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About The news=record. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1907-1910 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1910)
The Stowaway is a typical Tracy story that grips the inter est with the first chapter and holds it firmly until the last. A conspiracy against the safety of a ship, a beautiful girt in dis tress, a brave sailor who aids her and speedily 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. CHAPTER I. THE ANDHOMEDA. ARIIY Mr. Bulmor! horrid old mini! M That Uncle. I what ore you saying?" The girl sprang to her feet as If she were gome timid crea ture of the wild aroused from sylvan brood lugs by knowledge of Imminent danger. In her terror sbe upwt three wineglasses on the luncheon table. One. rose tinted and ornate, crashed to the floor, and the noise seemed to irritate the owner of Lludeo House more tbati bis niece's shrill terror. "No need to bust up our best set of 'ock glasses Just because i 'appen to mention owd Dickey Buhner," he growled. "I'm sorry." she said and stooped to pick up the fragments scattered over the carpet. 'Leave (lint alone." come the sharp order. "It's "Igb time you an' me 'ad a straight talk, an' 1 can't do wl' folk bouncln' about like an InJIn rubber ball when I've got things to say to em." . . , He gulped down some of the wine, darted his tongue several limes In and out oeiween tits teetn, stuuckea uis Hps, replaced his cigar in bis mouth and leaned back in his chair until It creaked. Iris Yorke. accustomed to this rit ual, found herself even in her pres ent trouble wondering how It was possible tbat 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 uu dlmmed In the girl's memory by the lapse of years it would be uubellev- j ablo If It were not true! But be had shown kindness to her lu bis dom- I Ineerlng way. Shocked almost at the I disloyalty of ber thoughts. Iris tried to close the rift thnt bad opened so un expectedly "It was stupid of me to take you seriously," she said. "You cannot real ly mean that Mr. Buhner wishes to marry me?" "I uieaut It right enough, my lass," he said. "But, uncle, dear" ' . "Stop a bit. Listen to me flrst an' say your say when I've finished. Like everybody else, you think I'm a rich man. David Verity, Esq., shipowner of Linden House au' Exchnnge build lugs It looks all right, dou't it, like oue of them furrlu apples with rosy peel an' a maggot Inside? You're the flrst I've told about tbe maggot. Fact is, I'm broke. Shlpowuln' Is rotten nowadays unless you've lots of capi tal. I've lost mine. Unless I get help, an' s thumpln' big slice of It, my name figures In the Gazette. I waut 50,000, an' oo's goln' to give It to me? I put it to owd Dickey yesterday, an said you couldn't raise mouey in Liverpool today to build a ferryboat. But 'e sold Htimimit else, if you wed Mm e makes you a partner in the Arm of Verity, Buhner & Co. See? Vot's wroug with that? I've done everything for you up to date. Now It's your turn. Simple, Isn't It? P'raps t ought to hove explained things differently, but it dldu't occur to me you'd uobject to belu' the wife of a millionaire, even If e Is a doddrln' owd idiot to talk of marry In' ag'ln." "Oh, uncle!" With a wall of despair the girl sank back and covered ber face with her bands. Now that she believed the lu 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 lu bliu. Hitherto Iris had been ready to obey bis slight est whim. "There's no use crytn Oh. unci.' no' klckln' up fuss." be snapped vi ciously. "Where would you "ave bin. I'd like to know. If It wasn't for me? Io the gutter toot's where your pre- clous fool of t father left your mother ad you. Tou're the best dressed au' best lookln' an' best edd tested girl I Rootle today-thanks to m Whsn jour mother keu 'ere ten year ago au' ?fnii By J LOUIS TRACY Author of the "Pillar of Light," "The Wings of the M orn ing" and "The Captain of the Kansas." J Copyright, 1909 by Edward J Clode said hor llt'rnry gent of a 'usband was dead, neither of you 'ad 'ad a square meal for weeks remember that will you? It Isn't my fault you've pot to marry Buhner. It's Just a bit ot lu fernal bud luck the same for