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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1909)
Ioooooooooooooooooooooopopooo o 0 o The jirate of rupert'sargent 'lStaiT HOLLAND Author of The Count at Harvard," etc ' Copyright. 1808. by J. B. Llpplncott Company. All rights reserved. CHAPTER XII. (Continued.) Motionless, we listened, and caught the regular breathing of a sleeping man, then distinguished that of another, and finally hear some one turn and gnint. In some Inexplicable way, these men had happened to camp Just above the spot chosen by Duponceau to hide his chest I scarce dared turn and crawl away from fear of waking the sleepers, and so lay still, wondering if by any chance they could have already found the treasure, or If there might yet be an opportunity for as to remove it Suddenly I felt Uodney grip my arm. "LUrten," he breathed. Off in the distance, clear and long, rose the osprey call. Duponceau was in some danger. We wriggled away from the hemlock, crawled back through the woods, and stood erect only when we reached the edge. There we swept the beach and what we could see of the Ship for signs of men, but the shore was still empty s the desert. "Shall we run for It?" I asked. "No,"' said Itodney ; "if there are any men there, they're between us and the boat, or on the boat ; we'd best keep close to the Cliff until we get our bearings." The advice was good ; like Indians we made the fringe of the woods, keeping in hadow. When we were forced to leave "this shelter we skirted the cliff, ready to rouch back at a call or to rush forward. As we neared the shadow of the head land we saw figures climb over the rocks of the little inland sea and head up the beach four men, silhoutted black against the white snnd. and not one of them as tall as Duponceau. "They haven't got him," I whispered; "at least, he is not with them." "That's queer," said Rodney. "I haven't heard a shot fired. They must have boarded the Ship." We crossed the causeway, running light ly, and climbed on board. The deck was s empty as the beach had been when we first crossed it. I rushed below and poked in all the bunks, but not a trace of Duponceau was to be found. Uodney and I stood in the bow and peered across the rocks. We could see nothing save the woods n:.d the sky. "Well," said lslip at last, "that takes the cake. He's vamosed, vanished, clenred out. and I dure say we'll never see hide or hair of him again. This thing's get ting positively spooky, Selden. Are you ureMhat the man was flesh and blood?" "I certainly thought so," I answered. 'P.ut he came in the middle of the night, nd he's gone at the same time. Strange 1 Where on earth could he go?" "Search me," said Uodney. "I thought the adventure was almost too real to be true. Such things don't happen, you know that is, not consecutively within a day's ride of New York." He consider ed the matter gravely. "But what will Barbara say if she finds we haven't kept by him?" "I was thinking of that myself," I an swered, looking blankly at him. Islip broke into a laugh such an in fectious laugh that I couldn't help joining him. "I dare say we're different In most ways. Selden," he said, "but we're alike In one. Well, here's how '." and he held out his hand to me. We shook hands, half seriously, half in jest, and I took back all the unkind things I had ever thought about him. We turned and went down the deck on the outer side of the mast. I heard Rod Dey exclaim and saw him stop and look at the rail where his hand rested. A email gold chain was fastened to the edge. He peered over the side, aud then, to my utter amazement, began to throw off his clothes. "What on earth " I began, but Uod ney only chuckled, and finished undress ing. Then from somewhere out In the sea came the osprey's cry, clear, quavering to minor cadence. Islip slipped over the aide, crossed the rocks, and dived into the waves. I pulled on the chain and up en me a bundle of clothes wrapped in Duponceau clonk. Then 1 understood, and followed Rodney's example. Never have I known such a swim as that, in the mystery of starlight, through a sea that seemed made of silver. We found Duponceau by his cry and followed him, resting now and then to float on the ailver surface, and again racing hand over hand out through the mystery. We were do longer men, but free sea creatures, in our own element, undismayed. We swam In a great circle, and at last Duponceau led us back to the Ship. Day was brenking far out, beyond the Shifting Shoal. "I saw them coming," he said "and so I hung my