The Lancaster news. (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, October 16, 1917, Page 2, Image 2
_2
"CDNTD
IA Romance of ih
6y RANDALL P/
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I?Robert Hollls. one-time
ea captain, who tells the story. Is a
ffuest on Gerald Carrlnnton's yacht. Esmeralda.
It Is supposed to be a "star1'
party and Hollis Is surprised on discover
ing a woman, wno evidently wishes to remain
unknown, aboard.
CHAPTER I.
i
A Yacht Party.
' Bo many Items bearing upon those
Strange adventures which have lately
befallen me have found publication In
the newspapers, oftentimes distorted
and untrue, and resulting In letters of
Inquiry from friends, Induce ine now
to write out the tale while the Incidents
remain fresh in memory. Indeed,
I owe the truth not only to myself
but even more to her who so
bravely shared with me those days and
Sights of peril.
The earlier passion of my life was
the sea, and, when others of my age
were grinding away through their
courses in college, I was apprenticed
to the merchant service In a fleet
owned by my father, trading between
.New York and northern European
ports. Loving the work, and, possibly,
assisted by the fact that I was my
father's sons, I rose rapidly, until
licensed as captain of steam, and assigned
to command the Vulcan, a
freighter of .'1,000 tons. At thirty, however.
the novelty and fascination of a
sea life ceased its attraction, and when
my father died sufficient property became
my share from the estate to enable
my resigning this command, and
retiring permanently from the service.
Circumstances, unnecessary now to relate,
caused me to make permanent
home In Chicago, where I soon became
engrossed in business, finding my sole
recreation in yachting upon the Great
Lakes. Such were he rather commonplace
surroundings #of my life,
when, at thirty-seven, adventure suddenly
called me out into the unknown.
Nothing could have been more unexpected
than the occasion which took
me to New York. Carrlngton?Gerald
Carrington, the Copper King?had Just
placed his new steam yacht, the Esmeralda,
in commission, and was eager
4A el nlnn 4 4- Lit <> ??
iea easily to the upper deck. Sunlight
touched the edge of the companlonway,
and flickered down through a halfopened
skylight above, yielding cheerfulness
to the scene, yet Inviting to the
open air. I would meet those with
whom I was destined to companion on
this voyage across summer seas.
I
iu V.UHOICI1 il itjf U I'll 11 Ut'I UBS IU U1W
ports of Spain. ITe wrote urging me
to become one of the party. The temptation
was irresistible, for, as I knew
Mrs. Carrington was in Europe, the
guests on board would undoubtedly all
be men, -and probably congenial fellows.
A bachelor myself, the long hours
at sea had left me unaccustomed to
the society of women, whose presence
I avoided whenever possible. Hence,
I accepted Carrington's invitation immediately
by wire, hastily packed the
few things necessary for the trip, and,
unaccompanied even by a valet, caught
the Twentieth Century for New York.
Carrington lived on Long Island, and
I talked with him on the phone. There
were to be twelve In the party, the
names of two, who were former acquaintances,
alone being mentioned in
our brief conversation. The yacht was
lying at Toinpkinsvllle, provisioned,
and ready for the sea. I must be on
board by three o'clock the following
day, and he gave me quite explicit instructions
as to the best mode of reaching
the vessel.
An accident to the ferry caused tno
to miss the local train which I had anticipated
taking the next morning, and
I was consequently the last of our
yachting party to arrive at Tompkinsville.
The others were already safely
aboard when I hurried across the gangplank,
to receive the cordial welcome
of Carrington, who immediately or
dered the vessel under way. The
guests must have heen gathered on the
upper deck, enjoying the excitement of
departure, for I caught no glimpse of
anyone on board, excepting some members
of the crew, as the steward led
me to the cabin assigned to my use
during the voyage.
Even the brief view I had obtained
of the boat Impressed me strongly,
both with Its beauty and seagoing
qualities. I was sailor enough to appreciate
all this at a glance. The
Ksmeraldn was a steam yacht, schooner
rigged aloft, of over fifteen hundred
tons, constructed for deep-water
cruising, well manned, and able to combat
the storms of any ocean.