botb of us. If It eonies' to thai. An' why shouldn't you 'ave some of the sours after I've given you all the sweets'" The (;lrl staKCered to ber feet. "I will do what you ask." she mur mured. thouKh there was a pitiful quiv ering at the corners of ber mouth that bespoke an agony beyond the relief of tears. "But please don't say any more and uever again allude to my dear fa ther In that way 01 1 may I may for get what I owe you." The door closed und he was alone. Taking a small notebook from bis pocket, he Jotted down an array of fig ures. He, was so absorbed In their analysis tbiit be did not see Iris walk listlessly across the lawu tbat spread Its summer greenery In front of the dining room windows. And thnt was an III thing for David. The sight of the girl at that uistanl uieaut a great deal to him "Yes; that's It." he was thinking. "1 must wheedle Dickey Into the bank to morrow. A word from 'iin ou' they'll all grovel, blast 'era!" The door opened. "Capialn Coke to see you. sir," said a servant. "Send lin In. Bring 'lm In "ere." The memorandum book disappeared. Verity's hearty greeting was that of a man who bad not a care In the world. "Glad to see you. Jlmmie, my boy. Bit yourself down. 'Ave a cigar an' a glass o' port. I didn't expect you quite so soon, but you're Just as welcome uow as later." Captain Coke placed his bat on top of a malacca cane and balanced both against the back of a chair. "I'll take a smoke, but no wine, thankee, Mr. Verity," said he. "1 kern along now cos I want to be aboard afore It's dark. We're moored in au awkward place." "Poor owd Andromeda! Just 'er usual luck, eh, JlmmteY" . ."Well, she ain't wot you might coll one of fortune's fav'rlts, but she's afloat, au' that's more'u you can say for a good many daisy cutters I've known." Verity chuckled. "Some ships are worth less afloat than ashore, on' she's one of 'em," be grinned. "You wont a match. 'Ere you are!" Coke puffed away In silence. There was au awkward pause. For once In his career Verity regretted his 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 tbe con versation, and the shlpowuer was corn- "TOKUK's NO US IIC1IK' VP A FUSS." pel )1 to start afresh. lie was far too shrewd to go straight back to the topic burked by his owu error. "It's stuffy lu 'ere with the two of us siiiokln'. l-t's stroll iuto the gar den, he said. Coke was agreeable. "It's the on'y Ult 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 wus another opening. It would not be t '' fnult If It led stain up a cul-de-sac He threw wide the window, and they crossed the lawu. "Vegetables:", he cried. "Wish eould stvxk you from my place, an' I'd stuff you with "em. 1 can grow 'em' ere for next to notliiu". but tbey cost heap of money in furrlu ports, an' your crimson wave catcher " doesn't earn money. She eats it" -m Even that's oue better'n ber skip per, oo aoesn t do neetber,'. comment ed Coke gloomily. "The Andromeda was a good ship in er day, but that day Is gone. You ought to .'ave sold er to tbe Dutchmen five years ago. Mr. Verity. Times, were better then. an' now you a 'ave a due steel shlD instead of a box of'scrap iron." " Tbey were passing tbe rhododen drons, and Verity's quirs eyes noted that a summer bouso beneath tbe shade of two venerab.e elms was un occupied. .- Drop anchor In 'ere. Coke." said Verity, "it's cool an' breezy, at)' We can ave a niiiei confab without beln' bothered. Now, I reelly bent for you today to tell you 1 mean to better tbe supplies this trip. Yes, 'onest Injun! I'm goln' to bung In an extry "undred tomorrow In the way of stores, fun ny. Isn't It?' ' " - "Funny! It's a miracle" Though bot altogether gratified by this whole hearted agreement with his own views. Verity was too anxious to keep his hearei on the present tack to resent any Implied slur on his earlier efforts as a caterer. "It's nothing to wot I'd do if I could afford It." he added graciously. "But wot chance 'as an Iron ship built twenty years ago , at a cost of 18 a ton agin a steel ship of today at 7 a ton. with w Ice, the cargo space an three feet less draft ? W'y, uo earthly. We're dished ev ery way. e cost more to run, we cau't Jump 'arf tbe bars, we can't carry 'arf the stuff. we pay double In surance, an we re axed to And In terest on more n double tbe capital. As you say, Jlm mie, wot bloomin' "TIIE ANDROMEDA GOES ON TH It BOCKS." ; chunst 'ave we?" Coke smoked si lently. He bad said none of these things, but when tbe shipowner's glance suddenly dwelt on him he nod ded. , "Premium gone up, then?" he in quired. She's on a twelvemonth rote.