Text of Covenent of League
of Nations as Read at Paris
Peace Conference by Wilson
Preamble In order to promote Inter
national co-ODeration and to secure In
ternational peace and security by the
acceptance of obligations not to resort to
war, by tne prescription of open, just and
honorable relations between the nations,
the firm establishment of the understand
ing of international law, as the actual
rule of conduct among governments, and
by the maintenance of justice and a scru
pulous respect for all treaty obligations in
the dealings of organized peoples with one
another, the powers signatory to this cov
enant adopt this constitution of the
league of nations:
Article 1. The action of the high con
tractlng parties under the terms of this
covenant shall be effected through the
instrumentality of a meeting of a body
of delegates representing the high con
tracting parties, of meetings at more
frequent Intervals of an executive council
and a permanent International secretariat
to be established at the seat of the
league.
Article 2. Meetings of the body of dele
gatlons shall be held at stated intervals
and from time to time as occasion may
require for the purpose of dealing with
matters in the sphere of action of the
league. Meetings of the bodies ol dele
gates shall be held at the seat of the
league or at such other place as may
be found convenient and shall consist of
representatives of the high contracting
parties. Jach or the high contracting
parties shall have one vote, but may have
not more than three representatives.
Article 3. The executive council shall
consist of representatives of the United
Htates of America, the British Empire,
France, Italy and Japan, together with
representatives of four other states, mem
bers of the league. The selection of
these four states shall be made by the
body of delegates on such principles
ana in sucn manner as tney tnina m.
Pending the appointment of these rep
resentatives of the other states, repre
sentatives (blank left for names) shall
be members of the executive council.
Meetings of the council shall be held
from time to time as occasion may re
quire, and at least once a year, at
whatever Dlace may be decided on. or.
failing any such decision, at the seat
of the league, and any matter within
the sphere of action of the league or
affecting the peace of the world may
be dealt with at such meetings. Invi
tations shall be sent to any power to
attend a meeting of the council at which
sucn matters directly anecting us in
terests are to be discussed, and no deci
sion taken at any meeting will be bind
ing on such powers unless so invited.
Article 4. All matters of procedure at
meetings of the body of delegates or the
executive council, including tne appoint
tnent nf committees tn investigate nnrtlc
ular matters, shall be regulated by the
body of delegates or the executive coun
cil and may be decided by a majority of
tne Btates represented at tne meeting.
The first meeting of the body of dele
gates and of the executive council shall
be summoned by the President of the
United States of America.
Article 6. The permanent secretariat of
the league shall be established at (blank),
which shall constitute the seat of the
league. The secretariat shall comprise
such secretaries and staff as may be
required under the general direction and
control of a secretary-general of the
league, who shall be chosen by the execu
tive council; the secretariat shall be ap
pointed by the secretary-general, subject
to confirmation by the executive coun
cil. The secretary-general shall act In
that capacity at all meetings of the body
of delegates or of the executive coun
cil. The expenses of the secretariat shall
be borne by the states members of the
league In accordance with the appor
tionment of the exoenses of the Inter
national bureau of the universal postal
union.
Article 6. Representatives of the high
contracting parties and of those of the
league, when engaged in the business of
the league shall enjoy diplomatic privi
leges and Immunities and the buildings
occupied by the league or Its officials
or by representatives attending the meet
ings shall enjoy the benefits of extra
territoriality. Article 7. Admission to the league of
Btates not signatories to the covenant and
not named in the protocol hereto as
stated to be Invited to adhere to the cove
nant requires the assent of not less
than two-thirds of the stutes represented
in the body of delegates and shall be
limited fully to self-governing countries,
including dominions and colonies. No
state shall be admitted to the league tin
less It Is able to give effective guarantees
of Its sincere Intention to observe its In
ternational obligations and unless It shall
conform to each principle as may he
prescribed by the league In regard to its
naval and military forces and arma
ments. Article 8. The high contracting parties
recognize the principle that the mainten
ance of peace will require the reduction
of national armaments to the lowest point
consistent with national Btifety and the
enforcement by common action of Inter
national obligations, having special regard
to the geographical situation and circum
stances of each state; and the executive
council sliall formulate plans for effecting
such reduction. The executive council
also shall determine for the consideration
and action of the several governments
what military equipment and armament
is fair and reasonable In proportion to
the scale of forces laid down In the pro
gramme of disarmament and these limits
when adopted shall not be exceeded with
out the permission of the executive coun
cil. The high contracting parties agree
that the manufacture by private enter
prise of munitions and Implements of war
lends Itself to grave objections and direct
the executive council to advise how the
evil effects attendant upon such manu
facture can be prevented, due regard be
lug Dald to the necessities of those coun
tries which are not able to manufacture
for themselves the munitions and Imple
ments of war necessary for their safety.
