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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 1910)
The Stowaway is a typical Tracy story that grips the inter tat with the first chapter and holds it firmly until the last. A conspiracy against the safety of a ship, a beautiful girl in dis tress, a brave sailor who aids her and speedity learns to love her. a mysterious island which is the scene of a South American revo lutionary plot these are some of the characters and themes utilized by a master story teller in weaving a romance of life un der the mystic Southern Cross. CHAPTEIt I. THE ANDIiOUEDA. n AltUY Air. Buhner! That fWH , horrid old man: Uncle. 1 II what are you saying?" The girl sprung to her feet as if she were some timid crea ture of the wild aroused from sylvan brood Ings by knowledge of imminent danger. In her terror she upset three wineglasses on the luucbeou table. Uue. rose timed and ornate, crushed to the floor, uml the uoise seemed to Irritate the owner of Linden House more thau his niece's shrill terror. "No need to bust up our best set of 'oek glasses just because 1 'appeu to mention owd Dickey Buluier," he growled. "I'm sorry." she said and stooped to pick up the fragments scattered over the carpet. "Leave that alone." came the sharp order. - "It's Mgh time you an' me 'ad a straight talk, an' 1 can t do wl' folk bouucin' about like an injia rubber ball when I've got things to say to 'em." lie gulped dow.D some of the wine, darted his tongue several times in and out betweeD his teeth, smacked bis lips, replaced bis cigar in his mouth and leaned back In bis chair until it creaked. iris Vorke. accustomed to this rit ual, found herself even in her pres ent trouble wondering bow It was possible that David Verity could be her mother's brother. This coarse mannered man, brother to the sweet voiced, tender hearted gentlewoman whose gracious wraith "was left un ditnmed la the girl's memory by the lapse of years It would be unleliev nble if it were not true! But be bad shown kindness to her in his dom ineering way. Shocked almost at the disloyalty of her thoughts. Iris tried to close the rift that bud opened so un expectedly. "It was' stupid of me to take you seriously," she said. "You cannot real ly mean that Mr. Bulmer wishes to marry me?" "I meant it right enough, my lass," he said. "But. uncle, dear" . "Stop a bit. Listen to me first an' say your say when I've finished. Like everybody else, you think I'm a rich man. David Verity, Esq.. sbiKwner of Linden House an Exchange build ings It looks all right, don't It. like one of them furrin apples with rosy peel an' a maggot inside? You're the first I've told about the maggot. Fact is, I'm broke. Sblpownin' is rotten nowadays unless you've lots of capi tal. I've lost mine. Unless I get help, an a t bum pin' big slice of It. my name figures In the Gazette. I want ."0.000, an' oo's goin' to give It to me? I put it to owd Dickey yesterday, an' 'e said you couldn't raise money in Liverpool today to build a ferryboat. But 'e said sumuiat else. If you wed Mm 'e makes you a partner In the firm of Verity, Bulmer & Co. See? Wot's wrong with that? I've done everything for you up to date. Now It's your turn. Simple. Isn't It? P'raps 1 ought to have explained things differently, but It didn't occur to me you'd hobject to beiu the wife of a millionaire, even If 'e Is a doddrin' owd Idiot to talk of marryln ag'ln." "Oh. under With a wail of despair the girl sank back and covered her face with ,her bunds. Now that she believed the In credible she could utter no protest. The sacrifice demanded was too great. Verity was angry, almost alarmed. Resistance, even of this passive sort, raised the savage in him. Hitherto Iris hud been ready to obey his slight est whim. "There's no use cryln' 'Oh. unci",' nu' Iflckin' up a fuss." be snapped vi ciously. "Where would you 'ave bin. I'd like to know. If It wasn't for me? lu the guttr that's where your pre cious fool of a father left your mother an' you. You're the best dressed an' best look-in' an' best eddlcated girt I' Rootle today thanks to me. When your mother kern 'ere tea year ago an' C She By J LOUIS TRACY Author ol the "Pillar of Light." "The Wings ol the Morn ing" and "The Captain oi the Kansas." Copyright. 