I opened the door and emerged Intti
the main cabin. It was deserted, except
for a waiter or two attired In
white Jackets who had covered a long
table suspended by stanchions from the
deck beams above, and were spreading
It with snowy linen In preparation for
the six o'clock rneal. Never had 1
seen a more coxy, homelike Interior.
Forward, an open passage, guarded
only by silently swinging doors, led
to the steward's pantry, and various
storerooms beyond, while beside this
opening a broad, brass-railed stairway
AMND
e J^ortk Atlantic
VPPI5A
.10 aflhe FOREST" ETC.
aseatafiassMti
No passengers wprp visible on 1
deck, yet this mystery was soon
plained as I stepped to one side 8
glanced aft. The cabin projection v
not high, yet sufficiently so to br?
the force of the headwind, and besh
was far enough advanced to give am
deck space at the stern. Here
awning had been erected, and benei
Its shelter were gathered the vess<
guests. I recognized but three in I
group ? Carrlngton, red-fnced ?
white-haired, a cigar gripped in 1
teeth, giving some instructions to t
steward; Fosdiek, tall, slim, thl
lipped, n lawyer well knowu to c<
porations who desired to keep Ji
within legal restrictions, sat at a tab
his hand lingering a half-filled gin
while he talked to the men opposit
and McCm n, fat, good-natured, bo
to his father's millions, who nmus
himself by the pretense of being
broker, interrupting the game of car
in which he was engaged with thr
others, to tell the latest story of t
street. Personally I cared little t
either of these men, yet had knee
both, in a way, for some time. T
others, judging from tfce outward i
pea ranees, had been recruited fn
about the same class?business i
quaintances of Carrlngton no doubt,
went forward, greeting those whon
knew, and being duly presented to t
others.
Whatever they might have been
a business way, and for that I car
absolutely nothing, they proved the
selves a most companionable hunch
fellows to meet.
The memory of that tirst meal in t
snug after cabin of the Esmeralda
mains a most pleasant recollecth
The cabin had been darkened, nnd t
soft light of a swinging lamp gleam
hack from snowy damask and glitt
ing silver. The center was banked w
f
"Anything Going Wrong?" I Aake
momentary gleam I recognized the f
of the aecond officer, and when he fli
ly came out again. I crossed the d
movers, tne service was perfects
and the chef was evidently a geni
We lingered over the wine and elga
the conversation drifting where
would.
I believe I was among the first
leave the table and return outside, a
as my inclination was to remain al<
and enjoy the calm of the night, I v
tured forward along the deserted de
until I found fancied security from
servation in the shadow of a sm
boat. The others, as they emerj
later from the companion, outlined
'moment against the light, turned 01
again aft, and resumed their old plat
Nothing occurred to break the i
notony, and finally, wearying of it al
went below, being in no mind to j
at games with the others. I was s?
asleep.
Some dormant sense of seamansl
aroused to new life, perhaps, by
brief watch on deck, must have aw
ened me. For I sat up in bed, c
seious that the vessel's motion 1
censed. All was silent; no Jar sht
the keel, no footsteps sounded on
deck above. I switched on the elect
light, and glancMfi at my watch ; it \
slightly after midnight. Through
open port nothing was visible but
dark waters, and the far-off gleam
u light, alternating in flashes of wh
I did not knoV enough of this co
li?? l.b.n?lfn ..I * ?* -
nur id 111111111/ nit; m^iiui, ji'i 11 i
plainly evident we were some dista
from land.
Why the Esmeralda had stopped
engines was no special concern of ml
and I lay down attain. Hut sleep wo
not return. I tossed and turned, i
finally arising In sheer desperatl
hastily donned my clothes. The nl
cabin was deserted, dimly lighted
one shaded electric globe, bene
which the brass stulr rails shone du
I emerged on the deck, gratefi
breathing in the fresh night air. A
stood there, a man descended the 1
der from the bridge, entered the chi
house and switched on a light. In
THE LANCASTER NEW8T
I - ^ so ns to Intercept him.
' ' "Anything going wrong, Mr. Seeley?"
I I asked. "You have stopped the engines."
tie stared at me through the dark
blinded still perhaps by the glare ol
! the ohartroom, and unable to recog
* uize my strange voice. Yet he was ?
* yachtsman, falned above all to cour
3tesy.
