known to cause the more discriminat­
bead.
“Another lunatic 1” he shouted. “I'd ing to draw heavily on the dictionary
as soon have a white horse and a min­ for adjectives. My face Is small and
ister aboard as go to sea In a Aoatlng heart-ahaped, with features strictly
for use add not for ornament, but for­
bedlam 1“
As the captain’s angry thunder tunately Inconspicuous. As for my
died away came the small, anxious eyes, I think tawny quite the nicest
word, though Aunt Jane calls them
voice of Aunt Jane.
“What’s the matter? Oh, please tell hazel and I have even heard whispers
me what's the m atter!” she was say­ of green.
Five minutes after the gong sound­
ing as she edged -her way Into the
Miss
group. Her eyes, round, pale, blink­ ed I walked Into the cabin.
ing a little in the tropical glare, Browne, Captain Watkins of the
roved over the circle until they lit on freighter, and half a dozen men were
me. Right where she stood Aunt Jane already at the table. I slid unobtru­
petriAed Her poor little chin dropped sively Into the one vacant place, for­
until It disappeared altogether In the tunately remote from the captain,
folds of her plump neck, apd she re­ who glared at me savagely, as though
mained speechless, stricken. Immobile still embittered by the recollection of
my aunt's Ats.
as a wax Agure In an exhibition.
•Gentlemen,” 6ald Miss Browne In
“Aunt Jane,” I said, “you must come
right back to shore with me." I spoke icy tones. “Miss Virginia Harding."
Two of the men rose, the others
calmly, for unless you are perfectly
PICTURES;
tared and ducked. Except for Miss
calm with Aunt Jane you Auster her.
She replied only by a slight gob­ Browne and the captain, I bad re­
el ved on coming aboard only the most
bling In her throat, but the other
woman spoke tn a loud voice, ad­ blurred Impression of my fellow-voy­
OM PANY
the bo bbs -
c q p y r i g - h t
dressed not to me but to the universe agers. I remembered them merely as
compmlte of khaki and cork hel-
nad
assisted
Aunt
Jane
to
And
herself
In general.
.Y
ou
will
need
CHAPTER ».
“The Young Person Is m ad !" It was ments and astounded staring faces.
und as a consequence Aunt Jane, for
one
o
f
th
o
se
w
But I felt that as the abetters of Miss
an unmistakably British intonation.
the comparatively trlAIng outlay need
An Aunt Errant
This, then, was Miss Violet Hlggles­ Browne a hostile and sinister atmos­
large
A
lum
inum
T
urkey
R
o
asters
at
$3,
and
\|/
ful to finance the Harding-Browne ex
Never had life seemed more fair and
1 saw a grim, bony, phere enveloped them all.
peditton, would shortly be the richei
will also w ant d elicio u s coffee, m ace in a line w by-Browne.
smiling than at the moment when by one fourth of a vast treasure of
Being thus In the camp of the en­
stocky shape, in a comitanlon cos­
Annt Jane'« letter descended upon me
Nickel P e rco la to r Coffeepot, sold at $o.75.
w tume to my aunt’s. Around the edges emy, I sat down In silence and devoted
like a bolt from the blue. The fact Spanish doubloons. The knowledge of
of her cork helmet her short Iron-gray myself to my soup. The majority of
A lum inum P e rc o la to r Colleepots, six and
la, I was taking a vacation from Aunt this hoard- was Miss Hlgglesby-
hair visibly bristled. She had a mas­ my companions did likewise—audibly.
eig
h
t
cups,
a
t
from
$5.25
to
$1.25.
W
Urowne's
alone.
