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The Clinton News Record, 1939-06-08, Page 2PAGE 2 THE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD THURS., JUNE 8, 1939 Eden Phillpotts TOM AYLMER: At the time the stpry opens is living in Peru, man- aging silver mines belonging to his! father. FELICE PARDO: A Peruvian who; 'although young, has been fifteen years in the service of the Aylmer mining enterprise. He is the most trusted native "employee. P1flNCIPA L CITAILACT ILS Mrs MERCY AYLMER Tom's mothei; egotistical and exacting. JANE BRADSHAW: Tom Aylmer's fiancee. At the time the story opens, the expectation is that these two will marry on Tom's next leave in England, ANGUS MAINE: 'A young Scot on Aylmer's, staff, and close compan- ion of Tom. • JACOB FEIRNANDEZ: A rich, eld- erly South American whose hobby is the study of bird life. He is- a bachelor and is' engaged upon a monumental literary work on the subject of bird life. SYNOPSIS OI` PREVIOUS CHAPTERS Tom Aylmer and Angus Maine are Bradshaw. The bird, bought, from a I "A .stream ran out from . it into dealer whom Tom knows and trusts, the sea, and there was a strip of is according to the dealer, a .very black beach All cinders and lava, you enjoying a holiday on the hills of exceptional parrot, and is about ,sev- understand, with the growing things Peru when Felice Pardo rides out to enty years of age --no great age for on the plain; but naked cliffs beetling them with a cabled message announe- a parrot. • lup to the highest point on the west ing the death of Tom's father. Tom On the liner, the bird engages the shore and dropping straight into knows that'his father has bequeath - el • of Jacob Fernandez, a rich the water. Very deep sea all round le to him the silver mines mss, .of Lima, who is bound far us—'atoll, like a coral island,' but eofd which he Peruvian isthe manager,' Panama, whose life hobby is the just a mighty chimney thrust out He decides to sail for England at study of birds. • 'from the bowels of the ;earth to let once and to aro Angus for compan t To Fernandez, the parrot talks, but up the nether fires." Before leaving Lima, Tom buys as the only words he can detect in a "And then you went ashore?" parrot to give to his fiancee, Jane string of sounds are "Benny Boss. "Not me, answered the old man. ;Fernandez says he knew .a man of "Benny didn't want us ashore, and that name, and proceeds to tell Tomwewasn't allowed there, you might The Clinton News -Record and Angus what he knows. say. He went alone, in our little boat, Benny was a man; of mixed parent- and rowed straight for the gorge. Ile age—English and Peruvian—who, for took a mattock and some stuff in a a t:me, fifty years earlier, worked 'bag, and we landed meanwhile in for Fernandez. They parted company our pinnace and tried further east, and after an interval, Benny tried, under the queer woodlands,. for fresh unsuccessfully, to sell to Fernandez water. And good water we found; a large ruby worth much. more than but it was hot. The .stream that ran the price he put on it. Piecing to- out of the gorge wasn't any use, be- gether what he learned about Benny ing loaded with sulphur, but there in later years, it seems that Benny was sweet water in the forest, though had been engaged in dredging on hot,as T tell you, hDVNRTISING RATES — Tiansienti Lake Titicaca, and that he had dredg-, "Benny Boss, you understand, had ed up jewels thrown into the lake took command of the expedition, and at the time of the Spanish conquest. that was his right, because he was. Arrived in England, Tom obtains a man with a lot more brains and the help of an expert linguist, but experience than us. the man. is baffled. 1 "Well, he came back in about two Eventually Jane solves the problem hours, and he was hot and anxious. by the discovery that most of 'the He asked us if we'd cone across any lac. "Rates for display advertising are English spelt backwards to life in the tees and we said nothing disguise the meaning of the message. but big birds of yellow plumage, that They make the sentence "Table Top might have been pigeons or else on Equator west Galapagos Cache parrots, but were a lot larger than Maneater Gorge at Geyser," and this any pigeons or parrots of our know - is construed as, being a direction to ledge. the hiding -place of the jewels in which Benny Boss was interested. "I inquired of him what he'd seen Excited by the theory built about in that hole under the volcano, "You this message, Tom, Angus and Jane didn't come across humans?' I task- hings decide to go and investigate. Toni ed the man: "There's worse things. insists that Felice Pardo 'should be than humans," he told ate, `and I'1 included:• ga so far was to say''I've" had th• The estate of Tom's father having fright of my life, Pedro.' That wa been proved to an amount largely inwhat he said, and I never fore excess of expectations, and Tom. be- it, because he was the bravest fello ing the solo heir, he feels that he I ever met: He didn't know th Frank Fingland, B.A., LL.B. can afford the expense of fitting out meaning of clanger and feared nough a small expedition. 