"Nothing serious, sir," he announced
civilly enough. "The engines are new,
and not well adjusted yet; a bit ol
.--j shaft went wrong, und has to be reI
paired."
He turned away, but at that Instant
the mj e>'*'s caught the Hashing of a beuex_
con away off to the southeast.
intj "What light Is that out yonder, Mr.
l-?? Seeley? We must be well beyond Ea ak
He glanced In the direction lndlple
catedan
"Those white flashes? That Is Oldlth
field point, sir. Are you acaualnted
with these waters?"
tho "Not intiniutely, although I retain
mj some memory of the charts. I saw
merchants' service on the old Atlas
line."
"A fine line that." he acknowledged
u* heartily. "I made my first voyage, as
>r* cabin boy, on the Mohawk. You art
of
' Mr. Mollis. I presume, sir. 1 overheard
e* Mr. Carrington tell Captain Turner you
IS!| were to be one of the party aboard
<>* Well, good night, sir; I must make
r,J certain the watch Is awake."
,M He touched his cap courteously, and
1 disappeared beneath the shadow of the
( s bridge, leaving me again alone, unde
elded whether to return below, or en
' e deavor to walk off my sleeplessness
' | I scarcely know what idle curiosity led
'J11 me to stroll along the narrow deck
u* space, around the cabin to the loung
ing place at the stern. I stopped sud
,in denly in surprise, staring across nt tht
opposite rail, questioning the evldenet
of my own eyes. There, clearly out
1 lined In the star glimmer, was plainlj
revealed the figure of a woman. Sotrn
Instinct of fear, or. perchance, a slide
sound of approach, must have apprised
,M her of toy near presence, for she tumec
U1* Instantly toward nie, bending slight 1\
? forward, her face visible In the shad
ow; and then, before I could elthei
j move or speak, she fled along the port
re" rail, vanishing Immediately behind tlu
>n* protection of the cabin. I felt sun
that her parted Hps had uttered ?
" quick exclamation, and b"''* startled ef
<r~ fort at escape was sufficient to urg?
' me to pursue. Who could she be
l,n' Why was she here on board the Ksme
Us' ralda? Above all, why should she bt
rs" so eager to escape observation?
" I ran forward across the deck, am
quickly explored the passage betweet
t? the cabin and rail. It was clearly vis
n<* llde In the bright starlight, hut th<
)n<> swiftly fleeing ttgure hud totally van
en-!
r ~ wci i m
,teast
J?/ ^ <52r
Z
her
inc.! He Lit a Cigar and Leaned Comforl
uldl ably Back In His Chair.
? I shod. I reached the steps of the conn
, r panion, and gazed down through th
. glass doors. The light below revenlet
nothing, the cabin remained quiet am
.. deserted. Not a shadow rewarded ra
iUv either on the open deck, or be
. low. Yet surely this was no dream
8 1
no hallucination, no mere vision of th
night. The woman had actually heel
the *bere 1 bad seen her plainly enough
i had even heanl the echo of her voice
?j' There was then u woman on boarda
woman who sought to hide from ob
nervation; who ventured on deck onl,
^ when Hhe thought It entirely deserted
and who fled In fright from dlscoverj
I even felt a vague Impression of he
S? personality?she was young, slender o
form, dressed In some shlmmerlni
gray stuff, a light, fluffy scarf conceal
? I ing her huir.
There was nothing more to do then
i. although I prowled about for sora
J time peering Into dark corners, an<
turning the matter over and over li
my mind. It must have been nearl:
daybreak before I fell asleep again li
my own stateroom, nor did I awakei
until the steward announced the las
breakfast call, by a vigorous rapplni
on my door.
Carrlngton was seated alone at th'
fnhle nh?n T
ing over his coffee, and he remained ti
keep me company, seemingly In a gen
lal mood In spite of the delay.
He lit a cigar, and leaned comfort
ably back In his chair, looking amlabl;
across at me through the bluo haze o
^ smoke.
"Rather nice bunch of fellows for i
A, cruise, don't you think?"
"Quite so, although I only knew tw
ace previously."
ml- "Yes?Fosdlck and MeCann. Th
eck
XTESDAY, OCT. 16, 1917.
others are either bankers or brok
' fellows I meet every clay or so In
1 business, you know. You have n
done much in stocks?"
