Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1893 — In Sheep's Clothing. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Sheep's Clothing.

BY Capt. Ormondy Feele

CHAPTER Tin-Continued. The boat was now close alongside the Wanderer, and Captain Fox stood ready to receive his visitor. Colonel Graham ascended to the deck with the light, aotlve step of a much younger man, and he met Captain Fox with more heartiness than might be expeoted from one of his austere bearing. He was evidently known to the other officers of the ship, for they raised their hats to him, and he bowed in his stately, condescending way as he accompanied Captain Fox to the cabin, followed by Othello, bearing the strange saddlebags. Othello, with his load, was turned over to the care of Don, the cabin boy, and the Captain said when they were in iris private cabin: * “You must be weary with vour journey, and will need rest before we attempt to transaot any business.” “1 shall need to make some change in mydresß,” said the Colonel, glancing over his travel-stained attire. “And, i must confess I should, under the circumstances, feel that a short rest was necessary; but I am too eager for action to wait." “A day more or less can make no difference,” said Fox, with an interrogative inflection on the last word “An hour, sir, may be of vital importance to the success of our venture. If quite convenient for you to provide me with some slight lefreshment, after I have washed, I shall begratotul.” “As you will, sir,” said Capt. Fox, with a manner that, to an observant eye, would have shown a strange mixture of acquiescence and contempt. The Colonel was shown to the cabin set apart for him, and Othello was summoned to aid his master in making his toilet. When Col. Graham again came into the cabin, he found it darkened, and the swinging lamps blazed on a repast Buch as no other ship in the service of Queen Anne could have provided on such short notice. Accustomed as Col. Graham was to the luxury and display which distinguished the English court at this time, he looked about him with surprise and ventured to say: “By the throne, sir, you must find no

depri\ ation in living in suoh a ship.” “We take care of ourselves, Colonel; if we did not, I fear that, as in some of her majesty’s ships, there would be a mutiny.” “But this is still one of her majesty’s Bhlps?” “Nominally, Colonel, I suppose it is. We fly the flag, as you have seen; but the colors at the peak when we go into action are a shade or two less sanguinary, and very many shades more somber. ” The Captain was smiling and rubbing his hands as he said this, and there was so much horrible suggestiveness in his ■ words and manner, that Colonel Graham looked quickly and • anxiously about him to make sure that no other person was within hearing. “We are quite alone, Colonel Graham. The food here is, I think, moderately good, but as to the wine—here are four kinds —I swear that better cannot be found in the cellars of St. James.” Captain Fox sat down on the opposite side of the table to serve his guest, rather than with any desire for food. “You have seen Denham,” said Colonel Graham, after he had been eating for some minutes in Silence. “I have seen him repeatedly." “And what do you think of him?” “As a sailor I think he has, for his years, no superior. As a man he is well made, handsome and, so well us I—who never had a taste for literature or philosophy could tell, he is a most scholarly person." “He is well liked by the people here?” “Liked by the men and loved by nearly all the women, I regret to say.” “Ah, have you already run counter to each other in the lists of love?” asked the Colonel, a glitter in his gray eyes . that might have passed for merriment, If the hard, cruel mouth did not belie it. “I cannot say that,” laughed Captain Fox. “And yet, egad, Colonel, I have not seen so many beautiful women in all my sailing as this little out-of-the-way place affords. ’’ “ You surprise me.” “Yeti do utter the solemn truth. By the trident of the Sea God, I should not mind prolonging my stay lor the rest of the year. ” “I regret to tell you that circumstances of greater importance to you than to me will compel your departure within the week. If you carry out my plans, you can return again, and remain as long as you please. ” The Colonel shot a glance at Captain Ttox, and went on eating. If the Captain was startled by this information, neither his faoe nor voice gave any indication thereof. As if he were trying to keep up an interest in the conversation, rather than seeking