'living on two legs or four, So Pardo, hearing from Tont, is dis- lam say that he' had known fe posed to deride the idea,' but after ear astonished me above a bit. listening to his another, a 'cunning He was peculiar as to what he ha woman, he decides to go and obtain been -through, and passed it off an for himself any treasure that may said that he must have drunk- too be recovered; for he, says his moth- much liquor the night 'before and or, is the heir of Benny Boss, seen what wasn't them. But alway after that when the' island came up (Now Read On) the called the place `Maneater Gorge , and he said 'twas all sulphur an 'foul vapour, with a 'role in the punt CHAPTER VIII ..'ice where a hot spring rose and sprouted every five minutes. That's MARINER'S TALE all heh e ose to tell; but he said Chore y with which is Incorporated THE NEW ERA TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION $1.50 per year in advance, to Can- adian addresses; $2.00 to' the U.S. or other foreign countries. No paper discontinued until all arrears are paid unless at the option of the"'pub- lisher. The date ta which every sub- scription is paid is denoted on the label, advertising 12e per count line for first insertion. 8c. for each subse- quent insertion. Heading counts 2 lines: Small advertisements not to exceed one . inch, such as "Wanted", 'Lost, "Strayed", etc„ inserted once -for 35c, each subsequent insertion made known on application. Communications intended for pub- lication must, as a guarantee of good faith, be accompanied by the name of the writer, HALL - G. 'E. Proprietor H. T. RANCJ Notary Public; Conveyancer Financial, Real Estate and Fire In aurance Agent. Representing' 14 Fire lrisur•anee• •Gompames. • . • • Division Court Office. Clinton , Pedro chuckled andgurgled at this recollection, then. proceeded, "We ran auto ugly weather that journey; . but the 'Condor' stood ul, to it, and though we were driven to run from aur course for two lairs, we fetched back on the line again presently and made our way to 'Tabletop.' "On, the morn after we'd founa her, Benny got his big bag and his matiock and a bitof bunting• to hoist upon the high ground, And then he pulled himself ashore -wouldn't sut- fer anyone to go along with him. We saw him land and make the boat fast, and then he took his traps and disappeared up the gorge. Of course' I knew he was gone for his treasure, but my men had not heard tell about that. He'd took a little six -chamber ed revolver along with him, so 'twee clear he felt a chance might come when he'diteed The old man's words began to come slow and his eye -lids drooped. . "Stick to it, Mr. Floris," urged Tom. "You're a grand story -teller." "I'm very well renowned for' stories," admitted Pedro, "but this one • is told, There's little more to say, Ben Bung fire and wesaw no sign of him as the hours passed. Then came night and yet no sign. All was very quiet and still, with no danger te the boat, so we held on. I was for maiming our pinnace and going ashore in her in search for him; but my crew were all against it. Benny had done his work toe well and put fear 'in 'em, and I couldn't go alone. Nor could I venture to order them because, against the panic fear thee was in 'ens, orders; would have • been all in vain." "Next morn there day the boat, but no sign of the man. We went ashore to the forest and got water and found some trees of wild banana. They were the biggest ever I saw-2ft. long and weighing over 21b. apiece. The birds fed on 'em. "For a week we hung off the island but never a sign he gave and never a flag he lifted, so it was borne in upon me that he had died there and lay beyond human help. Once more I was pulled ashore and ventured a bit up the gorge, but not very far. Evil hung thickly in the air up there and something told me that eyes were watching. Not a sound or sight mind You; but just unseen things waiting for me to make a false step. "Far up the gorge I