It
hud
been
revealed
Jane. Being an orphan, 1 was sup­
sive head, and a seamed and rugged But presently I heard a voice at my
We
have
a
fine
assortment
of
Boston
all-
leather
bags,
13,
14
and
15-
posed to he under Aunt Jane s wing, to her by a dying sailor tn a London
countenance which did Its best to live left:
iuch. from $2.75 to $3 05.
but this was the merest polite Action, hospital, whither she hud gone on a
I say» what a Jolly good sailor you
down the humiliation of a ridiculous
and I am sure that no hen with one mission of kindness—you gathered
seem to be—pity your aunt's not!"
little nose with no bridge.
l
hat
Miss
Browne
was
precisely
the
chicken worries about It more than
I looked up and saw Apollo sitting
But what riveted my eyes was the
I did about Aunt Jane. I had spent ^prt to take advantage when people
deadly glare with which hers were beside me. Or rather, shall I say a
the last three years, since Aunt Susan were helpless and unable to Ay from
turned on me. I saw that not only young man who might have walked
died and left Aunt Jane with all the her. Why the dying sailor chose to
was she as certain of my Identity as out of an advertisement for a ready­
422 FIR ST STREET
A LBA N Y
money and no one to look after but make Miss Browne the repository of
though she had guided me from my made clothing house, so ideal and Im­
Ills
secret,
I
don't
know—this
still
re­
me, In snatching her from the brink
Arst tottering steps, but that in a possible was his beauty. He was very
mains
for
me
the
unsolved
mystery.
of disaster. Her most recent and nar­
Aash she had grasped my motives, tall—I had to tilt my chin quite pain­
row escape was from a velvet- But when the sailor closed his eyes
alms and purposes, and meant once fully to look up nt him—and from the
tongued person of half her years who the secret und the map—of course
for all to face, out-general and defeat loose collar of his silk shirt his throat
turned out to be a convict on parole. there was a map—bad become Miss
rose like a column. His skin was a
me with great slaughter.
plume?
I
thought
of
my
aunt
at
the
She had her handbag packed for the Hlgglesby-Browne’s.
ward swoop. “Miss Jane Ilardlng and
So she announced to the company beautiful clear pink and white Just
mercy
of
these
unknown
adventurers
Miss Browne now had clear before
elopement when I confronted her with
party have left the h otel!"
with whom she had set forth, help­ with deliberation: “The Young Per­ tinged with tan—like a meringue that
this unpleasant fact. When she came her the road to fortune, but unfortu
»For—the Island?" I gasped.
has been in the oven for two minutes
son Is mad I”
to she was bitter Instead of grateful, nately It led across the sea and quite
He raised his eyebrows.
“Can’t less as a little fat pigeon among
exactly. He had a straight, chiseled
It nettled me extremely.
and went about for weeks presenting out of the route of steamer travel.
say, I’m sure.” He gave me an ap­ hawks, and I felt, desperately, that I
“Mad!" I Aung back at her. “Be­ proAIe and his hair was thick and
a spectacle of blighted affections Capital In excess of Miss Browne's re­
praising stare. Perhaps the woe In must reach her, must save her from cause I wish to save my poor aunt chestnut and wavy and he had clear
them
and
bring
her
safe
back
to
which was too much for the most self
sources was required. London prov­
inj fare touched him, for he descend­
from such a situation as this?
It sea-gray eyes. To give him at once
approving conscience. So It ended ing cold before Its great opportunity,
’d from the eminence of the hotel shore. How I was to do this at the would be charitable to Infer madness Ills full name and titles, he was the
with my packing her off to New York, Miss Browne had shaken off Its dust
-lerk where he dwelt apart sufficient­ eleventh hour, plus i^ n it Afty-seven In those who have led her Into It!" Honorable Cuthbert Patrick Ruth-
where I wrote to her frequently and and come to New York, where a mys­
ly to add, “Is It Important that you minutes, as at present, I hadn’t con­ When I reviewed this speech after- more Vane, of High Staunton Manor,
sidered. But experience had taught
kindly, urging her not to mind me but teriously potent InAuence had guided
should see her?”
j ward I realized that It was not, under Kent, England. But as I was Ignorant
her to Aunt Jane. Through Miss
to stay as long as she liked.
"I am her niece. I have come all me that once In my clutches Aunt 1 the circumstances, the best calculated of this. I can truthfully say that hls
Jane
would
offer
about
as
much
re­
Meanwhile I came up to the ranch Browne's great organizing abilities, the way from Ran Francisco expect­
looks stunned me purely on their own
sistance as a slightly melted wax doll. to win me friends,
for a long holiday with Besa and the not to speak of those newly brought ing to join her here.”
“Jane!" said Miss Hlgglesby-Browne merits.
