"A Regrettable Incident."

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13673, 15 August 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

"A Regrettable Incident."

(lsj- Gilbert Stanthorp?.)

Richard O.tter looked up eagerly from the papers before him. on his office table its his young partner ontexed tli-e room. A nod from Debenham reassured hiui. "It's all right," said Debenliam caluilr, *' not the slightest breath of suspicion is about. The insurance peop'.e will piy without a shadow of doubt. It was a smart idea of yours, Oxter. Those baits would! have been written down a dead loss if this brilliant notion had not occurred to Vou."

""it couldn't liave been done if our manager out there hadn't been pretty sharp. He 6aw to every detail of the ■shipment himself, he writes, and not a clerk in th© office knows that the cargo that ■was insured as our most valuable fleeces <-on.«i;»ted almost wholly of that spoiled stuff."

" And we make a pretty good haul out of it, even after allowing for the value of th© vessel "

"That's hmardly worth mentioning—" "Jolly unlucky, though, that the skipper and the> crew should have gone down I"

Richard Oxter looked grave. He was a hard-featured man, with a crafty look in. his eyes, but his manners were polished and urbane. Debenham on the contrary, ■was curt and cynical. He was cjeanobaven, already" a little bald about 'the temples, and was always carefully, almost foppishly dressed. _ "It was a regrettable incident! said Richard Oxter. " One, however, for which we need not blame ourselves. If the Stella. Mary had sunk in fair weather—as I hoped and trusted she would—the skipper and crew- could have taken to the boats and been saved. I gave particular instructions that tlie boats should be good and of sufficient number '. "X*>u are always a humane man, Cxter,'* remarked Debenham, with an ainiusl imperceptible sneer. "Of course, we cannot be answerable for the vagaries of the wind and weather. It isi I repeat, a most regrettable incident. . . . 'What is it, Robson?" For a whistle had come from the speaking tube on his desk, and Oxter put the trumpet to his ear. " Mr?. Wilbur? Well, 1 suppose yoa had better let her come' up. . - - lt'e the skippers wife, Debenham —widow I should have said. I can't refuse to sec her. It's one of the disagreeable duties that must be gone through. Oddly enough, I was just going to suggest that, as we come out of it so well, we might make the -widow a. little present by way of consolation. What would yon say to £200?"

"I'm quite agreeable." It would hardly make an appreciable difference' to ' our shares when we divide, and, of course, it ■wuold look well."

"Just pot the ■sherry and cigars out of sight, Debenham; wc don't want her to think''us heartless and indifferent."

"Always a humane man 17 said Debenham, as lie put the decanter and cigar-box into,a cupboard. Richard Oxter pulled into place ■„ the blotters, stamps, and letter-baskets in front of him. There was only one object on his table unconnected with his business, and that was a; large photograph in a solid frame, the photograph of a young man, with an open-hearted, frank expression, bearing no resemblance lo Richard Oxter. Nevertheless, this was his only eon.

The door opened to admit a. sturdy little woman, in black, but not in widow's •weeds. Her face bore traces of grief and anxiety. Oxter came forward and shook her hand sympathetically. Debenham handed her a chair.

"Pray, be seated, Sirs. Wilbur," said Oxter. " t aru afraid tlwre is no neccsfeky to ask the object of your visit, and I think I need hardly. assure you of the deep sympathy we both "

"Ob, sir!" cried . Mrs. .Wilbur, too egitateVl in mind 'to "have any fear of the great man; "it> you tbink it is absolutely hopeless? Keed we quite dttpair? 1 can't seem to make up my mind tbat there's no hope. For boats ase sometttiKs picked Up, sir, aren't they, days and even ■weeks afterwards?—and newspaper gentlemen are sometimes mistaken in what tbey say "

"I wish I could feel justified in holding out to you any hope, Mrs. Wilbur. Captain Wilbur was a man we highly esteemed (here the -widow broke out in a irrepressible sob), and we hope to giro you some practical proof of how much his sterling worth -was appreciated. . . . I should be only too glad if I could tbink there -was any chance of his having escaped "

"I hoped, sir,'? said Mrs. Wilbur, choking back her sobs, '• tbat you might have Bunxe later knews than what the papers