did hear a noise presently -a deep hissing like a spouting whale. It came and went, and I remember Ben had told me of a hot spring that shot up every five minutes. And then, with :my weather eye lifting, I thought I saw movement on the cliffs over my head and. some nameless creatures looked to be coining down ropes, ':hat was e enough for me and I turned tail so s fast as I' mightand gob back in the of boat. Then we took t'athee in tow tv and pulled. for the' Condor. e "That's the end of the tale, and the end of Benny no doubt. All fifty Le years old and more now; Very dis- ar 'appointing for me, because he had promised me a handsome gift when d we were back again .at La Floreana." u Aylmer dived in his pocket and brought out a stout wad of paper money. s "Here's something anyway," he said, "You've told us a lot worth � knowing, my friend, and when we' t] conte back .again, perhaps we shall tell you a little more yet." d "Very disappointing," echoed the old man, and they saw that the shutters were clown and he ,was fall- ing asleep. He murmured a little longer and they put their gift into his hand and prepared to leave him. But just as Jane and Tom depart- ed, Pedro opened his eyes, It seem- ed that the touch of the notes had awakened him. Then he tucked the money into his bosons and went to' sleep' again. Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public Successor to W. Brydone, S,C. Sloan Blomc Clinton. •Ont. A. E. COOK 'Piano and Voice Studio—E. C. Nickle, Phone 28cv. 35-tf. '.A: ' H. 'McINNES CHIROPRACTOR Electro Therapist, Massage Office: 1Iuron 'Street. (Few Doors west. of . Royal Bank) Hours -Wed. and Sat, and by appointment. FOOT CORRECTION bS .manipulation "Sun -Ray Treatment •:•• Phone •201 GEORGE ELLIOTT Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron 'tlorrespondence promptly answered llnuuediate arrangements can be made. fbor Sales Date at The News -Record, Ciintor-, or by calling phone 208. Charges Moderate and Satisfaction. Guaranteed. FHB 1WcKILLOP MUTUAL. Fire Insurance Company Head Office, Seaforth, Ont. Officers: President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice, President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary -Treasurer M. A. Reid, Seaforth. Directors, Alex. Broadfoot, Seafcrth; James Sholdice, Walton; James Connolly, Goderich; W. R. Archibald, Seaforth;. Chris. Leonhardt, Dublin; Alex. McEwing, Blyth; Frank McGregor, Clinton. List of Agents: E.•A, Yea, RR: 1, Godericb, Phone 603r31, Clinton; Janes Watt, BIyth; John E. Pepper, Brueefield, 11. R. No. 1; R. P. Metter - cher, Dublin, R. R. No. 1; Chas. Hewitt, Kincardine; R. G. Jaxmuth, Bornholm, R. R. No. 1. • Any money to be paid may be paid to the Royal Bank, Clinton;; Bank of Commerce, Seaforth, or at. Calvin Ct'tt's 1',.rocery, God'erich. Partloes dediriug to effect issue once or transact other business will be promptly attended to on applica- lon to any of the above officers. Ad- dressed to their respective post offi- ces. Losses inspected by the director who !Ives nearest the scene, TIME TABLE' 'rains wi?l arrive at and depart from Clinton' as follows: Buffalo and Goderich DI', Going East, depart 6 58 a.m. Geeing Fast, depart 3.00 p.m. Then it hove up to the crater, but told the hands that lm was doing Going West, depart 11.45 a.m. g there was a great breach between Government work and has] been em - Going West, depart 10.00 p.m. the fertile land and the west -a powered to set up t London,. Huron ai Bruce @ p he Peruvian flag Going North, ar, 11.25 lye. 11.47p.m, gorge brolco through, andwe anchor- on the godforsaken place and claim going South ar. 2.50, leave $.08 p.m, 'ed abreast of that gorge, it as the possession of .his country." "My little schooner, the 'Condor,' was not a speck of guano on the was fifty feet long and eleven feet island and no guano gulls ta produce beam with a free -board of nigh upon rt' `y'e'll fill casks with the good two feet," began Did Pedro .Floris. water,' he said, `and then we'll sail "Five of us sailed her, and . she was for ,Iiamc' " a very good weather boat, quick in 1 Pedro broke off for a moment and stays and clever to answer our clever- then' continued. nes.y "We was soon off, and the island "We traded sound altout an (hull down again after we'd filled up. cl with And that's the first voyage. Bid Clara the mainland. And then caste Benny 3oss and ran his eyes over the `Con -fetch me a cup of milk; then hll tell nor,? and reckoned slue was good for about the second voyage. That was what he wanted. He bac' plenty