- It runs out lu September. If you're lucky an' fill up with nitrate .soon you may be 'ome again. If not, I'll 'ave to whack up a special quotation. After tbat there'll be do Insurance. The Andromeda goes for wot she'll fetch." Another pause. Then Coke broached a new phase. -"' ' v ' Meanln' that I lose the 2.000 I put In 'er to get my berth?" be said hus kily. "An" wot about me? I lose eight times as much. Just think of it! (Six teen thousand pounds would give me 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 1 must stretch a potut for a pal's sake. Dickey; Buhner's goln' to marry my niece, an e 'as pledged himself to double the capital of the tlrm. Now I've let the cat out of tbe bag. I'm sorry, ole man pon me soul, 1 am-but w'en Dickey's name crops up on change you know ns 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 he who only stakes a part 'S'pose we talk plainly as man to man?" said Coke thickly at last 'I can't talk much plalnw," said Verity, 'Yes, you can. Promise me the com mand of your next ship, an tbe An dromeda goes ou tbe rocks this Bide o' Montevideo." Verity Jumped as though he had been stung by an infuriated wasp. "Coke. I'm surprised at you." he grunted, not without a sharp glance around to make sure no otber was near. , "No, you ain't not a bit surprised. on'y you don't like to 'ear it In cold English. 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. Walt till I'm through. Write a letter sayln' 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 had gone out. lie re lighted it with due deliberation. It could not be denied that bis nerve at lesit was superb. "I'm wllllu' to do auythlng in rea son." be said slowly. "I don't see where I cau lay 'auds on a better man than you, Jlmmie. even If you do talk nonsense at times." "I'll call at your office In the morn- ln for tbe letter." sold Coke, whose red face shone like tbe setting sun en through a haze. "Yes, yes. I'll 'ave It ready.' "Au yiu wou't back out of them extry stores? I must sweeten tbe crew ou this run." "I'll supply the best of staff, enough to last for tbe rouud trip. But don't make any mistake. You must b back afore Sept. 30. That's tbe date tf tbe policy. By the way. Wi the new man you've shipped as secoud? Watts Is the chief. know, but 'oo la Mr. Philip Hosier r , "Youngster flllln" la sea service to MH3 ret a ticket an' qualify for tbe Cu-iiar-l" "Thoroughly reliable sortof chap, eh V" "The best. Just tbe right kind of second for tbe Andromeda's last cruise. Smart as a ' new pin. You could trust lm on tbe bridge of a bat tleship. Now. Waits is a "good man. but a tot of mm makes 'lm fair daft." "Ah." purred Verily, "you must keep a tight 'and on Watts. I like an appe tizer meself w'en I'm off dooty, so to speak, hut It's uo Joke to 'ave a boozer in charge ot a tine ship an' vallyble freight. Of course .you're responsible as master, but you can't be ou deck inoruiu'. noon an' night, cboke Watts off tbe drink an' ysu'll 'ave uo trouble. Well, come along. Let's lubricate." .',' ' The Andromeda sailed on the Tues day afternoon's tide. She would drop the pilot off .Holyhead, aud If sbe fol lowed the beaten track ou her loug run to tbe river Vlate as sailors will persist lu miscaJling tbut wondrous Rio de lu Plata she might be signaled from Madeira or tbe Cape Verde Is lands. But shipmasters often prefer to set a course clear of tbe land till they pick up the coust of South Amer ica. If she were not spoken by some passing Bt earner there was every pos sibility tbat the sturdy old vessel would not be heard ot again before reaching ber destination. " But David Verity heard of ber much sooner, and no thunderbolt that ever rent tbe heavens could buve startled hi in more than the manner of tbat hearing. ' ' Resolving to clinch matters with re gard to