1909 by Edward J Clode said her lit'rnr.v gent of a 'usband was dead, neither of you 'ad 'ad a square meal for wpeks remember that, will you? It Isn't my fault you've got to marry Bulmer. It's Just a bit of In fernal bad luck the same for both of us. If It coiih-s to that. An' why shouldn't you 'ave some of the sours after I've given you all the sweets?" The girl staggered to her feet. "I will do what you ask." she tnur mured, though lucre was a pitiful quiv ering at the corners of her uioutb that bespoke an agony beyond the relief oi tears. "Bui please don't say any more and never again allude to my dear fa ther lu that way oi 1 may 1 may for get what I owe you." The door closed and be was atone. Taking a small notebook from bis pocket, he Jotted down an array ot fig ures. He was so absorbed in their analysis that he did not see Iris walk listlessly across the Inwu that spread its summer greenery in front ot the dining room windows. And that wiu un ill thing for David. The sight of the girl at that instant meant a great deal to him "Yes; that's It." he was thinking. "1 must wheedle Dickey Into the bank to morrow. A word from 'Im an' they'll nil grovel, blast euiT' The diMir opened. "Captain Coke to see you. sir," said n servant. "Send Mm in. Bring Mm in "ere." The memorandum book disappeared. Verity's hearty greeting was that of a man who bad not a care lu the world "Glad to see you. Jtmmie, my boy. ll yourself down. 'Ave a cigar on' a jlass o' port. I didn't expect you quite so soon, but you're just as welcome 'iow as later." Captain Coke placed his bat on top f a malarca cane and balanced both igalust the back of a chair. "I'll take a smoke, but no wine, ihaukee. Mr. Verity." said he. "1 kem (long uow cos 1 want to be aboard i fore It's dark. We're moored in an iwkward place." "I'oor owd Andromeda! Just, 'er usual luck. eh. Jimmte?" "Well, she ain't wot you might call ne of fortune's fav'rits. but she's ifloat. an' that's more'u you can say for a good mauy daisy cutters I've kuowu." Verity chuckled. "Some ships are worth less afloat than ashore, an' she's one of 'em," be grinned. "You waut a match. 'Ere you are!" Coke puffed away In alienee. There was an awkward pause. For once in his career Verity regretted' bis cultivat ed trick of covering up a significant phrase by quickly adding some com ment on a totally different subject. But the sailor smoked ou, stolidly heedless of a -sudden lapse in the con versation, and the shipowuer waa com- "thebk'b no use kickik' up a fuss. pellcd to start afresh. He was far too shrewd to go straight back to the topic burked' by bis own error. "It's stuffy in 'ere with the two of us smokin'. Let's stroll into the gar den." he said. Coke was agreeable. "It's the on'y bit of green stuff you seem to be fond of. Mr. Verity," be went on. "You keep us crool short of vegetables.' David's little eyes twinkled. Here was another opening. It would not be his fault if It led again up a cul-de-sac. He threw wide the window, and they crossed the lawn. "Vegetables!" he cried. "Wish ' I could stock you from my place, an' Fd stuff yon w Ith 'em. I can grow m 'err for next to ootblD. but ihey cost a leap of money In furrin ports, au' yonr crimson wave cutcber doesu'l earn money. She eats It." "Even Unit's one better'n her skip per. 'oo (lumo't do ueeltier," comment ed Coke gloomily. "The Andromeda was a good xblp In 'er day. but that day is gone. You ought to 'avesold 'er to the Dutchmen five years'ago. Mr. Verity. Times were better then, an' now you'd 'ave a fine steel snip instead of a box or wrap Iron." They 'were passing the rbododen drous. and "Verity's quiet eyes noted that a summer nouso beueatb the shade of two veuerab.e elms was un occupied. "Drop anchor In "ere. Coke." said Verity. "It's cool no' breezy, an' we can 'ave a quiet confab without beln' bothered. Now. I reelly sent for you today to tell you I mean to better the supplies this trip. Yes, 'onest Injun! I'm goln" to bung In an ex try 'undred tomorrow in the way of stores. Fun ny. Isn't It?" "Funny! It's a miracle!" Though not altogether gratified by this whole hparted agreement with his own views. Verity was too anxious to keep his hearei on the preseut tack to resent any Implied slur on bis earlier efforts as a caterer. "It's nothing to wot I'd do If I could, afford It." be added graciously. "But wot chance 'as an Irou ship bulU twenty years ago at a cost of 1U a tnu agin a steel ship of today at 7 a ton. with twice the cargo space an' three feet less d r a f t 7 W'y, no earthly. We're