She gets so soft that you are almost
baby, a holiday which had already to light In Aunt Jane, a party of
The clerk meditated, his shrewd
In deep and awful tones, “the time ha*
Outwardly calm, I replied. “Yes,
stretched Itself out to Thanksgiving, stanch comrades ’ ad been assembled, eyes piercing the very secrets of my afraid to touch her for fear of leav­
come to prove your strength!”
It’s too had, but then who ever
ing
dents.
and threatened to last until Christ­ a steamer engaged to meet them at soul.
Aunt Jane proved It by uttering a dreamed that Aunt Jane would go ad
So to get there, get there, get there,
Panama, and It was ho, for the Island
mas.
“She knew nothing about It," I has­
' shrill yelp, and clutching her hair venturing at her time of life?
I
was the one prayer of my soul.
As to Aunt Jane, my state of mind In the blue PaclAc main I
tened to add. “1 Intended It for a
I
I got there. In a boat hastily com­ ! with a reckless disregard of Its hav­ 'hought nobody over the age of thir­
wus fatuously calm. She was slay­
With this lyrical outburst Aunt surprise.”
mandeered by the hotel clerk's dep­ ing originally been that of a total teen, and then boys, ever went treas­
ing with cousins, who live In a suburb
lane concluded the body of her letter.
This candor helped my cause.
uty.
We brought up under the side , stranger. So severe were her shrieks ure-hunting."
and are frightfully respectable.
1 A small cramped postscript Informed “Well," he said, “that explains her
of
the
little steamer, and the wide and struggles that It was with diffi
“Ah, hut lads of thirteen couldn’t
was sure they numbered no convicts
me that It was against Miss H.-B.'a not leaving any word. As you are
culty that she was borne below in the well come such a distance on their
among their acquaintance, or Indeed wishes that she revealed their plans her niece. I suppose It will do no harm surprised face of a Swedish deck­
arms of two strong men.
own, you know," returned Apollo, with
any one from whom Aunt Jane was to anyone, but that she did w-ant to to tell you that Miss Ilardlng and her hand stared down at uA.
I had seen Aunt Jane in hysterics the kindest air of making allowance
"Let me aboard I I must com*
likely to require rescuing. And If It bear from me before they sailed from party embarked this morning on the
before— she had them that time about for the female Intellect.
came to a retired missionary I wag Panuma. where a letter might reach freighter Itufus Smith, and I think uhoard,” I cried.
Other faces appeared, then a rope- the convict. I was not frightened, but • I hurriedly turned the subject.
perfectly willing.
her if I was prompt.
It very likely that the steamer has ladder.
Somehow I was mounting T hurried after her—neck and neck
“I really can’t imagine Aunt Jnne
Hut the cousins and their respect­
“And of course,” 1 explained to Bess uot left port. If you like I will send
with Miss Browne.
It was Afteen on a desert Island. What will she do
ability are of the passive order, where­ as I hurled things into ray bags, "If a a man to the water-front with you und It—a dizzy feat to which only the tu­
minutes
before
Aunt
Jane
came
to,
mult of my emotions made me Indif­
If she meets a cannibal and lie tries
as to manage Aunt Jane demands ag
letter can reach her so can 1. At least you may be able to go on board and ferent. Bare brnwny arms of sailors and then she would only moan,
to eat her?"
gresalve and continuous action. Hence
I must take the chance of It. What have a talk with your aunt.”
clutched nt me and drew me to the bathed her head, and held her hand
“Oh, really, now,” argued the para­
the bolt from the blue above alluded
Did I thank him? I have often
those people are up to 1 don't know—
deck. There at once 1 was the cen­ and did all the regulation things un gon earnestly, “I'm quite sure there’s
to.
probably they mean to hold her for wondered when I wnlted up in the ter of a circle of speechless and aston­ der the baleful eye of Miss Brtftvne no danger of that, don’t you know? I
1 was swinging tranquilly In the
ransom and murder her outright If It ntght. I have a vision of myself
who steadfastly refused to go away
believe there are no natives at all on
hammock, I remember, when Bess Is not forthcoming. Or perhaps some dashing out of the hotel, and theft the ished persons, all men but one.
but sat glaring like a gorgon who the Island, or else quite tame ones, 1
“Well?”
