Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

THE HERMIT’S SECRET* BY OLIVER OPTIC. A story of the Northwest, in which a strange hero figures—Why Paul Gayland left a. comfortable home and a doting foster father—His experiences as master of a steam - yacht and the strange consequences of a tattooing. SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED. A THOUSAND dollar bill has been stolen from Ward Gayland, a wealthy resident of the city of St. Paul, and suspicion rests upon his nephew Sparks, aud his adopted son Paul. The former is proved to have committed the theft. Mrs. Gayland, however, refuses to believe him guilty, and so much bitterness is aroused in the household that next morning Paul cannot be found, having decided to quit the house. The following midnight the capitalist and his wife are awakened by the sound of persons in the house. Hastening into the hall they see two men rush out, and as they reach the foot of the stairs a younger man dashes past them from the dining- room and both Mr. and Mrs. Gayland are certain that they recognize Paul. The scene shifting to Lake Minnetonka, Paul is discovered to be the captain of the hand- some little steamer Hebe. He goes under the name of Phil Greenway, and has a young fellow he calls ‘‘ Bashy ’’ for his engineer. During a storm Phil rescues several passengers from a boat that has met with misfortune, among them a Mrs. Forbush, who, as soon as she sets eyes on him, calls him Conny Forbush and declares that he is her adopted son, who ran away from her two years ago. The Hebe’s captain listens patiently to her narrative, and then repeats that it is all entirely new to him, and that he never saw Mrs. Forbush before meeting her that day on the lake. When Phil, after some further adventures, returns to the shanty on the lake where he and Bashy live, and which he calls the Hermitage, he finds it occupied by two intruders, in-one of | whom he recognizes Sparks Gayland, but who now calls himself, it seems, Gay Sparkland. Unseen, Phil listens to the conversation between himand his companion whom he calls Roddy, and from which it is apparent that not only have they appropriated a large sum of money in Minneapolis that does not belong to them, but are planning to rob a bank. Later, before retiring, they place a traveling bag containing six thousand two hundred dollars in the closet where Phil is concealed. He takes possession thereof, substitutes a wad of paper, and slipping out of the shanty while the thieves sleep, wakes Bashy and hastens to Minneapolis with his treasure and his tidings. CHAPTER XXXIV.—A MIDNIGHT SUMMONS IN ST. PAUL. HIL GREENWAY ’S first visit to Minnetonka had brought him to Ex- celsior, the town and village on the southern shore of the lake, and he had taken possession of the Hebe at this place, so that he knew its geography very well and made the landing at the low pier without asking any questions. He bought his provisions and other supplies there, which had required him to make occasional visits to the town, and the large bill he brought with him on his coming had been changed at the bank there by Bashy, for he did not care to subject himself to suspicion by a visit 1n person. “T shall not return before some time tomorrow, Bashy; and I want you to make yourself as comfortable as possible till I come back,” said the captain. © This story began in the July issue of THE ARGoSyY. The five back numbers will be mailed fo any address on recetpt of 50 cents. GOH GoOOO ‘SS (GO) awa Af