dished ev ery way. We cost more to run, we cau't Jump 'arf the bars, we can't carry 'arf the stuff, we pay double In surance, an' we're axed to find in terest on more'n double the capital. As you say, Jim mie. wot bloomln' cbanst ave we?" Coke smoked si "THE ANDROMEDA GOES O.N THE BOCKS." lently. He bud said noue of these things, but when the shipowner's glance suddenly dwelt on him he nod ded. "Premium gone up, then?" be in quired. "She's on a twelvemonth rate. It runs out lu September. If you're lucky & a' fill up with nitrate soon you may be 'ome again. If not, I'll 'ave to whack up a special quotation. After that there'll be no insurance. The Andromeda goes for wot she'll fetch." Another pause. Then Coke broached a new phase. "Meanin' that I lose the 2.000 I put in 'er to get my berth?" he said bus Lily. "An wot' about me? I lose eight times as much. Just think of it! Six teen thousand pounds would give me a fair balance to go on wl 1' these hard times, an' your two thou would make the skipper's Job In my new ship a certainty." Coke's brick red face darkened. He breathed hard. "Wot new ship?" he demanded. "it's a secret. Jlmmie, but I must stretch a point for a pal's sake. Dickey Bulmer's goin' to marry my niece, an' 'e 'as pledged himself to double the capital of the firm." Now I've let the cat out of the bag. I'm sorry; ole man pon me soul. 1 am-but w'en Dickey's name crops up on change you know as well as me 'ow many captain's tickets will be backed wl' f brass." Neither man spoke during so long a time that the break seemed to Impose a test of endurance, in such a crisis be who ' has all at stake will yield rather than be who only stakes a part "S'poae we talk plainly as man to man?" said Coke thickly at last "I can't talk much plainer," said Verity. "Yes, you can. Promise me the com mand of your next ship, an' the' An dromeda goes on the rocks this side o' Montevideo.' Verity jumped as though he bad been stung by an Infuriated wasp. - "Coke, I'm surprised at you." be grunted, not without a sharp glance around, to make sure no other was near. "No, you ain't not a bit surprised, on'y you don't, like to 'ear it In cold Englisb. That's wot you're drlvln' at the Insurance. Wot are you afraid of? I take all the risk an' precious little of the money. Write me a letter" "Write! Me! Coke, you're loony." "Not me. Wait till I'm through. Write a letter sayin' you're sorry the Andromeda must be laid up this fall, but promlsln' me the next vacancy. 'Ow does that 'urt you?" Verity's cigar . bad gone out. He re lighted it with due deliberation. It could not be denied that bis. nerve at least was superb. "I'm wlllln' to do anything in rea son." be said slowly. "1 don't see where I can lay 'auds on a better man than you, Jim mie. even It you do talk nonsense at limes." "I'll call at your office' in the morn ln' for the letter." said Coke, whose red face shone ' like the setting sun en through a haze. "Yes. yes. I'll' 'ave If ready." "An you won't back out of them extry stores? I must sweeten the crew ou this run." "I'll supply the 'best of stuff, enough to lust for the round trip. But don't .make any mistake. You must be back afore Sept. 30. That's the date of the policy. By the wuy. 'oo'H the new man you've shipped as second? Watts 'is, the chief. I know, but 'oo Is Mr. Philip Hozierr "Youngster flllin' In 'sea service to T - ret ticket an' quality for the Cu Darl" "Thoroughly reliable sort of chap. by "The best. Just the right kind of necond tor the . Andromeda's last cruise. Smart as a new pin. iou could trust Mm ou the bridge of a bat tleship. Now. Watts is a good man. but it tot or rum mifkes Mm fair daft." "Ah." purred Verity, "you must keep a tight 'and on H'uiia. I like an appe tizer mesetr Wen I'm off dooly, so to speak, but It's uo joke to 'ave a boozer la charge ot a fine ship an' vallyble freight. Of course you're restonslble as master, but you cau't be ou deck niorutti'. doou an' titgtii. Choke Watts off tnv drluk an' you'll 'ave uo trouble. Well, come along Let's lubricate." The Andromeda sailed ou the Tues day ufleruoon's tide. She would drop the pilot off Holy bead, and It Bhe fol lowed the beuteu track on her long run to the river Plate-vis sailors will persist in mUculliug that wondrous Iflo de la Plata-she might be signaled from Madeira or the 'Cape Verde is lands. But shipmasters often prefer to set a course clear ot the luud till they