demanded
a
large
breezy
brought my letters and then hurried
of them will marry her and share the hack that brought me Is bearing me voice. “What’s this mean? What do sees her prey about to be snatched
forget which, and there are four of us
awsy because the baby had fallen
spoils with Miss Hlgglesby-Browne
away. Bellboys hurled my bags In you want aboard my ship?"
from her.
chaps, with no end of revolvers and
downstairs. Unwarned by the slight-,
liter me. and 1 threw them largess
In
the
midst
of
my
ministrations
I looked up at a red-faced man In
est premonitory thrill, 1 kept Aunt
recklessly. Madly we clattered over a large straw hat.
awoke suddenly to a rhythmic heave
Jane's letter till the last and skimmed
cobbled ways. Out on the smooth
and throb which pervaded the ship
“I
want
my
nunt,”
I
explained.
through all the others.
waters of the roadstead lay ships
“Your aunt?” he roared. “Why the Dropping Aunt Jane's hand I rushed
At last 1 came to Aunt Jane. 1
great and small, ships with stripped devil should you think I’ve got your on deck. There lay the various pieces
ripped open the envelope aud drew
masts and smokeless funnels, others aunt?"
of my baggage, and in the distance
out the letter—a fat one. but then
with faint gray spirals wreathing up­
the boat with the two brown rowers
"You
have
got
her,”
I
replied
with
Aunt Jane’s letters are alwuys fa t
ward from their stacks. Was one of Armness. "I don't see her, but she's was skipping shoreward over the rip­
Nevertheless, as 1 spread out the
these the Rufus Smith, and would I here somewhere.”
ples. As for the Rufus Smith, she
d ose Ailed pages I felt a mild wonder
reach her—or him—^p-fore the ' U
The captain of the Rufus Smith was under way, and heading out of
*
in
Writing so large, so black, so stag
gray feather became a thick black shook two large red Asts above his the roadstead for the open sea.
gerlng, so madly underlined, must In­
I dashed aft to the captain, who
dicate something above eveu Aunt
stood issuing orders In the voice of an
Jane's usual emotional level. Per
aggrieved fog-horn.
haps In sober truth there was a mis
“C aptain!" I cried, "w ait; turn
slooary—
around! You must put my aunt and
Twenty minutes later I staggered
me ashore!"
Into Bess' room.
He whirled on me. showing a crim­
"Hush!” she said. "Don't wake the
son angry face. "Turn around, is It,
baby!“
turn around?" he shouted. "Do you
"Baby or no baby," I whispered sav
suppose I can loaf about the harbor
agely. “I’ve got to have a time table
here a-waltln’ on your aunt's Alls?
I leave for the ctty tonight to catch
Yon come aboard without me askin’.
the ttrst steamer for ¿Panama !’’
Now you can go along with the rest.
Later, while the baby slumbered
This here ship has got her course set
and I parked. 1 explained This was
for Frisco, pickin' up Leeward Island
difficult; not that H e ss Is as a gen
on the way, and anybody that ain’t
era I thing obtuse, but because the pic­
gotn' In that direction ts welcome to
ture of Aunt Jane embarking for
Jump overboard.”
some wild, lone Isle of the PuclAc as
That Is how I happened to go to
the tiead of a treasure-seeking expe­
Leeward
Island.
dition was enough to «hake the strong­
est Intellect. Ami yet. amid the wet
TO
CHAPTER II.
ter of Ink and eloquence which Ailed
M uit Oat to Panama In Tima to
“What Will She Do If t>he Maat* a
those fateful pages, there was the cold
Sava Har."
S a c r a m e n t o - S a n F r n n c ls c o
Cannibal and H * Trias to Eat Her?”
Apollo and Some Other*.
hard fact confronting you. Aunt Jane
The Rufus Smith, tramp freighter, things.
'
’
.
AND
Anyway,
I
must
get
to
Panama
In
Mr. Shaw—sitting opposite
was going to took for buried treasure
bad been chartered to convey the Miss Browne, you know—is rather
time to save her.”
