlbly in his head: his knife dropM'd fro.',, hi-grasp, lie threw nphinnrma. plunged forward d fell in a heap on the deck- dead, with a build through hi- heart! The Captain advanced a single step. A great navy revolver, still smoking, was iu his hand. Yoii .ee what I mean." he quiU said. "Now. lo your duty, every man! You all know who is Captain, by this time, , There was nol an in-tanl I delft. The crew fell back, dumb and coti ,, d by this stern exhibit! f au thority. The male Speedily assem bled them al the capstan. I mi nor Hi., sail- were snreail, llowly nil ,. L n an and the hark with w ind and MUTCll in her favor, so thai nolhimr was needed, sailed out pi-' the frow ning guns of Mom Castle, and to the open sea. The Captain paced the after-deck, and watched the mate a- he moved about among the crew. Cool as the man had I n through this exciting scene, he now began to feel the revul sion, as thi- strain was removed. He wanted sum le to lalk lo, and looked around for Louis, bill he had gone down into the c abin. In few n lent the male came nft and touched his cap. They 're doing fairly well, sir," he said. "Lubbers, the most ol nu m. but the) don't hang back NOW. I reckon we shall gel all out oi iiiein that thej can do.' Very well, Mr. Hardy. W ho at the nl If" "Dick I'urvis, sir." "Right again. We're well out of the harborrl should think." "Qlllte outside, sir." "Keep her enst by north for the pi cs- Cllt." Last by north, sir." "Ami I mv. Mr. Hani v. iu-l sec if there i- any life In that fellow on the deck there. I meant to shoot him straight through the heart, and I hiuk I did." I'd,, mate went anil turned !hc cum brous body over on its back. A iol of THK UK WAS A l.iU'H IIKIMItr. dark blood hud gathered on the deck. 'He is quite dead, sir." "Very good. Now you will see. Mr. Hardy, since this thing has happened iu port, it would ordinarily be correct to make a report of it to the I mted States Consul, and Inn e I he body taken ashore, ask for an Inquiry and all that. As things arc, I'll do nothing of the kind. 1 wouldn't stay another day in this harbor for a million. Have the deck swabbed nil. Mr. Hftrxlv, mil the body taken below and sewed up iu spare canvas, with an huiulrcil pound weight at the heels, and to night chuck it overboard." "Aye, aye sir." You think these fellows are pretty well quieted now eh, Hardy ?" I should think so, sir," replied the mate, w ith a smile. "Well, you and I will have to take tricks at the vvl 1 with I'urvis, till we know whom we can rely on I'm go ing below now for an hour. Keep close watch, and call me if anything happen-. You've got a plstolP" "Aye, aye, sir. PART I CHAPTER VI. a sunraisnra asvaiJiTiov. Caplain Willis had not entirely dis posed of hi- cargo of sailed lish at Havana: lie had about a fourth of it still on board. He had learned that there was a good market for it at Nassau, and he had resolved to take the Bahamas on his course home and dispose of this surplus. He had often sailed ibis course along the Cuban coast to Malan.as, theme up the Bahama Channel. Port A bare and Klethnera, and so out into the North Atlantic. Nassau was but tWO days'sail, provided the winds were what he might reasonably expect at this season. But well as he knew the route, we liml him now with Ids charts spread out on the cabin table, locating the many islands of this group, ami care fully examining the various channels and passes. It was Captain Willis' Ixiast that he had never lost a ship; and. certainly, if care, ami study, and go.nl seamanship couhl avail, he was not likely to. Satisfying him elf, fr the present, about the course, he put away the charts. Looking out from the cabin bull's-eye on the siarb iard side, he saw ten miles away over the sparkling waves the mountainous coast of Cuba. The bark was bowling along before a southwesterly breeze; be was at sea again; he hook off in a moment all disagreeable thoughts of the harsh but iniesaary event of the morning, and indulged in aome plcasin reflections of the profits that he was likely to make on this voyage." Unlocking a small locker in the side of the cabin, he took out two canvas bags and neighed them in his hands. Thcv were heavy: Ihev well might lie. since each waa full of Spanish ami Mexican gold afOSJSa. Ue rarefullv replaced the liaga ill I be locker. Khe Isdls sounding hourfiom the jack mid him that it " '"r o'clock He remembered bis promise , . ,. i return In an hour. As he put on his hat to go a bove. a gin of Louis occurred to him. He kad nl MM him s.nce (he tragic inc. fent of the morning. What could the bo, mean bj shunning him al lUCh a ,,,,.. His conduct had been so strange lately that the Captain was seriously troubled by It. Colisiilerabl.V ngilalol )V these reflect ions, Caplain Willis was abOU! to go on deck, when he heard a smart rap nl the cabin-door. The mate e red in answer to his bidding, Well. Mr. Hardy -any trouble?" he said. "1 was just coining up." "No particular trouble, sir, but some things