Iris aud her elderly sister, he Invited "Owd Dickey" to supper on Sunday eveulng. The girl eudured the man's presence with a placid dig nity tbat amazed ber uncle. Ou the plea of a headache she retired at an early bour, leaving Buhner to glout over his prospective happiness and primed to tbe point of dementia. He was quite willing to uccompany Verlty-"to the bank uext morning. A pleasant spoken manager sighed : bis relief when tbe visitors were gone, and be was free to look at tbe Item bills discounted" on Verity's page in the ledger. More than that, a lawyer was Instructed to draw up a partner ship deed, aud tbe -representatives ot various sblpbullalug Arms were asked to supply estimates for two naw ves sels. , Altogethei Dickey was complaisant and David enjoyed a busy and sue-, cessfut day. He dined In town, came home at a lote bnur and merely grin ned when a servant told him that Mr. Biilnier 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 ber admirer dangling at arm's length. "E's a queer owd codger," explained the philosopher. "Ployup to 'lm a bit, an' you'll be able to twist Mm around your little finger. I b'lleve he's goln dotty, iid" you can trust me to see tbat the marriage settlement is O. It." Will you be home to dlnner?"-was ber response. 'No. Now tbat the firm Is in smooth water a gam. I must show myself a bit. It s an tbaiiKs to you, lass, an- i u uot forget It. Goodby!" Iris smiled, and Verity was vastly pleased. "1 am sure you will not forget," she said. "Goodby!" "There's no understanding wlmmln." mused David as bis victoria swept through tbe gates of Ltnaen uouse. "Sunday afternoon Dtckev mlcbt ba' bin a dose of, rat poison. Now she's ready to swaller 'lm as ti e was a chocolate drop." Aimln he returned some few minutes after midnight. Again the servant an nounced Mr. Buhners visits, three of them, and again Miss Iris bad been absent In fact, she bad Dot yet come borne. : 'Not 'ome!" cried David furiously. "W'y, It's gone 12., Were the w'ere Is she?" y - No on knew. She bad Quitted the house soon after Verity himself and hsd not been seen since. - Morra ana roge as he might and did. David could not discover his niece's whereabouts. But enlightenment came on Thursday morning. A letter arrived by the flrst post. It was from Iris: , My Dear Uncle Neither you nor Mr. nnlmA. ahmiM hnvi AnV dbtectlOfl tO IT1V passing ths few remaining weens of my liberty In trie manner nen pieusiug io myself. On Sunday evening In your pres nm Mr. Hulmer ureed me to tlx an early date for our marriage. Tell him that 1 hall marry him when tne Anuromeaa returns to England from South America. You will remember that you promised last year to take me to Rio de Janeiro end Buenos Aires this summer. 1 nave oren learning Spanish so as to help our sight seeing. Unfortunately business prevents you from keeping that promise, but there Is no reason why 1 should not go. 1 am on board the Andromeda and will prob ably be able to explain matters satisfac torily to Captain Coke. 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 likely that Captain Coke will riot know 1 am aboard until Thurs day, and I have arranged with a friend that this letter shall reach you about the same time. Please convey my apologies to Mr. Hulmer and accept my regret tor any anxiety you may have felt owing to my unaccountable absence. Your snec tlonate niece. IRI3 JORKE. David narrowly escaped an apoplec tic seizure. When he recovered his senses he looked ten years older. Tbe Instinct of self preservation alone saved him In bis frenzy from blurting forth the tldlugs of the girls flight. Incoherent with fear aud passion, he contrived to give orders for bis car riage and wna driven to his office. Thence be dispatched telegrams to ev ery signaling station at which by the mmntmir noKslhUltv the Andromeda might be Intercepted, and tbe text ot every message was. "Audromeda must returu to Liverpool instautly." But tbe wretched man realized that be was doomed. Fat bad struck at tilm mnivtlasRl Y . Never was ship tnore eagerly sought than tbe Andromeda, yet never was ship more completely engulfed in tbe mysterious silence of the great sea. Tbe days passed and the weeks, yet