The high contracting parties undertake
In no way to conceal from each other the
conditions of such of their industries as
lire capable of being adapted to war pur
poses or the scale of their armaments.
and agree that there shall be full and
frank Interchange of Information as to
their military and naval programmes.
Article 9. A permanent commission
shall be constituted to advise the league
on the execution of the provisions of
article s nna on military ana naval ques
tions generally.
Article 10. The high contracting par
ties shall undertake to respect and pre
serve, as ngnlnst external aggression, the
territorial integrity and existing political
Independence of all states members of the
league. In case of any such aggression
or In case of any threat of danger of such
aggression, the executive council shall ad
vise upon means by which the obligation
shall be fulfilled.
Article H. Any war or threat of war,
whether Immediately affecting any of the
high contracting parties or not, hereby is
declared a matter of concern to the
league, and the high contracting parties
reserve thi! right to take any action that
mny be deemed wise and effective to
safeguard the peace of nations, it Is
hereby also declared and agreed to be
the friendly right of each of the high
contracting parties to draw the attention
of the body of delegates or of the execu
tive council to any circumstances affect
ing international Intercourse which
threatens to disturb International peace
or the good understanding between na
tions unon which ueace denends.
Article 12. The high contracting par
ties agree that should disputes arise be
tween them which cannot be adjusted by
the ordinary processes of diplomacy, they
In no case will resort to war without
previously submitting the questions and
matters Involved either to arbitration or
to inquiry by the executive council and
until three months after the award by
the arbitrators or recommendations by
the executive council and that they will
not even then resort to war as against a
member of the league which compiles
with the award of the arbitrators or the
recommendation of the executive council.
In any case, under this article, the award
of the arbitrators shall be made within a
reasonable time and the recommendation
of the executive council shall be made
within six months after the submission
of the disputes. tl t ,
Article 13. The high contracting par
ties agree that whenever .any dispute or
differences shall arise between them
which they recognize to be suitable for
suonussion to arbitration and which can
not be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy
they will submit the whole matter to ar
bitration. For this purpose the court of
arbitration to which the case is referred
shall be the court agreed on by the par
ties or stipulated In any convention exist
ing between them. The high contracting
parties agree that they will carry out In
full good faith any award that may be
rendered. In the event of any failure to
carry out the award, the executive coun
cil shall propose what steps best can be
taken to give effect thereto.
Article 14. The executive council shall
formulate plans for the establishment of
a permanent court of International jus
tice and this Dart shall, when established
be competent to hear and determine any
matter which the parties recognize as
suojeci ior suomission to It lor arbitra
tion under the foregoing article.
Article 15. If there should arise be
tween Btates members of the league any
dispute likely to lead to rupture which is
not submitted to arbitration as above,
the high contracting parties agree that
tney win reier tne matter to the execu
tive council; either party to the dlsnute
may give notice of the existence of the
dispute to the secretary-general, who
will make all necessary arrangements for
a run investigation and consideration
thereof. For this purpose the parties
agree to communicate to tne secretary
general as promptly as possible state
merits of their cases with all the relevant
papers and the executive council may
forthwith direct the publication thereof.
Where the efforts of the council lead to
the settlement of the dispute a statement
shall be published indicating the nature
of the dispute and the terras of settle
ment, together with such explanations as
may be appropriate. If the dispute has
not been settled a report by the council
shall be published setting forth with all
necessary iacts and explanations tne rec
ommendations which the council think
Just and proper for the settlement of the
dispute. If the report Is unanimously
agreed to by the members of the council
other than the parties to the dispute the
high contracting parties agree that they
will not go to war with any party which
complies with the recommendations and
mat lr any party shall retuse so to com
ply the council shall propose measures
necessary to give effect to the recommen
dations. If no such report can be made
it shall be the duty of the majority and
the privilege of the minority to issue
statements Indicating what they believe
to be the facts and containing the reason
which they consider to be just and prop
er. The executive council may In any
case under this article refer the dispute
to the body of delegates. The dispute
shall be so referred at the request of
either party to the dispute, provided that
such request must be made within 14
days after the submission of the dispute.