clothes from the side and took to the waves. They found noth Ing; perchance now they think me a ithost. We told him our experience in search ing for the chest, and he showed a great deal of perturbation, but finally came to the wise conclusion that we could do noth Ing In regard to it then. It was my turn below, and I fell asleep, In a glorious glow from the swim, just as the sky was shading pink. CHAPTER XIII. When I awoke I found Rodney leated D the cabin table. "Morning, Selden !" he exclaimed. "Bv the way, who is Monsieur Duponceau?" l shook my head. "I gave that ques tion us some time ago. How about breakfast?" "I was thinking of that mvself." said Rodney. "I don't mind beln a hero, but I prefer to play the part on a full stomach." "I'll signal Charles." I went ut on deck, and found that the sun was high up, and shining on a glorious summer world. I fastened a napkin to the broken stump of the mast. Fifteen minutes later we saw my canoe steal cautiously about the point of the cliff beyond my house and poke its nose in the direction of the Shin. Charles brought the tiny craft alongside of us. 1 hey re watching the house closely. Mr. Felix," he said. "It was all I could do to get down to the river without their following." The canoe had brought us hot coffee, eggs and rolls. We breakfasted in state in the cabin, with Charles to wait upon us. He had little news, beyond the fact that the pines were patrolled by a num ber of men. After breakfast we passed the time as best we could, but the morning went Blowly, and we were glad when lunch was ready. This was a meagre meal, made up of the scraps of the provisions Bar bara had brought us. I told Charles that I preferred to have him stay with us, as there was no telling when we should need every able-bodied man we could find, and so he brought the canoe on board, stowed her on the after-deck, end devoted himself to the small duties on his new housekeeping. Duponceau and Islip had slept little the night before, and shortly after lunch they took up their bunks to nap. I was on guard on the forward deck when 1 heard a voice call, "Ship ahop !" and looked up to see Barbara on the cliff. I called to Charles to take my place for a few moments and sallied forth to shore. , Barbara joined me at the foot of the headland. "Well?' she asked eagerly. I told her the adventures of the pre vious night, and when I came to the ear ly morning swim her eyes danced as she clapped her hands with delight. "Oh, I wish I had been out there with you !" she cried. "I've always wanted to try a swim in the dark." "It's just as well you weren't," I an swered sagely. She looked somewhat longingly out to sea. "What a beautiful afternoon! And are the rest of the crew working?" "The rest of the crew are sleeping. They had too much coffee for dinner last night, and it kept them awake." "And what is Charles doing?" I pointed to the deck. "He's on guard. That's the reason I'm here." "Oh, that's it, is it? I thought you came to see me." "And so I did. Suppose we sit here at the foot of the cliff, where we can look out to sea and can't be seeu. There's a little nook I know of." I found the place that I sought a se cret crevice in the rocks and there we sat and watched the tide do its best to reach us as it bounded landward. The afternoon drifted past, and we, borne on its tranquillity, were now talkative, now silent. Barbara rolled her sleeves above her elbows, and played with the water in a little lool beside our l?dge of rocks. Her dreaming eyes brooded over the ct-ean. I watched her, tried to turn my eyes seaward, felt the irresistible call, and came back to watching her. Tie time had come when I could think only l he nne thought. The sun was low, Barbara was hmr ming a little French song. The whole world was adorable. "Barbara,' I love yon !" The words were out, spoken without volition, nil of themselves. She looked up; her singing stopped, and the deep blush-rose crept Into her face, while her eyes shrank. "Barbara, I love you. I have loved you since I first found you on the Ship, and I shall go on loving you until I die. I can't help it ; It's not only conscious, it's partly unconscious; it's just you calling to me. Barbara dear, 'you arp all my hope in the world. You are the world. Will you marry me?" I was leaning forward, thinking only of that sweet, that infinitely sweet face apposite. She smiled, her eyes turning to watch the waves, and I waited spellbound for her answer. "I haven't known you very long," she added, her voice low ; "and what do you know of