nothing was beard of ber. She, fig ured in the "overdue" list at Lloyd's, sharp eyed underwriters did "specs" in ber, woebegone women - -began to baunt the Liverpool office for uews of husbnuds aud sons, the lovelorn Dickey .wore Verity to a shadow of his former self by alternate pleadings and threats, bill the Andromeda remained mute, and the fum-lfui letters troin Iris became fewer aud more fragmen tary as David's Imagination failed aud bis excuses grew thinner. And the odd thlug wus thnt If Da vid had only kuowu It he could have saved himself all this heartburning and tnUery by looking through the dining room window ou that Sunday afternoon wben bts prospects seemed to be so rosy. He never thought of that. He. pursed every circumstance and person Impartially aud fluently, but be omitted from the sntsnle litany the one girlish prauk of tree climbing thnt led1 Iris to spring out of sight amid the sheltering arms of an elm when her uncle and Captain Coke deemed tbe tfhmnier bouse a suitable place for "a plain talk as wan to man." to be coNnirrrsi). j CITY AND COUNTY BRIEF8 . Alice Mavor weit to Lostlne, Fri day, to- vlaiit friends a few days. Mayor J. AV Burleigh returned Thursday ' from a bulnes trip to Portland. - ' W. R. Kivette, the lumber buy er, is here helping to straighten out th planing mill muddle. ' Mrs. J. P, Averlll went to La Grande Friday to Jola Mr. Averlll who Is -there on business, . , . C. J. Yager of Arko, fdv mltea west of Flora, was- in town Friday with a load of fine potatoes. -, Mrs. Laura S&erod and baby of Wallowa, who had been vlsditlng her aunt, Mrs. I. M1. Ydhug, returned home Friday. A. C. Weaver will open a "Fair" store In hisi business room, recently vacated by -Asli'ey.'. Mlsa Grace Wood .will be head clerk. Did you ever read a tory by Louis Tracy? If you have, lit is not nec essary to -tell you to be sure and read The Stowaway, starting in this issue. . If you haven't then start with The Stowaway.. For double- cinch Interest, ft to ahead of any thing you ever read. -r : When you get a v You get the best range at a moderate cost. Same is true of heating stoves. The - " Howard for coal or wood is the best in the mar ket, and costs no more than inferior kinds Largest stocK of Ranges, Cooking, Heating Stoves S. D. KELTNER'S HARDWARE ENTERPRISE, OREGON esySSMHMSs)"". i Enterprise Livery and Sales Stable BaKer ft Smith, Proprietors Fair treatment to everybody. Bus meets all trains 10 cts Commercial Trade a Specialty. First Class Rigs. Phone Orders Carefully Followed Horses Bought and Sold . Feed For Sale Open Day and Night ; Pure Bred Black Percheron Stallion at this barn for service ; I MHUHHaaHBM UI11HUIIE1IIIIIIIIII To the Citizens of Wallowa County. It is our purpose to handle any business entrusted to us in such a fair and liberal " . manner as to make the customer's rela tion with this banK satisfactory and profitable. H Aside, from . our excellent facilities, this bank has the advantage of a large capital and substantial list ot stockholders. It is also a State Deposi tory. If you are not a customer we invite you to become one. Stockgrowere and Farmers National Bank Wallowa, Oregon PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY- OF WALLOWA COUNTY funs m nrr.T. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW - ITTADVEV-iT-I 1W .. V Office tn Litch building. Room! 107. Enterprise, Oregon. DANIBL BOYD ATTOKNEY-AT-LAW Practice In all state Courts and Interior Department.' . Careful at-, tention to all business. D. W. SHE AH AN -; - ; LAWYER - ENTERPRISE Practice In . State and Federal Courts and Interior Department. W. C. KETCHUM ' DENTIST - ENTERPRISE Office In Litch Building. Room , 191 TTrtma Tmrijtnon.rlAnr PhvnA. 1 i .. - i C. T. HOCKETT. M. D. ' PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON ? f Office In Litch building.' Room f 115. Home Ind. Phone in office I j - 4 ana residence. . - DR. C. A. ATJLT PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON Office In Bank Building. Horn phone both . office and residence). - CHARLES THOMAS LAWYER - ENTERPRISE, ORE. f Practice In State and Federal Courts and Int. Dept. Abstract Bldg., opposite court house. : ' s 8