In a case referred to the body of dele
gates the provisions of this article and
of article 12, relating to the action and
powers of the executive council, shall ap
ply to the action and powers of the body
of delegates.
Article 16. Should any of the high con
tracting parties break or disregard its
covenants under article 12 It shall thereby
Ipso facto be declared to have committed
an act of war as against all the other
members of the league, which hereby
undertakes Immediately to subject It to
severance of all trade or financial rela
tions, the prohibition of all Intercourse
between their nationals and nations of
the covenant-breaking state and the pre
vention of all financial, commercial or
personal Intercourse between the nation
als of the covenant-breaking state and
the nationals of any other state, whether
a member of the league or not. It shall
be the duty of the executive council In
such cases to recommend what effective
military or naval force the members of
the league shall severally contribute to
the armed forces to be used to Drotect
the covenants of the league. The high
contracting parties agree further that
tney win mutually support one another In
the financial and economic measures
which may be taken under this article,
in order to minimize the loss and incon
venience resulting from the above meas
ures, and that they will mutually support
one another in resisting any special
measures aimed at one of their number
by the covenant-breaking state, and they
win unora passage mrougn tneir terri
tory to the forces of anv of the hlerh
contracting parties who are co-operating
to protect the covenants of the league.
Article 17. In the event of disputes be
tween one state member of the liimm
and another state which is not a member
of the league or between states not mem
bers of the league, the high contracting
parties agree that the state or Btates not
members of the league shall be Invited tn
accept the obligations of the membership
in me league ior me purposes or such
dispute upon such conditions as the exec
utive council may deem just, and upon
acceptance of any such Invitation the
above provisions shall be applied with
such modifications as may be deemed
necessary by the league. Upon such in
dication being given the executive coun
cil shall Institute an inquiry into the cir
cumstances and merits of the dispute and
recommend steps to be taken as seem to
be best and effectual. In the event of a
power so Invited refusing to nccept the
obligations of membership in the league
ior me purpose oi a uispuie wrucn In the
case of a state member of the league
would constitute a breach of article 12,
the provisions of article 14 shall be ap
plicable as against the state takincr such
action. If both pnrties to the dispute
wneii bu iiivueu reiuse to accept tne O0
llgatlons of membership In the league for
the purpose of such dispute, the execu
tive council may take such action and
matce sucn recommendations as will pre
vent hostilities and will result in the set
tlement of the dispute.
Article 18. The high contracting par
ties agree that the league shall he In.
trusted with general supervision of the
trade in arms and ammunition with the
countries In which the control of this
traffic Is necessary In the common In
terest. Article 19. To those colonies and ter
ritories which, as a consequence of the
lnte war, have ceased to be under the
sovereignty of the Btates which formerly
owned them and which are Inhabited by
peoples not yet able to stand by them
selves under the strenuous conditions of
the modern world, there should be ap
plied the principle that the wellbelng and
development of such peoples form a sa
cred trust of civilization aud that securi
ties for the permanence of this trust
should be embodied In the constitution of
the league. The best method of giving
practicable effect to this principle is that
the tutelage of such peoples should be
Intrusted to advanced nations who, by
reason of their resources, by experience
and their geographical position, can beBt
undertake the responsibility and that this
tutelage should be accepted by them as
mandatories on behalf of the league. The
character of the mandate must differ ac
cording to the state of the development
of the people, the geographical situation
of the territory, its economlo conditions
and other similar circumstances. Certain
communities formerly belonging to the
Turkish empire have reached a stage of
development that their existence as In
dependent nations can be provisionally
recognised Bubject to the rendering of
advice toward development and assist
ance by a mandatory power until' such
nine as tney are auie to stand alone. The
wishes of these communities must be a
principal condition in the selection of the
mandatory power. Other peoples, espe
cially those of central Africa, are at such
a stage that the mandatory powers must
be responsible for the administration of
tne territory subject to conditions which
will guarantee freedom of conscience or
religion, subject only to the maintenance
of public order and morals, the prohibi
tion of abuses such as the slave trade,
the arms traffic and the liquor traffic,
and the prevention of the establishment
of fortifications or military or naval bases
and of military training of the natives
for other than police purposes and the
defense of territory, and also will secure
equal opportunities for the trade and
commerce of other members of the league.