me?" "Everything. All I could ever know that you are the one woman In the world." "But It's summer, and it's easy to say such things In summer. It's all part of the setting. I told you once you were a dreamer. Dreamers are apt to romance, and that Is probably why you are now In love with the waves and the sunshine and with me." The last words were Just a whisper. She raised her eyes to mine for a fleeting second, then dropped her lashes. "llnlleve me. Barbara, It's not that; It's the truth the truest thing In the world." She played with the water in the pooi at her side. "I like you but, then, I like many. There's Uodney I like also. Perhaps I like you better because I have nver seen you in town, nor anywhere but in your chosen country. But I can't forget that there are other treasures In ihe sea how can you be sure you won't come up on another and a finer? Then, too, 1 like men who do things, men who fight and win out and so you see," she fin ished, with a slight smile, "it's not that I like any one in particular less, but the infinite possibilities more." "Then," I said stubbornly, "I will wait, nd prove my meaning lo yon.' She raised her eyes frankly to mine. "I like that," she said. After a time we walked back to her path and said good-by. Tb beach w:s empty. Islip was sitting on the Ship's deck, and Barbara waved to him and he waved back. I felt sorry for him, some how, for now I knew what be must feel. No wonder he couldn't go back to his be loved Wall Street "Good-by again," she said, and then, that the parting might nor be too abrupt, she added, "I think I am growing almost as fond as you of your little kingdom. Uule it well." "I shall. I have a great -leal to prove now." She smiled. "Felix of Alastair then she turned up the path. I went back to the Sh'p mighty with resolves ; I thirstpd for great deeds 'o do. When I came on board I found pluus for such deeds brewing. CHAPTER XIV. Duponceau had been nroodin? all 1ay over the ponsihility of losing fre conten of his precious chest, and after som argument, Uodney and he hal decided to make the effort to move it to the Ship that night. I pointed out the fact that in all probability the enemy knew nothing whatever of the chest's position, and haj simply happened to camp In ths neighbor hood of that particular hemlock ; but Du ponceau's fears were aroused, and It -ni evident that he would be satisfied with nothing short of having too strong-box under his jyes. "What the deuce do yon oppose thosf papers are, that he should be so fearful about them?" I asked Rodney when we were alone. , He shrugged his shoulders. "Heaven knows! The man isn't crazy, for I've been studying him closely all day, and some experience with Wall Street has put me wise on cranks. No, there s a real live mystery somewherp, and our friend Pierre is a somebody, though whether the Wandering Jew or the lost Napoleon I can't say. Suffice it, he's got a treasure chest, and It's up to us to sit on it so tight that none of its pieces-of-eight can filter through." Fortunately the night was cloudy, and about eleven we were ready to start. I had never felt so completely the despera- do before. We were all three armed with revolvers, I carried a coil of rope wound about my waist, and Uodney a dark Inn tern which Charles had found In the cottage. Duponceau was the least excit ed. He took command of our expedition with the assurance of a born leader, and. In fact, it was only his overweening con fidence that gave the scheme the least prospect of success. Just before we left the Ship Charles joined us with two spades, and so, a party of four, we stole over the beach and Into the dunes. Duponceau led us to the pine, thence we crawled inward, lying silent after each cracking twig, straining our eyes and ears for news. When we came to the hemlock we lay four abreast and so peered over at the tent that loomed vaguely white ahead. The only sound was a loud and resonant snore. Duponceau crawled forward on one side of the tent, and then beckoned to me to do the same on the opposite side. When I had wriggled forward Borne ten feet I could look In nt the tent, the sides of which were open to the summer breezes. One man lay within, sleeping. It wns clear that the enemy had not expected us. Duponceau stole to his feet. I did like wise. He entered the tent from one side, and I from the other. With a Bwift movement he was over the sleeping man, and had pinned him to the bed, while he thrust a handkerchief into his mouth. The sleeper started, struggled, moaned, and lay still ; I had held