I shook my head.
"My business education was In
entirely different school," I said
1 etly, ignoring his lead. "My fa
never speculated."
"I know his feelings on that subjc
and Carrlngton chuckled, as thoug
; a pleusant memory. "1 never advo
speculation myself, but have n
shown any qualms of conseli
against betting on a sure thing.
ST7
j! AND YOl
! raid 1
I r/iiiv '
? i
il
I
ji Football Games
Teams at F
t
I Wednesday a
t
o
0 _
1 Carolina-C
Thursday.
i*
; Military Minstre
| Each Night.
I
-.jV . .
haps we can discuss this later?he
our voyage ends."
"This, then. Is more of a bust
thau a pleusure trip, sir?"
He laughed, watching the sn
rings Use lastly In the air.
"Well, hardly that, my boy. My
pltullty is not to he so strictly lim
However, no doubt, we shall dis
some matters of business import)
before our return. By the way,
| have some Idle money, I hear?"
"Not a large sum at present,
1 though it is true I control some c
tal."
Carrtngton pushed back his c
and arose to his feet.
"That Is of no Immediate 1m
tance," he said carelessly. "But in
1 i Judgment, we are not far away fro
' great opportunity in finance, who
' will pay well to be on the Inside,
may Interest you to know that a
j per pool is being organized."
' I "I suspected as much ; you have s
news?"
' i "Exceedingly Important news.
J ten, Hollis, this Is strictly confldei
1 and worth your thinking it over. <
j two men on board know the tr
" There will be war in Europe?the
eest war ever known in hl??<irv?wl
5 a month. I>o you realize what
i will mean, for instance, to copper?
"I con Imagine, sir. But if wo
' on the verge of such a sudden ris
' market value, why do you leave J
' York for a long voyage?"
Carrlngton smiled, stroking his j
: mustache.
"A natural question, perhaps con
" I from one not acquainted with
j methods," he answered good-humo
' ly. "Because 1 prefer to he thot
"Unit of it. Everybody on the st
Is aware that 1 am at sea. I 1
1 escape being Interviewed, importt
for information. I am unsuspected
1 f
, being where I can manipulate the i
' i ket. The Esmeralda Is equipped '
a powerful wireless outtlt, and we 1
' | on board the most expert oper
j.to be procured In New York. I s
j be in direct communication with
office every hour of the day and nl
i Tomorrow, once safely beyond P
j Judith, I shall explain my plan; m
j while, Mollis, think It over."
IlJe turned toward the stulrsTM)
| stopped him, more deeply Intereste
somethint: else ihaui In Ids rather va
What is LAX-FC
LAX-FOS IS AN IMPROVED CASCARA
A Digestive Liquid Laxative, Cathi
and Liver Tonic. Contains Cascara B
Blue Flag Root, Rhubarb Root, B
Root, May Apple Root, Senna Leaves
Pepsin. Combines strength with p
table aromatic taste. Does not gripe.
- Catarrh c
i an Mrs. Mary Fennell, R. P. D. , 1
qui- mona, Missouri, writes:
ther "I wish to say a few words In t
praise of Peruna. I have used
with good results for cramps in t
. ' stomach Also found It the v?
x nt thing for catarrh of the head. ]
sister was cured of catarrh of sto
ever ach by the use of Peruna.''
rnce Mrs. E. T. Chomer, 69 East 42
Per- St., Chicago, 111., says: "Manal
fore best laxative on the market for li\
and bowels, very good for indigesti
nesB and heart burn.
Those who object to liquid me
cines can secure Peruna tablets.
lOllt
nos" financial scheme. The girl on nonr
Ited. wns It possible she could have any c<
cuss pectlon with this nfTnlr?
nice ?Hy the way," I spoke with an i
>'ou sumption of carelessness, "Mrs. Ci
rtngton, I understand. Is at present
?' Europe?"
apl- "Yes, In Switzerland; I have cnbl
her that she had better return as I
hair as London at once."
"You seem very confident as to t
por- truth of your advices."
mj "I ntn; I know the men who he
in a reported to me."