of a good many years after; but I could- what and paid in advance. He was n t remember how many now—all too going due .west to examine an islet long ago." that he had seen in his seafaring Clara brought hini milk and spoke lays, and wanted to find if there was to Tom while he drank it, guano there, l "Don't you tire hien, Master," she "That's what he told me at the said. "Htds fine and clear to -day and time, and I had 110 reason to doubt put on his best clothes and all,". him, because, though I had never , "It's going to be web worth his seen the island, I knew a man who while," promised Tom, "He's a woad- had seen it, and it was in the nature erful man and you are wonderful, too, of things that in that vast ocean to look after him so well. He won't there might be unknown islands, 'need totalk much more, and I shall "We sailed and had fair weather, give him something to please you all and came to the spot he called `Table- very much before I .got" top,' dead .on ,'the equator Iine." 1 "Money, Master," slhe begged. "How long- did it take you, Mr, "That's the only thing that's any Floris?" begged lane through Tom, good to us," who indeed her.. Ile nodded and Pedro began to talk But Pedro shook his head. again. "I can't tell now. Time has winged "As I say, I' can't tell as to time, away from me,. Missy. It may haye Mut a good (few years, must have been weeks, er it ninny have been ;slipped off the tally, because Benny months; but we sailed in summer and Boss was black when first he carne; came back before the year was told," but the grey was rippling over his "Do you.rernember what it looked head and heard next time. He 'was like?" .asked Toni,. wishful to gb to the island again and "Oh, yes—very well. A mite of a money didn't lack. Ie'd got to trust place—not above five miles across I'd me by now and told me in secret that say and the high ground to the west it Was all rubbish about guano ane: flat as a table—under, eternal smoke, such like. .He'd left something there A live volcano --that's Tabletop—so out. of harm's' way,' and now the to call it --and not higher than five threat of harm was past and he want - hundred feet above the sea, where ed it back again. 01 eouese that the burning mountain was, 'To the was for my ear alone rand we •didn't east •the land fell into a plain, all a :ell the crew. But he leftnought to green with trees to water's edge. chance. Deep as a well he was. He • CHAPTER IX "YOUR ISLAND" The friends found it possible at La Floreana to secure weapons—a 'rifle, a shot gun and foto' 'automatics. They practised with them at sea. 'Iheir voyage began without event and they found that Captain Costa's description of his vessel was correct as to her comfort and sea -worthiness, but a little .over -generous concerning her speed.. Mer engines were of an ancient pattern, and 'Carlos Paz, the engineer, loved then. and declined to push therm at any time. He: had lived his Iife with therm for thirty years. "They :are grand machinery," said old Qarios,, "but 1 have never asked them to da impossible things, and so utero is always a little might hid' in thorn to respond if the call should come," ` "Meantime' we jog along at eight knots," said Tom, "And who that is; sane desires: to go faster upon the sea?" asked Carlos. They carried wireless, yet felt the tiew sensation of being separated from civilization 50 completely. Felice appreciated this and Jane declared such an experience worth having; but Tom and, ,Angus did not share their satisfaction. The prospect of gigantic and novel vegetation attracted Aylmer more than any possible treasures, white Maine's interest centred in the ap- proaching island itself. Felice had brought his photographic, apparatus. and professed to be principally in - terested int such records as' be might on; but --well, there it is; aonacience drake. Jane decided that some birds 'makes a coward of the bravestman would have to be shot if it proved or woman sometimes." impossible to catch them, I.. "What are these loyalties' he harps Already the question arose as to upon, I wonder?" asked Tom. which of them would write :an account l "Yon, never know exactly a person's of the voyage, and it was decided deepest loyalties," ',she answeree, that Felice tlhtstrate ib, the other ,"Loyalties are queer things. Oft-e1n we++ three would contribute the letterpress , coulchi't put •a risme to them our- between theta, They kept industrious selves, though we feel them dee!, Il diaries and compared notes. 