In company with one Violet Hlgglesby
Harding Browne expedition to Lee­ running things, so If you feel nervous
L ob
“Or you might go along to the
Browne, whom she sprung on you
ward Island, which lies about three yon should talk to him. Was with the
Island,” suggested Besa.
without the slightest explanation, as
hundred miles west of Panama, and
offers all rhe comforts of modern travel.
South Polar expedition and all that—
I paused to glare at her.
though alluding to the queen of Sheba
could be picked up hy the freighter
knows no end about this sort of thing
or the Siamese twins. Hy beginning
"Bess I And let them murder me.
Convenient schedules, observation cars and excellent meals
In her course. She was a little dingy
I —wouldn’t for a moment think of let­
at the end and reading backward— too?"
ate other ieatures of the Shasta Route
boat with such small accommodations
ting ladles run the risk of being eat­
Aunt Jane'a letters are usually most
“Or marry you—’’ cooed Besa.
that I cannot Imagine where the ma­ en."
Round Trip
Intelligible that way yon managed to
One month later I was climbing out
jority of her passengers stowed them­
I peeped around Apollo for a
piece together some explanation of
o f a lumbering hack before the Tivoli
selves away. My aunt and Mtsa
this Mtsa Hlgglesby Browne and her hotel, which rlaee square and white
Brown had a stateroom between them glimpse of the experienced Mr. Shaw.
place tn the scheme of things. It wa»
and Imposing on the low green height
the size of a packing-box. and some­ I saw a strong-featured, weather-
through Miss Browne, whom she lia I above the old Spanish ctty of Pan­
are on «ale at
body turned out and resigned anoth­ beaten proAIe, the face of a man some­
met at a lecture upon Soull»evpl<,>
ama. In spite of the melting trop­
er to me. I retired th«-e to dress for where In hls thirties, and looking,
ical heat there was a chill fear at my
meat, that Aunt Jane had come to
dinner. In the haste of my departure from this side view at least, not only
heart, the fear that Aunt Jane and
realise her claims as an Individual
from San Francisco I had not brought stern but grim.
her hand of treasure-seekers had al­
upon the Cosmos, also to discos or that
For ticket* and infouiattvn ask agents or write
I made up my mind at once that the
a trunk, so the best I was able to pro­
alts was by nature a woman of a f­ ready departed on their quest.
duce to the way of a crusher for Miss backbone of the party, and Inevitably
1 crossed the broad gallery and
fairs with a talent for directing large
Hlgglesby Browne and her fellow-pas­ the leader I d Its projected villainies,
plunged Into the coot dlmneaa of the
enterprises, although adverse InAu
sengers was a cool little white gown, whatever they might be, was this
lobby tn the wake of the hellhoya who,
cnees had hitherto kept her from rec
Mr.
Shaw.
Ton
I which would shine at least by con­ rugged-looking
J
o
h
n
m
scott
.
ogntstng her powers. There was ■ .»seem ing a helpleas prey, had
couldn't
fancy
him
aa
the
misled
fol­
trast
with
Miss
Browne's
severely
util­
General Pas enger Agent
swooped en masse upon my bags
dark slgnlAcance tn these "adverse tn
itarian costume
White Is becoming lower of anybody, even the terrlAc
"Mtsa
Jane
Harding?”
repeated
the
fluencea,” though whether they mean’
1 to my hair, which narrow-minded per I Violet
clerk,
me or In*
iRwyrr I ww»
hiv
cier*. and at the coot negation of
... h's
....
the TRHiiiy
faintly lawyer
was i»«»i
not « aure
Aa |t seemed an unpr„i>ltlotta mo-
IPS» !«£Hi is tj, b it which hag been
Misa Hlgglesby Browne, however, | tone
heart_jave a sickening dowu
PAGE 4
HALSEY ENTERPRISE
Range
Fkugs
Kitchen Cabinets
Dining-room Sets
Heaters
Beds
Linoleum
Congoleum
N E W A N D SECOND H A N D
W hite Sewing Machines
All things necessary for a cozy home
Call and investigate goods and prices
For Thanksgiving
E. L. ST IFF
Take the
Scenic Shasta Route
TO
Sunny Southern
CALIFORNIA
Through Sleeping Car Service
Anjjeles
Winter Excursion Tickets
Reduced Fare.
Southern Pacictic Lines
F» ,
» -»