information on a matter to him of the greatest moment, he asked: “Why do you think I should leave, if your affair is out of the question?” “I saw the Governor of the province three days since, in ihe city of New York, and he read to me the report of Captain Ralph Denham, which he had received not an hour before. This told me that Denham had arrived, about the time we expected. But Denham inclosed a letter to the Governor of New York from the Governor of Jamaica. Of this letter, I heard a part. ” “Can you recall it?” “Distinctly. It was almost verbatim, as follows: ‘The fears that the Adventure Galley, which your honor assigned to the command of Captain William Kidd, has been lost in a storm, or destroyed by pirates, is, unfortunately, not well founded ” “So-ho!” exclaimed the Captain. “By the powers of the storm! my friend, Captain William Kidd, would not feel grateful to his excellency, the Governor'of Jamaica, if he heard that. But pardon the interruption. What reason did he give for thinking it unfortunate that the Adventure Galley was not swallowed up by the sea, or blown up by the buccaneers of the Spanish Main?” “The Governor’s letter went on to say that he had evidence, nearly conclusive, but which he would make conclusive, and send on at once, going to show that the Adventure Galley had been changed materially, but not so as to destroy her Identity; that she was now transformed into the most dangerous piratical cruiser on all the seas; that she had recently been plundering the rich ships in the Indian Ocean; that this vessel had suddenly appeared in the West Indies, and that a runaway sailor had arrived at St Vlnoent and made ohth that thla cruiser

was commanded by Captain Kidd, who still holds a commission in her majesty’s service.” Colonel Graham filled a glass with wine, drank it down at one gulp, and, pushing back from the table, looked critically at Captain Fox. But wha'ever of surprise the words might have given, had their information been more condensed, was prevented by the time it took the Colonel to tell his story. “My friend Kidd has not been following his sailing orders, I must confess,” said Captain Fox, covering his mouth with his hand as if to suppress a yawn. “I must get word to him at once, and have him keep his eyes open. ” “He should remain at sea until he has destroyed some greater pirate than himself,” said the Colonel, his strange gray eyes again gleaming as if with laughter, and his cruel mouth fastening as if it closed with a spring lock. “I shall see that my friend is informed of his danger. And now as to your own matter?" “I came to meet the Wanderer at this point, and have done so. Where is the original Wanderer?” “At the bottom of the Indian Ocean, with all her officers and crew,” replied Captain Fox, sinking his voice. “So I supposed. Now, it will be necessary to have this ship lost after she leaves this port." “On paper?” “You must arrange that, but a report of her loss must reach the admiralty in London. I leave the manner of doing it to yourself. You are much more able in such matters than I am. ” “I beg your pardon, Colonel; from the time we first met, or rather first exchanged views in Bermuda, where you were Governor, I felt that outside of practical seamanship there was not a thing, good, bad or indifferent, about whioh you did not know more than myself. But we will not play modest as to our merits. So far, I have kept my part of the contract, and you are now a member of the House of Lords ” “Silence, man,” said the Colonel, striking the table until the very glasses rang again, as if manifesting his own impatience and alarm. “But, gad, sir, it is a matter of notoriety. ” “Here, I assume the role of a man whom we know to bo dead, and in England I am Lord Palitan; but why speak of the facts? Why not treat me as Ido you?” “Because, sir,” said the Captain, jvith a sarcastic laugh, “I do not want to lay myself open to a charge of rudeness. But henceforth I pledge myself to respect the incognito. Now as to Denham?” 1

“That is the point. Your own safety demands Immediate action. Yes, it is imperative that this Kalph Denham should be at once missing, and ” “And never to be found thereafter?" “You have it, Captain.” “And I am to do the business?” asked Fox. The Colonel compressed his thin lips and nodded. “In the event of trouble befalling me, you pledge me in writing to use all your influence aDd fortune for my selfdeliverance?” “ I come prepared to do that. ” “You also come prepared to pay the $20,000 in gold, and an obligation lor twice that amount when the work is done?” “My black servant has brought the money here, and, I presume, as to the rest, that your ship is well provided with writing material?” “It is.” “Very well. I am ready to dc my part at once. When will you be ready to act?” ask tho Colonel. “Within forty-alght hours the Wanderer will prove her claim to her name, by being at sea without a flag.” “But Denham?" “Well, Colonel, Denham will be on board' my ship till I am a hundred leagues from land,” replied the Captain.

CHAPTER XX. A REBCFP AND AN INTERRUPTED PROPOSAL The morning following the arrival of Colonel Graham, a “post-rider,” as official messengers were then called, arrived at Sag Harbor with a dispatch for Captain Balph Denham of the cruiser, Sea Hawk. The courier fo.und Balph at Squire Coqdit’s, talking to the old gentleman, while Valentine Dayton and Ellen could be seen in an embowered summer house, pretending to be interested in the make of a curious feather fan, which he had brought her from Tampico. “IVell, Balph, my boy,” said the Squire,when Denham had finished reading the message, “what is it?” “I am ordered to New York,” replied Balph. “But as I have five days from now in which to report, I need not start for forty-eight hours.” “I declare,” said the old gentleman, adjusting his wig, as if he feared the surprise would force it off, “this is decidedly startling and unexpected." “Sailors and soldiers should never be surprised. ” “But has the Governor given a hint as to why he wants you?” “Yes; there is a rumor that one of the officers in command of a ship—the Adventure Galley—fitted out by this province, as you will remember, has turned pirate:" “And the oaptala?" “Is one William Kidd, who came from London and took command of the vessel in Bermuda.” “What do you think of it?”