There are territories, such na southwest
Africa and certain of the South Pacific
Islands, which, owing to the sparseness
of their population and their Btnall size
or their remoteness from the center of
civilization, or their geographical con
tiguity to the mandatory state, and other
circumstances, can be administered best
under the laws of the mandatory state
as Integral portions thereof, subject to
the safeguards above mentioned in the
interest of the Indigenous population. In
every case of mandate the mandatory
state shall render to the league an annual
report in rererenoe to the territory com
mitted to its charge. The degree of au
thority, control or administration to be
exercised Dy tne mandatory state shall,
if not previously agreed upon by the high
contracting parties, in each case be ex
plicitly defined by the executive council
In a special act or charter. The high
contracting parties rurtner agree to es
tablish at the seat of the league a man
datory commission to receive and exam
ine the annual reports of the mandatory
powers, and to assist the league In in
suring the observance of the terms of all
mandates.
Article 20. The high contracting par
ties will endeavor to secure and maintain
fair and humane conditions of labor for
men, women and children, both In their
own countries and in all countries to
which their commercial and Industrial
relations extend; and to that end agree
to establish as part of the organization of
the league a permanent bureau of labor.
Article 21. The high contracting parties
agree mat provision snail he made
through the instrumentality of the league
to secure and maintain freedom of transit
and equitable treatment for the com
merce of all states members of the
league, having In mind, among other
things, special arrangements with regard
to the necessities of the regions devas
tated during the war of 1914-1919.
Article 22. The high contracting parties
agree to place under the control of the
league all international bureaus already
estaousnea Dy general treaties if the par
ties to such treaties consent. Funda
mentally they agree that all such Inter
national bureaus to be constituted in
future shall be placed under control of
the league.
Article 23. The high contracting parties
agree that every treaty or international
engagement entered into hereafter by any
state-member of the league shall be forth
with registered with the secretary-general
and as soon as possible published by him,
and that no such treaties or international
engagement shall be binding until so
registered.
Article 24. It shall be the right of the
body of delegates from -time to time to
advise the reconsideration by state mem
bers of the league of treaties which have
become inapplicable, and other Interna
tional conditions of which the continuance
may endanger the peace of the world.
Article 2B. The high contracting parties
severally agree tnat tne present cove
nant is accepted as abrogating all obli
gations inter se which are Inconsistent
with the terms thereof and solemnly en
gage that they will not hereafter en
ter Into any engagement inconsistent with
the terms thereof. In case any of the
powers signatory hereto are admitted
subsequently to the league shall, before
becoming a party to this covenant, have
undertaken any obligations which are in
consistent with the terms of Dhis cove
nant, It shall be the duty of such power
to take immediate steps to procure Its
release from Buch obligations.
Article 26. Amendments to this cove
nant will take effect when ratified by
the states whose representatives compose
the executive council and by three-fourths
oi tne states wnose representatives com
pose the body of delegates.
OF
Brief Resume Most important
Daily News Items. -
COMPILED FOR YOU
Events of Noted People, Governments
and Pacific Northwest and Other
Things Worth Knowing.
The Germane have accepted the new
armistice terms, which, it is under
stood, provide for the continuation of
the blockade during the armistice.
The German revolution last Novem
ber was an artificial one and a real
revolution "is still to come," Hugo
Haase, independent socialist leader,
declared in the German assembly Sat
urday. The strike of stationary englners
which has tied up a number of Denver
public schools for the last week has
been settled. The strikers and the
school board agreed to arbitrate their
differences.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, former premier
of Canada, died of paralysis at Otto
wa, Ontario, Monday afternoon. He
was stricken Sunday and became un
conscious. His physicians announced
that Sir Wilfrid sank slowly. He had
been in poor health for several years.