pick up-the coast of South Amer ica, if she were not spokeu by some' passing sieuuicr there was every pos sibility that the sturdy old vessel would not be heard of again -before reaching her destiuutiou. But David Verity heard of her much sooner, and uo thunderbolt that ever rent the heavens could nave startled him more than the manner of that hearing. Itesolvlng to clinch matters with re gard to iris and her elderly sister, be invited "Owd Dickey" to supper ou Sunduy eveulug. The girl endured the mau's presence with a placid dig ulty that u inn zed her-uucle. Ou the plea of a headache she retired at uu early hour, leaving Bulmer to gloat over his prosiective happluess uud primed to the point of demeutia. He was quite willing to accompany Verity to the bank uext morulug. A pleasant spokeu manager sighed bis relief wbeu the visitors were gone, and be was free to look at the Item "bills discounted" on Verity's page in the ledger. More thuu that, a lawyer was Instructed to draw up a partuer slilp deed, aud the representatives of various shipbuilding firms were asked to supply estimates for two uew ves sels. Altogether Dickey was complaisant and David enjoyed a busy and suc cessful day. He dined in town, came home at a late hour and merely grin ned when a servant told him that Mr. Bulmer bad called twice, but Miss Iris happened to be out on both occasions. Nevertheless at breakfast on Tues day be warned his niece not to keep her admirer dangling at arm's length. "E's a queer owd codger." explained the philosopher. "Play up to Mm a bit, an' you'll be able to twist Mm around your little finger. I b'lieve he's goin' dotty, an' you can trust me to see tha.t the marriage settlement Is O. K." "Will you be home to dinner?" was her response. "No. Now that the firm Is In smooth water again. I must show myself a bit. It's all thanks to you, lass, an' I'll not forget It. Good by!" Iris smiled, and Verity was vastly pleased. ' ' "1 am sure you will not forget," she said. "Good by!" "There's no uuderstandin' wimmlu." mused David as his victoria swept through the gates of Linden House. "Sunday afternoon Dickey might ha' bin a dose of rat poison. Now she's ready to swaller Mm as If 'e was a chocolate drop." Again he returned some few minutes after midnight. Again the servant an nounced Mr. Bulmer's visits, three of them, and again Miss Iris bad been absent in fact, she bad not yet come home. "Not 'ome!" cried David furiously. "W'y, It's gone 12. Were the were Is she?" No one knew. She had quitted the house soon after Verity himself and had not been seen since. Storm and rage as he might aud did. David could not discover his niece's whereabouts. But enlightenment came on Thursday' morning. A letter arrived by the first post. It was from Iris: My Dear Uncle Neither you nor Mr. Bulmer -should nave any objection to my passing the fen- remaining weens of my liberty In the manner best pleasing to myself. On Sunday evening In your pres ence Mr. Bulmer urged me to fix an early date for our marriage. Tell him that 1 (hall marry him when the Andromeda returns to England from South America. You will remember that you promised last year to take me to Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires this summer. 1 have been learning Spanish so as to help our sight seeing. Cnfortunately business prevents you from keeping that promise, but there Is no reason why 1 should not go. 1 n-i on board the. Andromeda and will prob ably be able to explain matters satisfac torily to Captain Lone. The vessel Is due back at the end of September. 1 believe, so Mr. Bulmer will not have long to wait. It Is more than itkely that Captain Coke will not know 1 am aboard until Thurs day, and 1 have arranged with a (riend that this letter shall reach you about the same time. Please convey my apologies to Mr. Bulmer aud accept my regret for any anxiety you may have felt owing to my unaccountable absence. Your aflec tionate niece, IRIS VORKK. David narrowly escaped an apoplec tic seizure. When he recovered his senses be looked teu years older. The instiuct of self preservation alone saved bin) In bis frenzy from blurting forth tbe tidings ot the girl's flight. Incoherent with fear and passion, be contrived to give orders for his car riage and was driven to bis office. Thence he dispatched telegrams to ev ery signaling station at which by tbe remotest possibility tbe Andromeda might be