Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 71: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

62 theyre in more need of ’em than we am. I didnt help u git away by lying but I felt kind- er sorrer for u sometimes wen I seen how crazy you was. That bein so, I'll fy that though I can’t be your wife, I’m willing to be a sister to u. Ures respectively, Mis MEG WICKLIFFE. ‘“‘Her attempt to soften the refusal of an offer which was never made,” re- THE ARGOSY. marked Dick Montgomery, “by ex- pressing her willingness to become my sister provcs that that peculiarity is one of the most delightful attributes of her sex; that it is not a matter of education or environment, but is the common property of women in every part of this great universe—God bless "em ! a3 THE END. THE CAPTIVES OF THE TEMPLE. BY SEWARD W. HOPKINS. A tale of strange adventure in South American wilds. The sequel to a quest for the Great Royal Orchid, involving an escape from one foe only to fall into the hands of another still more relentless. CHAPTER I. A DIABOLICAL SCHEME. | MY father, John Keyburn, was the oldest member of the firm of Keyburn & Company, ship owners and importers. The Wing was the oldest and slowest ship owned by Keyburn & Company. Having graduated from college, I took a position with the firm, first in the office, and then, my health failing, as a sort of commissioner, or ever ready agent, to go hither and yon as my father or his partners ordered me. I was quite a lover of the sea, and ny business trips for Keyburn & Com- pany were frequently made on their own ships. At the time of which I write, my father had been visited by a very wealthy gentleman of New York and his architect, and after considerable talk and planning it had been arranged that the next trip of the Wing should be to the upper Amazon for certain beautiful and costly woods found only in that region, to be used in the interior decoration of the magnate’s new man- sion. Keyburn & Company, through my father, commissioned me to sail on the Wing and gave me full instructions as to the purchase and shipment of the precious woods in question. It was a business enterprise quite to my liking, and I accepted with eager- ness. I had a friend, who was a few years older than I, William Desklit, who had partly promised to accompany me on my next visit to the Amazon, he being an enthusiastic botanist and geologist. I at once notified Desklit, and he signi- fied his delight at the opportunity. The Wing had been to Rio de Ja- neiro, and reached port just a few days after the arrangements had been made. I went to the wharf on business while she was unloading, and stood leaning against a pile of cordage smoking a cigar when I saw a great hulking negro sailor coming toward me. It had long been a rule of the house of Keyburn & Company that no com- plaints of seamen or officers should he heard. Each captain was supposed to reign supreme on his ship. This rule worked no hardship save in one or two instances, where a brutal captain took advantage of it to misuse his men. But I will do justice to Keyburn & COM ElOOO eco