The transport Utua is due at New
York February 27 with about 1000 men
of the 317th supply train, the 317th
trench mortar battery and the 325th
field Bignal battalion of the 92d (ne
gro) division. The troops are to be
scattered to various camps for demobil
ization. The 91st, or "Wild West division,"
has been designated for return with
the latest date for embarkation set as
March 1, according to word conveyed
in a letter to Governor Wlthycombe
just received from Major-General Wil
liam H. Johnston, in command of the
division.
Eighteen of the 66 members of the
crew of the United States gunboat
Scorpion, interned at Constantinople
from April 11, 1917, until last Novem
ber, married Turkish -women and have
been left behind there, according to
Lieutenant - Commander Herbert S.
Babbitt of Houghton, N. Y., former
commander of the Scorpion.
Senate and house conferees reached
an agreement Monday on the $400,000,
000 postoftlce appropriation by elim
inating the senate amendment provid
ing for pneumatic tube mall service In
New York City and Brooklyn and re
taining the senate amendment appro
priating $200,000,000 for road construc
tion during the next three years.
1
l
CURRENT
WEEK
CHAPTER IX Continued.
11
"Is it? Well, no, they didn't tell me
that," admitted the visitor, "or I'd not
started so late. You see, I come up on
a schooner. This here lake boatin'
ain't in my line. I'm deep-water, I
am."
"So I should s'pose," said Mr. Par
low. "How'd you git up here, any-
"The war," said the visitor. "The
war done it. Couldn't git good berth
in any deep-water bottom. So I thought
I'd try fresh-water sailln', I tell you,
matey, I been workin' as quartermas
ter's mate on the old Cross and Cres
cent line, a-scootln' 'cross to Nuples
from N'York there and back goln'
on ten year."
"What did you leave your boat for?"
asked the carpenter curiously.
Vhe was sunk. There's things hap
penln' over to the other side of the
ocean, mate," said the injured man
earnestly, ''that you wouldn't believe
no, sir I The Cross and Crescent
line's give up business till after the
war's over, I reckon."
"You'd better not encourage him to
talk any more, father," interposed Miss
Amanda, coming into the room again.
"The best thing he can do for himself
Is to sleep for a while."
"Thank ye, ma'am," said the sailor
humbly. "I'll try."
Darkness came on apace. The sky
had become overcast, and there was
promise of a stormy night more
snow, perhaps. But Miss Amanda
would not allow Carolyn May and
Prince to start for home at once.
"Watch for your uncle, Carolyn May,
out of the front-room window, and be
all ready to go with him when he
comes along," said Miss Parlow.
When Uncle Joe came along, Carolyn
May ran out and hailed him from the
porch.
"Wait for me, Uncle Joe I Wait for
me and Princey, please ! Just let me
get my mittens and Prince's harness
and kiss Miss Handy."
That last she did most soundly, and
in full view of the man waiting in the
white road.
"Oh, Uncle Joe, I've got Just the won
derfulest story to tell youl Shall we
harness Prince up again, or will you "
"I can't wait for the dog, Car'lyn
May. I'm in a hurry. You oughtn't to
be out in this wind, either. Get aboard
your sled, now, and I'll drag you my
self," Mr. Stagg interrupted.
CHAPTER X. v
A Salt-Sea Flavor.
Swiftly Joseph Stagg trudged to
ward home, drugging Carolyn May be
hind him.
"Oh, dear mel" exclaimed the little
girl with exultation, "we're all so ex
cited, Uncle Joel"
"I can see you're all of a-twltter,"
he returned absent-mindedly. "What's
the matter?"
"Oh, you never could guess!" was
Carolyn May's introduction, and forth
with, in breathless sentences, went on
Swiftly Joseph Stagg Trudged Toward
Home, Dragging Carolyn May Be
hind Him.
to tell of her discovery in the snow
and about the old sailor now lying
asleep on the Parlow couch.
Of course, when Carolyn May ar
rived at home, the story had to be told
all over again to Aunty Rose Ken
nedy. "A mighty plucky youngster, this
Car'lyn May of ours," Uncle Joe re
marked. "What do you say, Aunty
Rose?"
"She Is, Indeed, Joseph Stagg,"
greed the woman.
Carolyn May Insisted on going to the
Parlow house herself after school the
next afternoon to Inquire about her
"sailor man."