11 " "I see; and consequently there i
'' no women on hoard?"
cop- "Women?" He made a swift, expr
slve gesture. "Certainly not. I wri
oine yon to that effect, I believe; at lei
I so instructed my secretary. T
,Is" voyage Is primarily a business nfT?
it la! why should you ask that questli
>n'-v Hollls? You have met all my guest
u1'K I hesitated, yet determined to i
htm fully to the test. If he knew,
thin tli??r his face or manner would betr
that him. irrespective of his words.
"I Imagined I saw a woman on I
are | jock |ast night, when I ventured <
'' I to learn why the engine had stopp
v ; No doubt it was an Illusion."
"It surely must have been," his vo
J ray evidencing surprise, "for 1 give you i
j word there Is not a woman on t
nlt'K , yacht. What, to your mind, did l
my creature look like?"
red- j "Nothing nt nil t?*. 11 more o
lino In tlio kIi'iiiu of tli?? stnrs. It n:
have boon an odd combination
thus shadow, but. nt the time, I f??lt c
mod vinood tho vision was actually lb
and blood."
nar- Carrlngton laughed heartily,
nitli "Dismiss it, my boy," ho said,
mve juuhj gripping tho brass rail.
ator may indeed have ghost women
l*ln" board, but 110 Ileal) and blood on
In-V Better Join us 011 dock, and lot the >
1 and wind clear your brain?perht
?'nt the chainpapno caused tho ralschle
can- | "Hardly," I answered, adopting
mood, "as I did not touch any. U(
ut * ever, I will Join you presently."
d in j watched him disappear throuph 1
companion, stirring my coffee none
lnntly enough. Yet I was not satlsfh
t Carrlnpton did not know, possessed
r I suspicion ; nevertheless I remalt
! convinced there watt a woman
artic board the Esmeralda.
ark,
lack (To Be Continued.)
and
lala50c
MibsrrilM'd to The Lancaster No1
=VISIT TH
kTF I
It BOV AT CAB
WEEK PC
by Soldier
air Grounds ^eat
nd Saturday. r ,
rree a
m CI assic
This
I on Grounds Sper,d'
tura
stoc
P
>f Stomach
s?* Made Well jjj5B
hu By Peruna.^BRHHI
5* My SUter *# fHjl
Alio Cured i^flW ^
rer Ky W- "%aBB|
on
PE-RU-NA
I
%?^? t?*?? i k! vLvimt wnn
11, ,viun
)D- SLKVV POLICE OFFICER
I
l,s* Six Others Woundtxl in <>un Rattle.
,,r" With Desperado at Ran.
,n , vllle, Vn.
led Danville, Va., Oct. 15.?Police^l,r
man W. H. McGray, and Walter
Clark, a negro, arei dead, and six
others 'wounded as the result of a
gun battle here Friday, in which
Clark barricaded himself in his
ire house and held a crowd of nearly
3.00ft at bay for two hours. The nees
gro was killed by a volley as he tried
?te to escape after the house had been
fired.
Iiis
McGray was killed when he atdr.
1 ' . .
|)n tempted to arrest the negro, who hnd '
s? wounded his wife, Nannie Clark.
nit then shot and probably fatally
el- wounded Deputy City Sergt. Bois uy
seau, who sought to recover the po!
liceman's body.
the
nit ' orow<l soon collected, armed
tHj with all manner of weapons, and the
Danville home guard, unarmed, was
ice handicapped in its efforts to restore
my order. An attempt was made to dy' 's
namite the house. The negro kept
the __ , , '
up an incessant iusuiaue anu inree
policemen, A. J. Perkjinson, J. C.
i Lewis and Sergt. Martin and J. L.
Gf Wells, a contractor, were slightly
on- wounded.
>s'1 When the dynamite failed the
I house was set alire and Clark broke
' from the front door. More than
t||g
... fifty bullets pierced his body and the
t\ e
infuriated crowd dragged the corpse
,>a through the streets for a block be!un
fore the ofllcers got possession of it.
ips . Cf
f?"
the ^
ha- j
For sale by Lancaster Mercantile j
Co., Lancaster, S. C.; Lancaster Drug
? Co., Lancaster, S. C., and all good
as. dealers.
1
<MR
IP JACKSON
T. 22-26
y Drilling a Daily
ure.
cts and Midway.
Horse-Racing Again
t Year.
d Exhibits of Agrical- ^
1 Products and Lbrek.
-