."All the knowledge we have of the affair has been made public. Mrs Wilbur," said Oxter. Debenham gave a little dry cough. "And the information supplied by the mate of the Nautilus leaves no opening for hope. He says that in a violent storm west-of Torres Strait they saw a vessel foundering and signalling for help. They were in too great difficulties themselves to help, having lost their mainmast and much of the rigging. They saw a boat put out, but it was soon engulfed, for the wavts were enormous. Then there came great gusts of wind with blinding rain and spray, and when thfy rould **■« anything again the Stella Mary had disappeared. Spars and fragments of wreckage have been r-een by passinsr vessels. b>it nothing will, I am much afraid, ever be heard of the Stella Mary." "My poor Harry!" eobb"d Mw. Wilbur, burying her face in her handkerchief.

"There remains nothing for it but to j resign ourselves lo the will of an inscrutable Providence. It is not for us to. dispute its decrees, however hardly they may press upon ns— —" "Oh, sirl" cried Mrs. Wilbur suddenly, "how can I forgive myself? Here am I, in the selfishness of my great sorrow, forgetting entirely your terrible loss " " Our loss?" Oh, you mean the ship—the money? It k not worth mentioning. Mrs. Wilbur. What is the loss of a few paltry thousands compared with that of such an excellent man as your husband ?'' Mrs. Wilbur was staring at him strange"lt wasn't the money I was thinking of fcir but your son—your only «on. Graeions Heavens! Is it possible that you don't know "

"My son? I am glad to s*ay there is nothing wrong -with Dick. He is coming ** Mrs- Wilbur rose from her Mat trembling'all over. "But. sir, sir!*' Jle was on board the Stella Mary :r "Nothing of the sort, Mrs. WilburHeaven be thanked, there is no f»ar of that. I can't think what put this idea into tout bead. He had no intention of coming to England before the spring. I heard from him by last mai'—no. not last mail, but that was because he was going for a. little cruise round the coast——" "I am heartbroken to have to tell you, sir. but here it is in my husband's handwriting—the l»6t letter" lte ever wrote— Mrrt. off by the pilot after he had left • Brisbane." Sbo fumbled in a hand-bag, and finally took out a. letter. Th» litter incredulity in Richard Oxter 6 far* had given place to a horrible doubt. " Hive it to me," lie said hoarsely. He rose, and stretching across the table, snatched the letter from. her. He held it first in one light, and then, in another, then handed it to Debenham. "The lines dances en strangely. - . - read it to me. William." M Debenham started to read the letter, he leaned forward over the tabte in agony of doubt. '"My dearest wife* (Debenham read), •I am keeping back the pilot for five mimjtes while I write these few linea to tell

vou an . astounding piece of .news that may have wme influence on our future. Young Mr. Oxter Las come on board, wanting a. paseago to Southampton on this boat. Of course, I shall bo glad enough to have him, fine pleasant-spoken young shap as he is, and if I can win his "friendship lie might be able to speak to his father about giving ine a better berth. He told me lie wanted lo take his father bv surprise, and lest any of Oxter and Debenham's people in Brisbane should send home the news, be Las given out that he is going on a little yachting cruise—' " Richard Oxter groaned. '•I don't think I had better go on," said Debenham, glancing down the next few lines. "(in on, DebeDham!" said Oxter; "I insist!"

His face had gone a. strange sort of ashen grey, and he leaned heavily on the table, in front, of him. Debenham obeyed, but even his voice faltered a little.

"' —I thought it my duly to represent to him that this was a bad old boat, and that I bad told bis father my doubts as to her being seaworthy. But then he needs ask: "What did my father say?" So 1 said Mr. Oxter had assured me that he had her thoroughly overhauled, and that all was now perfectly right. And then he says with a frank smile.: "If my father says "it's all right, right it will be, and "'"

Oxter tried to pull himself erect, bill he tottered and clung with his hands to tho table.

Debenham and Mrs. Wilbur fan up tohim.

Oxter warded her off. " Don't touch me !" he cried wildly. " I—T—murdered vonr husband—aud—Heaven help me—my Dick !" He tottered a minute and swayed from side to side, gasping for air. Then some-, thine seemed to give way that held/him together, and he fell and lay in a'huddled heap on the floor.