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