When she had been kissed by Miss
Amanda, and Prince had lain down by
the kitchen range, the little girl de
manded :
BELM0EE ENDIG0TT
V JQdp.meadamp company.
"And do tell me how my sailor man
is, Miss Mandy. He got such a bump
on his head I"
"Yes ; the man's wound Is really seri
ous. I'm keeping him in bed. But you
can go up to see him. He's talked a
lot about you, Carolyn May."
. The sailor lay in the warm bedroom
over the kitchen.
Carolyn May prattled on gayly and
soon had her "sailor man" telling all
about the sea and ships, and "they
that go down therein."
"For, you see," explained Carolyn
May, "I'm dreadful cur'ous about the
sea. My papa and mamma were lost
at sea."
"You don't say so, little miss!" ex
claimed the old fellow. "Aye, aye,
that's too bad."
Miss Amanda had disappeared, busy
about some household matter, and the
little girl and the sailor were alone to
gether. "Yes," Carolyn May proceeded, "It is
dreadful hard to feel that It is so."
"Feel that what's so, little miss?"
asked the man in bed.
"That my papa and mamma are real
ly drownd-ed," said the little girl with
quivering Hps. "Some of the folks on
their boot were saved. The papers
said so."
"Aye, aye !" exclaimed the sailor, his
brows puckered Into a frown. "Aye,
aye, matey ! that's alius the way. Why,
I was saved myself from a wreck. I
was in the first officer's boat, and we in
that boat was saved. There was an
other boat the purser's, it was was
driftln' about all night with us. We
come one time near smashln' Into each
other and wreckin' both boats. There
was a heavy swell on.
"Yet," pursued the sailor, "come day
light, and the fog splittin', we never
could find the. purser's boat. She had
jest as good a chance as us after the
steamship sunk. But there it was 1 We
got separated from her, and we was
saved, whilst the purser's boat wasn't
never heard on again."
"That was dreadful!" sighed the lit
tle girl.
"Yes, little miss. And the poor pas
sengers! Purser had twenty or more
In his boat. Women mostly. But there
was a sick man, too. Why, I helped
lower his wife and him into the boat
'fore I was called to go with the first
officer In his boat. We was the last to
cast off. The purser had Jest as good
a chance as we did.
"I guess I won't never forglt that
time, little miss," went on the seaman,
seeing the blue eyes fixed on his face,
round with interest. "No! And I've
seen some tough times, too.
"The ship was riddled. She bad to
sink and It was night.
"There was a sick man I told you
about, little miss. He was a wonder,
that feller I Cheerful brave Don't
often see a feller like lilra. Jokln' to
the last, he was. He didn't want to go
In the purser's boat, if there was more
women or children to go.
"We told him all the women folk had
left the ship. So, then, he let me lower
him down into the purser's boat after
his wife. . And that boat had as good a
chance as we had, I tell you," repeated
the seaman in quite an excited manner.
"Oh, dear mel" exclaimed Carolyn
May. "My papa and mamma might
have been Just like that," she added.
"Of course, we don't know whether
they got off the steamship at all."
"Aye, aye !" the sailor said. "Pretty
tough on you, little miss."
Miss Amanda had come back into
the room, and she stood listening to
the old man's talk. She said :
"Carolyn May, I think you had better
go downstairs now. We mustn't let
our patient talk too much, it won't be
good for him."
So Carolyn May shook hands with
the old sailor and started downstairs
ahead of Miss Amanda. The latter
lingered a moment to ask a question.
"What was the name of the steam
ship you were wrecked on?" she asked.
"The one you were Just telling about"
"She was the Dunraven the Dun
raven, of the Cross and Crescent line,"
replied the mariner. "Didn't I tell you
that before, ma'am?"
CHAPTER XI.
Will Wonders Never Cease?
Again It snowed all night.
It was on the next day, and at noon
time, when Mr. Stagg was returning to
the store, that a most astounding thing
happened.
Mr. Stagg was walking briskly to
ward Sunrise Cove in his big felt snow
boots, such as all men wore In that lo
cality, and was abreast of the Parlow
shop and cottage which he always
sought to avoid looking at when he
heard a door open and close.