Intercepted, and the text ot every message was. "Andromeda must return to Liverpool Instantly." But the wretched man realized that be was doomed. Fate bad struck at him mercilessly. . Never was ship more eagerly sought than tbe Andromeda, yet never was (hip more completely engulfed Id tbe mysterious sileuee of tbe greet see. Tbe days passed and tbe weeks, yet uotblug was beard of her,- She fig ured In tbe -overdue" list at Lloyd's, sharp eyed underwriters did "specs" lu her. woebecoue women began to .haunt the Liverpool oulce for uews of husbands and sons, tbe - lovelorn Dickey wore Verity to a shadow vt his former self by alternate pleadings and threats, bill the Andromeda remained mute, and the fanciful letters from Iris became fewer aud more fragmen tary as David's Iniuginutlou failed and bis excuses grew tbinuer. - . Aud the odd thing was that If Da vid had only known It be could have saved himself all this heartburning and uiUery by looking through tbe dining room window ou that Sunday afternoon when hts prostwts seemed to be so rosy. He never thought of that . He cursed every circumstance aud person Impartially aud fluently, but be omitted from the satanlc litany the one girlish prank of tree climbing that led Iris to spring out ot sight amid the sheltering arms of an elm when her uncle and Captain Coke deemed the summer bouse a suitable place for "a plain talk as man to man." to be ctvrrmrEri. CITY AND COUNTY BRIEFS Japalac, varnish stains, rtnaeed oil at Burnaugb ft Msyflald's C. J. Yager of Arko, five miles west of Flora, was in town Friday with a load of fine potatoes. Funk's Saturday Special will al ways be announced ahead lu their big Ad. Look for it. Mrs, Laura Sherod and .baby- of Wallowa, who had been visiting her aunt, Mrs. I. M, "Youtrg, returned home Friday. The W. W. Harris sale on Alder Slope, Tuesday, October 11, .was very largely attended and stock, es pecially, sold-well, milk cows brtag iiiG as high as $100. Horses also brought a good price. J. C. Bailey le'.t Wednesday for OIlie, la., to join his family and make his home there for a time at least. - Did you ever read a story by Louis Tracy? If you have, It t not nec essary to tell you to be sure and read The Stowaway, starting, in ihlu issue. If you -haven't then start with The Stowaway. For double cinch interest ft is ahead of any thing you ever read. When yqu jjet a -:- UNIVERSAL, . You get the best range at a moderate cost. Same is true of heating stoves. ' The Howard for coal or wood is the Lest in the mar ket, and costs no more than inferior kinds Largest stocK of Ranges, Cootting, Heating Stoves S. D. KELTNERHARDWARE' ENTERPRISE, OREGON Enterprise Livery c and Sales Stable BaKer ft Smith, Proprietors- Fair treatment to everybody.: Bus meets all trains 10 cts Comiiu-ivial Trade ii Specialty.'""" First Class Rigs. Phone Orders Carefully Followed Horses Bought and Soicf Feed For Sale Open Day and Night Pure Bred Black Percheron Stallion at this barn for service This Is Your To get a 20, 40 or 80 acre tract on . Alder : Slope, the best Fruit, Berry and Vegetable land in the valley; improved or unimproved, with plenty of water.'; Terms to suit you. -Priced from $25.00 to $125.00 per acre. Alder Slope Land Company C H. Jordan, 6elllnjg Agent .. La Grande- t :Oreeron PROFESSlbNAil 'tHRfeCT ORY " OF WALLOWA COUNTY ; THOS.'-ll. DILdV t 'i ;..; 1TT0LY-aT-LAV I , Office la Utch building. Room i; .107. . Bntarprtse, Oregon.!.; uf DAMEL BOYD . AnORNEY-AT-Uf , rracuce in au state courts and t Iiterior Department. Careful at- T tequon to all business.. . D. W. LAWYER sheahan:.. . ENTERPRISE t Practice' In State 'and federal Courts and Interior Department. f ' -.. ..... . ;; W. C. KETCHUM c . I DENTIST - ENTERPRISE . '," Office in Lltch Building. Room ' ; , 121. Home Independent Phone. , 4 y C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. ;: PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON ; j Office In Lltch building. Room 115. Home Ind. Phone in office and residence. . , I . DR. C. A. AULT :: PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON i Office in Bank Building. ' ) : Horn phone both office and residenc. l I " CHARLES THOMAS - LAWYER - ENTERPRISE, ORE. ' Practice in State and Federal 4; Courts and Int. Dept. Abstract X - Bldg;,' opposite. court house. 1 J - . . .- -e- j. -- -- - - -- -- - -- - - - J- -- TtTtttxttTtTTtttTTTTT V '1' 'I' V - a a 4 Chance 1
