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into his life and that of , poor, loyal
Myra.
"Listen, Melvin," he said, "this
marriage must never take place
Lean do nothing in my condition,
but you if I show you a possible
chance to save Myra, what, would
you say?
"You know without asking,"
responded Melvin, with deep
emotion. "I Would give my life
for her, for any member of her
family.
"Then listen, my friend. I am
satisfied that the Lovely Lass isv
still afloat, declared Lisle. I
feel certain that somewhere on
the bosom of-the broad'Pacific she
is knocking about, with that.
treasure, which means the salva-.
tion of our familv. aboard.
Lloyd's 'Register has printed her
foundered, but this-marine oblit
was later changed to 'Abandoned,
at Sea." January 12 a tramp
schooner 'sighted her 600 miles
west of- Chili, and attempted to.
" take her in tow. During Febru
ary she was passed by six differ
ent ships. In March the French
liner, Dubois, nearly ran into her
during a night storm. She has
become such, a menace to naviga-.
tion that the American Lloyds
have posted notices for her de
struction wherever found, else
some, fine night some' big liner
will smash into her,.' carrying
down every soul on board."
"And since March?" inquired
Melvin. . - ...
"Not a, word regarding her un
til last month, when , she was
, sighted 400 miles west of the.
r Bqiviaacoast near. the 'Djalmi
islands, at which no ships stop, on
account of the unfriendliness of
its savage population."
For two days Melyin Warring
ton reflected over this interview.
He studied maps, he consulted old
sailors, then he made up his mind
to devote all his money and time
to scouring leagues of trackless
ocean, to traverse thousands ,of
weary miles to seek for the qiiss
ing"Lovely Lass and win ba'ck a
fortune from the deep and Myra
Evans.
This is why, two months- later,
the devoted lover found' himlself
the inmate of a hotel at Valpar
aiso. His -Httle store of money
was all but exhausted when he.
had chartered a small yacht.
From close investigation Melyin
had decided that the Lovely La4s,
if afloat, was grounded in. some
of the numerous inlets of the
Djalmi islands. i
The day before the yacht sail
ed, a brisk, business appearing
young man .sought out Melvin,.
"I learn you are. going on a
cruise to the Djalmi islands," he
observed. "I will pay you $500
to take me there and return."
Of course Melyin accepted the
offer. He found his passenger,
who called himself Hudson,, aej
cidedly reserved as to the motive,
of this strange voyage, however.
-He constantly 'carried a small
satchel, and.Melvm often wonder
ed what it might contain.
'When theyacht reached the
Djalmi islands, Melvin ordered
that it land him on the barren
eastern coast of the largest
.group.. iTJbiswas.donjtQevade