have happened thut you ought to know. I've put the mulatto nl iho w 1, ami left I'urvis to watch I lie deet for ten minutes, till I could tell ' "Quite right, Mr. Hardy. Now out with it." , , "Well, sir, in the first place, that mulatto. You know the story he told about his being a green hand?" "Yes." He's no more a greenhorn than yon are, sir! He tries to work slow liml ohimsyi bul every motion satisfies me that he's an old hand, and knows every rope and spar in the ship." 1 thought as much." "But thai isn't all. You know, sir, I'm an old sailor, and know pretty much every thing about sailors' ways. I've been In pretty much every sea, and D the South Pacific 1 learned all that there was to In learned about tattoo ing. 1 suppose I know all the mark that sailors use to distinguish each other. Weill air the mulatto rolled up his sleeves to take the wheel and there on his right arm above the elbow was the true Isle of Pines mark." Great Heaven!" said the Captain. "You don't mean that he is a pirate?" "1 mean that he has been one, whether he is now or not." "And you left him at the w heel?" "Only long enough to a : and tell vou whil 1 had discovered." Onptain Willis snatched his revolver from the table. Come up at once," he Mid. "Bring another pair of liandcufl's with you. Take the wheel yourself." The Captain gained the deck, and llis.de directly to the wheel. His pis tol instantly covered the giant who be!d it. What's your course?" ho mamled. "Kast by south." The Captain glanced toward I In the last tell minute de- the Hi bark had I ii approaching it, though it was still live or six miles away. Pur vis should have seen the change, but the faithful sailor had flung himself ex hausted on the deck. The mate came up, saw the change In position at a glance, and with a loud cry was about to snatch the wheel from the mulatto's hands. "Walt, Hardy," the Caplain said, almost touching the woolly bead with the muzzle of his pistol. " Y'oii black scoundrel, you are well known to us, and I should serve you right by put ting a bullet straight through you. Why should 1 not?" The man answered only by a stolid look of hale. His grasp on the w heel relaxed, and the vessel fell off a point. "Keep her cast by northeast, or you're a dead man!" roared the Cap tain. "You're an Isle of Pines pirate, and you've shipped on this bark to plunder it. Purvis bore, take the helm again. Mr. Hardy, put on the irons." Hypnotism has jecome very con spicuous iu Kurope of lute, it bus been used in the place of chloroform for some time in surgical operations at Paris, and when, in a recent murder case there, it was charged that the murderer bad hypnotized the victim and forced hor to kill herself, public opinion accepted the possibility of the fact In a way quite remarknblo. Bos ton Journal. "Sunflower seed is coining to the fore aa an article of commercial value. As an admixture to chicken food its merits are indisputable. Veterinarians use it In a medicinal way in the treat ment of horses. Itsgrowth is considered of use in the prevention of malaria, and the extraction of a valuable oil from it ' a looked for result." "Chefs du claque" are a Parisian Institution. The most famous of thera is M. Founder, a cultured, clever man in middle life. He is ii millionaire, keeps bis carriage, has a fine country house, and wields a wide influence in I various ilirectiona He is commander-in-chief of the hired applauders ut the opera, ut the Opera Continue, the Uhatelet, the Folies Drumutiquo, the Nouveautes, the Atubigu, the Cluny iiinl the Dejazets A famous portrait of Voltaire, which baa been missing for half a BOnturv, has been discovered by the French Ambassador at Koine. It was painted by Largillere In 1718, when the witty skeptic was. only twenty-four years old. The picture was sent to the Marquise de Villette aa a present in Voltaire's old age, and she be queathed it to her nephew. Baron Varicourt, from whom the Ambassador acquired it. It is said that an artist has per suaded the Herman Emperor to make a reaction against the black dress coat This has moved the remembrance that the somber black dress uniform is due to the French revolution, which abol ished the picturesque and variegated clothing which used to be worn by men as well as women iu the ages be fore that flood, on account of the out ward emphasis which it gave to social inequality and distinction of rank. Paris remained Paris, the undisputed capital of dress, although it had be come republican. The most conserv ative and select circles all over Eu rope soon followed the example of the hated French democrat Nobles and dandies in all the courts put away their scarlet, blue and other brilliant- ly-hued silks, and clothed themselves in republican black and white, to the regret of artist, and. as the late Will lam Dye ased to say, to their lose. - kiii . oi, npokn It fllllll III I',, I ot..l. ' .... U ". . . ,',"r. """" "" my re on nii. after a hard and JffffS awaiting the preparation of tk" lug meal; it hud not only be. day, but it wasatrouhio,,,11,," business, when other blub?1 beside myself went hiinniaS" burden of the day's care sea ' from their shoulders and wl comfort of the home nest and T " Mini of homo friends. I I 1 showed my weariness and kT my face as well as in tnv attitn'i' ' the look of loving .i which she had dejected bom (-coming half , r before had iu a measure "J for the words of cheer and I knew she was about to Uf I , " our married life Jennie iad H failed, in hours of wearing J? 9 w Ul 111" """""l SOI,., r,...