my revolver In his face. In a twinkling we had him bound and gagged, rolled from his bed of houghs, and laid at a little distance. While we did this Islip and Charles cut the guide-ropes, and the house of our enemies fell, collapsing like a great white balloon when the gas escapes. We clear ed it away, and the place where the chest was hidden lay before us. Then followed a strange scene for those unhlstorie pines of Alnstair. With ears keen for the slightest alarm. Duponceau and I dug, Uodney holding his black Inn tern so ns to aid us. Charles keeping watch. A foot down and my spade struck wood. In five minutes the chest wns uncovered. Carefully we raised it and placed It on the ground. As his hand touched the unbroken lock I thought that Duponceau gave a little sigh of relief. (To be continued.) New Top for Milk Jara. Two purposes are served by thi combined cover and handle for milk lars designed by a Massachusetts man as the name of th device Indicates The cover la a clr cular piece of flat metal with claspi extending down ward so aa to en gage the upper end of the neck of th jar or bottle. Thi handle, which ii connected with thi MILK BOTTLE TOP. cover naa Ua loweI ends extending downward so as tc form lock-buttons, which keep the tor. from sliding off the jar laterally. Th device can be adjusted In a twinkling but It will not come off unless the han dle Is turned at right angles with th; jar. When a bottle of milk Is being carried by this means It can be swung around with no fear of the top com ing off If anybody wants to swing 1J around. Sounded Romantic. "There was one time In my life," said the fussy old bachelor, "when I really wanted a better half." "Tell me about it," cooed the senti mental widow. "Oh, there Isn't much to tell," an swered the f. o. b. "Rome chap stuck me with a bnd BO-cent piece." To Can Aparasna. Select heads of asparagus as perfect as possible In every way. Wilted veg etables will not can nicely. In fact, the difficulties of canning vegetables like asparagus are so great It scarce ly pays for the trouble. Trim and prepare the asparagus. Place It un cooked In the cans, filling as evenly as possible. Steam constantly for four hours. Fill the cans with boiling wa ter. Screw on the covers as tightly as possible and stand away to cool, being very careful not to put them in a draft of air. When cold, tighten the covers and keep where it is dark and cool. Apple Tory. Peel some fine cooking apples ana simmer them very gently till tender in a little water with a strip of lemon peel, a couple of cloves and a little sugar. Remove them and set them aside to cool. Cut some small rounds of sponge cake and moisten them with a few drops of wine. Arrange in a dish and place an apple on each; sprinkle chopped pistachio nut on the cake around the apples, each of which must be covered with a little liquid red jelly of the consistency requisite for coating the fruit. Set In a cold place until wanted, place a spoonful of whipped cream on each apple and serve. VTOAX WILD ASTJCAZa COST. aa't Sell a Rblioeeni Aay Hon la tha Day. The prices of wild animals naturally fluctuate with the demand. An ex cessive supply of rhinocerl would soon reduce the market value. Five for sale at any time In the world would glut the market, for one can not sell a rhi noceros every day. The maintenance of wild animals is costly and they soon eat their value in food; bo that every day they are on the hunter's or the dealer' hands he Is losing money. After tbe animals are captured they have to be transported to the coast. This adds greatly to the cost. Deliv ered at Nairobi or Ft. Florence, which are Inland and practically on the Afri can hunting field, a baby rhinoceros of the prehensile lipped species will bring from 75 to 100 sterling, a gi raffe from 50 to 100 sterling, and a baby hippopotamus from 50 to 90 sterling; elands and most of the large antelope from 25 to 40 sterling; ba boons from 5 to 20 shillings; monkeys about the same; crocodiles from 5 to 25 shillings; elephants from 75 to 175 sterling; lions and leopards, with the exception of the big black species of the latter, from 20 to 35, accord ing to size and condition. The gorilla and the square-muzzled (or so-called white) rhinoceros can be sold at auc tion by telegraph. Their value might run from 1,000 to 6,000, according to the bidding. The square-muzzled rhinoceros la fast becoming extermi nated, owing to the fact that It is a veld animal aud feeds lu the cia, where it is easily seen and shot. - The above prices are doubled by the