“I dislike,” replied Balph, “to think evil of a brother officer, unless the evidence is very strong, and in these days of false rumor I am not inclined to credit it. Yet, with the successful example of Morgan before him, who was knighted for some service done the crown while he commanded a pirate fleet, the defection of Kidd is possible, for to a man without principles the temptation to plunder in those rich seas must be very great indoed.” “Then you leave the ship here?” “Yes; but I will at once give orders to get her ready for sea. It will be ten days before I return, * said the Captain, rising and going to the edge of the piazza, where he shouted to Valentine Dayton the substance of his order. Strangely enough, Captain Fox was passing at that very mqment, and he must, a 3 subsequent events proved, have heard what Ralph said. Howe: er, he said nothing, but politely raised his hat and kept on. He went at once to the principal inn and asked if a post had just come from New York. The landlord replied that there had. and that the messenger was then in his room, resting after dinner. “It is important that I should see him. Do not call him. Show me where his room is and I will go to him. ” Capt. Fox had become a great man in the eyes of the villagers. The officers and crew of the Wanderer were good customers; and so reasonable a request from the principal officer could hot be denied. “How much money do you get for your journey here and back?” asked Capt Fox, when he was alone with the courier. “About ten dollars, sir,” replied the

mm, rubbing his eyes, for he had been aßleep. “Did you brine a letter for Capt. Fox of the Wanderer?” “No, sir; the only letter I brought was one to Capt Balph Denham of the Sea Hawk. ” “It came from the governor of the province?* “Yes, sir.” “Do you know the contents of the letter?” “Only, sir, that the captain—so 1 heard him say—is ordered to New York Bay,” replied the messenger. “Can you keep a secret?” Capt. Fox pulled out a purse, through whose silken meshes the yellow flash of many gold pieces could be seen. “If any one made it worth my while to do so and it wasn’t againßt the law, ” replied the man, his hungry eyes fastened on the purse, which the Captain was tossing from hand to hand, that the fellow might get some idea of its value. “I wish you to give out—that is, to tell every one that you also brought thfe Captain of the Wanderer a letter from the Governor. Do you understand?" as Captain Fox asked the question he tossed the purse into the man’s lap, for he was sitting up in bed. “I do, sir,” replied the man, feeling the purse, “but I’m 'feerd the story being false 'll get me into trouble.” “There is no danger of that. Do this, and I will give you as much more gold and a free passage to New York on my ship. I sail inside of forty-eight hours. It Is a joke I wish to play on Colonel Graham, who is now on board the Wanderer.”

“La, sir, I see him at the Governor’s in New York when I started. He overtook me at Hempstead.” “The same gentleman. Now, will you do as I say?” “Why, sir, if so be it’s only to help along a bit of a joke, which all fine gents do like sometimes to play on each other, of course I’ll do it." That his employer might get an Idea of, his eagerness to earn the money, prospective and in possession, the messenger forgot his weariness, and, spring ing out of bed, began to dress. Warning him to act in all seriousness, and promising to see him on the morrow, Capt. Fox went away, confident that he had scored another point in the game he was so daringly playing. That a man carrying out suoh hazard* ous schemes should give a thought to love, which is generally supposed to be man’s joyous way of spending delightful leisure, is rfot a little strange. But Capt. Fox was not an ordinary man. It may have been his all-sufficient confidence in himself or a spirit of sheer recklessness that led him, with a fixed purpose in view, directly from the inn to the residence of Doctor Hedges. When he first met Lea Hedges he s(mply thought that she was a haudsbme, dashing girl, who would serve to make pleasant the time spent In this out-of-the-way harbor. But after each meeting with the beautiful Lea he became more and more infatuated, until now he had to confess that he was deeply in love. In view of the strange career on which this man had entered, and of which we shall learn more hereafter, It is not a Utile remarkable that he should ever give a thought to marriage. But love is the one Impulse that proves that men of the greatest reasoning powers are, after all, common flesh and blood, and which places the intellect in abeyance to the emotions. JTO BE CONTINUED ]