He tried not to look that way. But
his ear told him instantly that the per
son who had come out was Miss Aman
da, rather than her father. Knowing
this, how could he help darting a
glance at her?
Miss Amanda stood on the porch,
looking directly at him.
"Mr. Stagg," she called earnestly, "I
must speak to you."
Save on the Sunday when Prince had
killed the blacksnake, Miss Amanda
had not spoken directly to the hard
ware merchant in all these hungry
years. It rather shocked Joseph Stagg
now that she should do so.
"Will you come In?" she urged him,
her voice rather tremulous.
There was a moment of absolute si
lence. "Bless me! Yes!" ejaculated the
hardware man finally.
"I assure you, Mr. Stagg," Miss
Amanda said hurriedly, "it Is no per
sonal matter that causes me to stop
you In this fashion."
"No, ma'am?" responded the man
stiffly.
"I want you to come in and speak
with this sailor who was hurt," she
finally said. "There Is something he
can tell you, Mr. Stagg, that I think
you should know."
The big rocking-chair by the window,
in which Miss Amanda's mother had
for several years before her death
spent her waking hours, was now oc
cupied by the sailor.
"This is the little girl's uncle, Ben
jamin," Miss Amanda said quietly. "He
will be interested in what you have al
ready told me about the loss of the
Dunraven. Will you please repeat it
all?"
"The Dunraven?" gasped Mr. Stagg,
sitting down without being asked.
"Hannah"
"There Is no hope, of course," Aman-.
da Parlow spoke up quickly, "that your
sister, Mr. Stagg, and her husband
were not lost. But having found out
"We Nigh Bumped Into Each Other
After the Dunraven Sunk."
that Benjamin was on the steamer
with them, I thought you should know.
I have warned him to be careful how
he speaks before Carolyn May. You
may wish to hear the story at first
hand."
"Thank you," choked Joseph Stagg.
He wanted to say more, but could not.
Benjamin Hardy's watery eyes
blinked, and he blew his nose.
"Aye, aye, mate 1" he rumbled, "hard
lines for a fact. I give my testi
mony 'fore the consul when we was
landed so did all that was left of us
from the Dunraven. Me bein' an un
lettered man, they didn't run me very
clos't. I can't add much more to It.
"As I soy, that purser's boat your
sister and her sickly husband was in
had Jest as good a chance as we had.
We nigh bumped into each other soon
after the Dunraven sunk. So, then,
we pulled off aways from each other.
Then the fog rolled up from the Afri
can shore a heap o' fog, mate. It
sponged out the lamp In the purser's
boat. We never seen no more of 'em
nor heard no more."
"And were Hannah were my sister
and her husband in that boat?" queried
Mr. Stagg thoughtfully.
"I am sure, by the details Benjamin
has given me," said Miss Amanda soft
ly, "that your sister and Mr. Cameron
were two of Us passengers."
"Well, It's a long time ago, now,"
said the hardware dealer. "Surely, if
they had been picked up or had reached
the coast of Africa, we would have
heard about it"
"ft would seem so," the woman
agreed gently.
"You never know what may happen
at sea, mister, till It happens," Benja
min Hardy declared. "What became of
that boat"
He seemed to stick to that idea. But
the possibility of the small boat's hav
ing escaped seemed utterly preposter
ous to Mr. Stagg. He arose to depart.
Miss Amanda followed the hardware
dealer to the outer door.
"I'm sorry," she said simply.
"Thank thank you," murmured Jo
seph Stagg before she closed the door.
He went on to town, his mind
strangely disturbed. It was not his
sister's fate that filled his heart and
brain, but thoughts of Miss Amanda.
She had deliberately broken the
silence of years I Of course, it might
be attributed to her Interest in Carolyn
May only, yet the hardware dealer
wondered.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Relieved.
At Camp Dodge one night a Swede
was on guard duty. Being new to the
business, time dragged slowly, but
finally the officer with relief came
along. The Swede said : "Halt." They
halted, and next he said : "Who was
dat?" The officer replied: "Officer
with relief." The sentry, after wait
ing several minutes in a vain attempt
to recall to mind what he should eay,
brought forth this startling command :
"Dismiss yourselfs and be reconciled."
Needless to say the stillness of the
night was broken by a roar of laughter.