time the animals reach the coast. Then there Is the cost of transport from Africa to Antwerp, Hamburg or London, with the cost of food and care added as well as the additional ex pense of keeping the animals until a buyer appears on the scene. Prices In New York, of course, are naturally higher. William T. Horna day, head of the Bronx Zoological Park, gives the following quotations: Ordinary black rhinoceros, $4,000; hlpiopotamus one year old, $2,500; elephant, two or three years, $2,500; giraffe, two to three years, $3,000; lion cub, $500; leopard, $100; zebra, $500 to $800; gorilla, type of monkey, $1,500; gnu, $800; antelope, from $100 to $700, according to species; camel, $300; a python, $10 per foot of length. The longer the animate are In America the better acclimatized they become, the higher go their valuations from two to three times the above figures.' MOTHER'S BODY IN HOQ YARD. Salmon Sandvrlchea. If a housekeeper has grown tired of the conventional sandwich she should try those made of salmon. They are most palatable. The salmon is flaked and moistened with mayonnaise and then put as a filling between two extra thin slices of brown bread with the crust cut off. Sweet sandwiches are also In fashion for luncheons and after-theater parties. The newest ones, served by a clever housewife, have a filling of candled cherries, chopped One and moistened with orange juice. II Ilia Choice of Bvlla. Shall I forever from her part. Or wed her for better or worse? The former's sure to break her heart The latter to break her purse. Preaerved Cherries. Stone the cherries, preserving every ounce of juice. Weigh the fruit, allow ing pound for pound of sugar. Put a layer of fruit lo one of sugar until all is used up; pour over the juice and boil gently until the sirup begins to thicken. Use sour cherries. Iloraeradlxh Sauce. Grate two tablespoonfuls horserad ish; stir it Into one cup of thick cream, add one teaspoonful sugar and two tablespoonfuls of best vinegar, Stir well together; serve cold. short SuKelon. Tarragon vinegar Is an essential touch to a sharp salad dressing. The best fluid to use in washing muslin dresses of delicate color is rice water. Silver may be cleaned and brighten ed by letting It Btand half an hour In sour milk. One housekeeper advises the use of half a lemon for removing match marks from paint. To clean steel use emery powder and oil mixed Into a paste. Polish with a clean duster. If your paint has been marred by careless scratching of matches, try rubbing it with the finest sandpaper. Glass tumblers, when being filled with hot water, should be stood on a tray or table. They are thus far less likely to crack than if held in the hand. Celery that has grown for three days Is tough. It must be about two days old, or even one day's growth should be cut for use. If woody, pare It tbe same as rhubarb. Do not pour scalding water Into ves sels which have held milk. It cooks the milk on the sides of the vessel, making It more difficult to clean. Rinse first with cold water. Mrs. Lizzie Hies, 57 years old, liv ing near Omaha, 111., was found dead In a lot near her home. Hogs had mutilated the body. She had prepared dinner for one of hef sons, saying she would leave It on the table for him while she went to see a neighbor. The boy came from work, ate his dinner and waited awhile for his mother to return. Going out in the lot, ho dis covered the hogs about his mother's Jdy. Muatache la Ilellicloua. "The muaiuehe Um a i .(,. oust sig nificance," said a clergyman In a Lenten address. "It forms, you see, in company with the none, a cross. "In the time of the Moslem Invasion of Spain mixed ninrriage rendered it Impossible to tell a heathen from a Christian; so the Spaniards took to shaving all the face but the upper lip. Thus every Christian countenance bore a cross a cross part flesh and part hair. "From Us religious the mustache has come to have an elopant signifi cance purely. Men now wear it not lo proclaim their faith, but to magnify their beauty. Its source, however, Is In Christianity. Beforo the Spanish Invasion men cither wore full beards or wont clean shaved." Los Angeles "Mmcs. A Long Shot. "Didn't I say you couldn't piny ball until after 2 o'clock? Tell me!" "Why-cr Marm yes'm! , But-er didn't pop read you lust night how down In Washington all the govern ment clocks are goln' to be set two hours ahead durln' the summer?" Puck. It is hard to determine whether some men are cowards, or only can tlous. A woman's Idea of a dry novel is M she doesn't moisten with her tears