'down in us." , Such close companionship awoke "All very difficult and tiresome," conenon discoveries as to character, 'declared her lover, "and I wish he'd and both Tom and Angus found their• chuck it." third friend had in reality changed. Sometimes the whole party would Each doubted at first, then they talk- meet and talk far into.,the tropic ed together and the suspicion was night, when, day was doe and the confirmed. . 'Iguana' ploughed her steady ' way "Couldn't tell you what it. is, but through seas that guttered with the there's something," decided Maine. white light of phosphorescence. "ETD's -himself by fits and starts, and Angus Maine was chiefly ieterested,l one allows for his funny moods which in the natural questions that awaited are familiar, but he's different, too- , therm, and especially as to what sig - radically different. I'd say he has got'mificance might be revealed by the‘ something on his mind—not just thefManeater Gorge.' old sense of injustice with the world l "It's interesting to remember what at large but something inside him Darwin had to say a hundred years that you can't get hits to. talk about." ago," he told. them, "On his voyage in "He has altered," admitted Tom, the `Beagle', he was tremendously "and the biggest symptom is that he impressed with certain. facts. In the prefers to be alone and give ,us all Pampean formations he discovered a miss' when; he conveniently can. many fossil remains of gigantic ex- That's not like him for hewas at ''tinct creatures, and marked how doe - ways by nature a sociable chap" Iely allied animals seem to emerge "What does Jane think of him?" I! from each other andreplace each asked Angus. other. He worked in the Galapagos "She thinks a lot of him and, at archipelago, and no doubt studied the giant tortoises and their kin as they were never studied before. And he found a queer thing; that every is- land in the group had something dis- tinctive of its own. "A brand new island might have always a fly in the amber. Jane finds brand new beasts and plants in it at Pardo a tremendous egotist, and like that rate," said Tom. "And since the all egotists, he hates people to think equator seems to have suited emir - differently from what he does him- mous monsters uncommonly well, we self. HD's always out to convince may find ourselves up against some - her, and he makes almost a personal 'thing not only equal to the Galapagos matter of it, so that when he can't tortoises, but uglier customers alto convince her and she tells him so, he gets rusty — even rude sometimes.,deal deal quicke—notr so their le " a good deal quicker on their paws." They have long yarns, as we all do "If the island is old enough, we one with another living this idle ship I might certainly find monsters of the life; but they differ as often as they plume upon it," continued Angus. agree." , ! "Conditions there in the eternal heat, "You wouldn't say she liked him if abundant water also existed, could exactly then?" asked Angus. "She .doesn't like him—not as you and I do. He makes her unconifort- able—not. because his ideas are big- ger than her, or his ideals different, but because 'he's always malting things personal to himself. Jane herself threw spine Iight on the mystery when the three were to- gether and•Pardo had turned in. For he spent much time by himself in his cabin. "He's sizes bigger than any of tis,", worst of all was in 1475, when Callao she said, "but his ideas and the went down under a tidal wave the thought of the greatest good to tho like of which was never known in greatest number don't seem to tom- historical time. These fearful catast- fort him as much as you'd expect. robes haunt the coast and are called He appears to think that he was born meriodinal; but the earthquake Iint to put things right, yet can only is known to jut out into the Pacific help on the good work by putting at right angles to the great mountain himself wrong. He talks about 'divid- chains, and the centres of many huge ed loyalties,' but who they may be convulsions probably lie in mid -ocean divided between he doesn't 'say. 1 far out of sight of land. Such things told him that his trouble was really may explain the mysterious disap- a' form of selfishness and that he pearance of not a few great ships, was 'worrying about his own soul a for any vessel caught in a sea -quake great 'deal more than the bodies of would never live to tell the tale." other people. That annoyed him very • "Always cheerful and hopeful," much, All the same, if he's not said Jane, worrying about .that, what is he wor- I "We'll trust a blaze on the equator eying about? He's got some secret up isn't due for the minute," added Tont; his sleeve and would rather like to but Angus continued to take rather let me have a peep at it; buthe's a sombre view. the same time, doesn't know what to think of him," answered the other. "That sound rather mad; but it's true. Much that he says and hopes may happen some day sounds very noble and fine to her; but there's have supported the life of old saurian creations that have perished off the rest of the earth in the struggle for existence. And shot -guns would be rather futile aganst them. But that doesn't seem very probable, because these volcanic outlets in mid -ocean aro probably not very long-lived, speaking geologically. Since 1570—. only yesterday you may say—there have been nearly four score big earth- quakes on the mainland, and the frightened to." I "As a matter of fact it is over - "I'll bet ire's nut frightened," said due," he said. "The Pacific is be - Angus. "Ile doesn't know the mean- ginning to earn its name and hili ing ,of fear. Tom will tell you that mankind into security; but nature Pardo is physically braver than .any will go its way," chap we ever salt." On another night they all clustered "He is," said Aylmer. "And it's a sound the chart and studied it to - sort of bravery that nothing can gether, that they might mark their shake. I ,could tell you things." progress after a week at sea. Only "He's frightened all the same," she two steamship lanes cut across the answered, "It must be 1(ometleing Ione cruise of the Iguana, and they inside him—something he can't see had already passed the route from how to fight perhaps. Na doubt what Panama to New Zealand, but seen no lie calls 'divided loyalties' alight be sail; while that followed by vessels jolly. difficult, because he's great on running between Salina Cruz and right and wrong, and justice and so Melbourne and Sydney, lay yet far e Your credit is good here .. you can buy' brand new Goodyears on our easy terms .. , with- out delay or embarrass- ment. Pay as you are paid . in small amounts each week. Drive in for details today! Brownie's Service Station Clinton, Ontario. PHONE 5 ahead of them. The little ship steamed on an aver- age some two hundred knots in twenty-four hours, but it seemed m very tiny distance chartered on the. waste of the ocean. Then came three consecutive days of strong head wino that slowed progress considerably. I: was the first rough Weather they had been called' to face and the fierce, fiery storm showed the boat's quality for, slowed down a little, she rode like a seagull, Ten men manned her and the voyagers had made good friends with most of them. "Best," said Jane, "I love Costa and the cook; but only because they know English, more or less. I shoule like the rest just as Hutch, for they are most engaging and kind; but We can't understand each other, CarIue Paz may not he so wise as he looks, but probably ho ns . Engineers are generally pretty deep." Felice continued to bit enigmatic; but then it seemed that the black monkey haunting his shoulder sud- denly departed and he became more like himself. (three days later they awoke to their supreme experience, and out of , the brief blaze of a setting sun came a goosi landfall at last. Captain Costa called them up, to his little bridge, swept off his cap, and pointed into the sunset, "Your island, lady and gentlemen!" he said, as though he were a conjurer and, had just summoned Tabletop front the depths of the Pacific. (Continued Next Week) PURE SCOTCH? Scotch whiskey, said one who ought to know, is a blend of plain British spirits, manufactured from Argentine grain in a German patent still, put into a Belgian bottle with a label made from Swedish pulpwood and printed in'London, sealed with a cap- sule made in Sheffield and a cork ;from Spain. It is then enclosed ,a a straw envelope imported from Can- ada, put in a case of wood from Finland and sold by an Irishman In a Glasgow pub. Sir Edward Beatty Chats with Ring and Queen Just before leaving Montreal, Their Majesties King George. VI and Queen Elizabeth met and shook hands with several direc- tors 'of irec-tors''of the Canadian Pacific Rail- way. They are seen here chatting with Sir Edward Beatty, G.B;E„ I .C., chairman and presi- dent, Canadian Pacific Railway, and Sir Herbert Holt, Other di- , rectors presented by Sir Edward" were Sir Charles Gordon, G.B.E., D. C. Coleman, vice-president,. Brig -Gen. F. S. Meighen, C.M.G., Ross McMaster and M. W. Wilson.. •