-. , ray from her sunny mind and w into my gloojny path and lighten h udluplN me wit i somewhat of ?' own sanguine hopefulness. (t lailed. too. to be mime wise m chosen, thought'ul word, L!S Utted to the occasion and fl'tted to olrOUmStMM She was conch 2 terse iu what she said, and nev given to Ion spwchoi. but the, J' wore forme 1 in a b.uy ttd tho h mind and came from a warm and sVm pathetic heart. "Jobn." she Mid-sand aa she m there, beaming, before me, ' just left her task In the dining, to come tome. M if anxious to Mm the loving thought betimes, that ,i might the sooner raise my Uj spirits. I noticed bow the pass the years had changed her aw. , seemed to my partial eyes that nothU. bud been lost of Hie bloom and tnsk ness that had marked it when iZJ before I, unquestionably younger jjj fresher than now, had been her k vorcd suitor among all the tillu, gallants, but that it had grown rich., and deeper. She had never been 2 counted beautiful In the acctpn sense of the word, but hers w . beauty that was more than akin dn and now. as I ga.eil, it seeme( 9 come from soul depths and gVn every feature, matured and digniS but in no way faded by the tiolinij time. looted all this and more she came forward and laid her hiN On my forehead in the caress so oj and familiar in its method, yet now and welcome in its electric sympathr Hie caress itself seemed to lm me some presage of the meaning her yet unspoken words; and enrb a the quick intelligence of sympathy hearts, such the perceptive untiq lion, tie- faith, perhaps it waa. (or tj nature hungering for comfortuijsij. patby und knowing that it is enmiif from n never-failing source, that t could almost have repealed inailiaw of their utterance the words she is about to speak. "dob n," nnd I hnve no doubt still that the little woman realized .- spoke the words bow much of chee ing inspiration they would bring u me. for her face shone with a peaceful, contented happiness that seemed il incongruous with the anxious stale my own mind bad I not so fully sensei their blessed significance and felt se comment that what she nua lo si; to me would be of audi a natal as to completely justify t ie happy u- ticipition that gleamed in here; 1 . L,a I 1 I . ,lk"- tlllil lreinoicu in ucr voice; uuun - and as she snoko a new liuht seemef . . lsUt tls. I ., k'.. I,, i't . and reveal its details in u fresniy-nus itied aspect nnd a newly-harnwaW aHMmbit, lijce a beautiful piotersvkn bns ever since remained, an iramor painting on the canvas ol sj memory the bright grata I with its crackling blaze, I sleepy pussy-cat dozing beside it J nio's own rocking-chair opposite af corner, the pictures on the wall. , ) l'fi 1 1 irl I in 1 Ki nf the SUDIwMala throuirh the open dining-room nnd bv mv side the brown haiai smiling, loving, comforting Ml . a. i ,h.i II i . n.ieit oiii.ri flu i e ill, ii" ! Mince nun uvvcii noon uic -, all anil thought how alter u nihil sue sum ,iou nor oi il unit gave me scene r Hum lli,. mill trrnco ii i i ... 1 1 -. nl mM a a- tl.u inirit the moment ns she raised and sum'3" tut' ill v n iin . v - j h..i-s..if from her nan and loolH expectantly; ".loim now bow the Clink of the dish the irirl was pulling me - touches to the table, seemeu .- and miiiL-ic ana omrae . not jarring with the speu "" to rise to her inspiring theme M r,.i ii I I ! i m nan 1 1 ll I'll i m ...l,.i. ' si... an il and tier V'"" on a richer tone as the worm while her eves. loOKing . . I I mine. encouraL'.'d with their ear. hopeful iov the conlHieni- "r ir'i-,.. nil' mm iruui " they met from dear, supper is ready' -,,l"W - r 1 S. keeping Wlbbie "It never- citv of Unlearn has sprus ' . .. . ,h. MSW . . . . . tin. - one ol toe niarveis or fc Or.Msi. ..Vothinrr very w0C ,.K... I, i , ,,,,,1,1 iney'""f on u Miiniuiinn us the wici lii il... rit..,l States, ana )' . - -i , I s every body went there. Kxuress. As a class, so-called m' nUm o.,i.Uiiiniii ImreS- at r . . have always found theui so. walk a mile out of our ay " " " n for the honor and the pleasure inutlie conventional literary avoid meeting the conveiiU . .... a ftasia i ai v .voinan e wooiu - two miles. The one we cae - other lrt mill ll not. I ..iri - .-in ber n nere wiv . i i VI- IUlf" SSWS i.eur I C if LC I ion - ..V- . I . l-een . . mil - know. I have been devotiaj J lime io myseu. inu....--society as it . were, , ftfl't en., think'" "TM! . lonely you must have chaut Traveler. u . , , ....... u a