Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-06-18
Gales and Sketehes.
JOHN MERRILL'S SECRET.

| GCONCLUDED FROM YESTERDAYS PAPER.1
Presently the order was given to call all
hands, and muster them up. One of the
mates was sent into the forecastle to see
that no one fingered, and to have all the
mems kits and effects reused up to the
light of day. The captain was evidently
in a towering rage, for he had passed
lightly over several previous reports of
theft, hoping the matter would be adjusted
without his interference. But Tom had
lost new shirt during the night, and
Captain Soule had lost his-patience.
.'Ill find it if it's inside the ship!" said
he; "and I'll fog the man that stole it,
Several bags and chests had been emptied
of their contents in the presence of us all
for John had been called down from aloft,
and stood thoughtful and agitated, at my
side-When the captain came to the lock-
ed chest:
.'Whose is this P' he demanded
"Mine, sir" spoke up the lad.
''Gi'me your key"
/ "If you'll excuse me, sir-I would like
to speak a word with you-by ourselves,
sir, if you please"
But the captain was not in a humor to-
listen to any remonstrance at that moment.
''Let me go through with this cursed
business before talk with anybody! 1t
doesn't look well, any how, that you keep
your chest locked up"
He swung back his heavy boot ashe spoke
and with single kick under the project
ing edge of the lid it flew open.
There's my Shirt" exclaimed Tom,
seizing the bundle that lay on top. He
shook it open, showed his marks, and it
was at once identified beyond all dispute
Enough said we are on the right track
now," said Captain Louie. Take up
this chest and carry it aft" And he closed
the lid with Il bang
"Mr. Baldwin," he continued, "strip
John Merrilrs back, and seize him up!
It's new thing for me to fog one of my
men-a thing never did-but I've sworn
it in this case, and I'll keep my word"
| The poor boy overwhelmed with con-
fusion, could hardly find word to protest
But Frank Wightman at this moment
neared the captain respectfully, and
touched him gently on the shoulder. A
word was spoken; the captain relaxed
his angry brows to listen to it, for Wight
man was the best man in the forecastle.
The two walked aft together, conversing
earnestly. | kept my eye on them, till
Frank made signal, which understood
when | followed.
"Mr. Derrick" said the Captain to the
second mate, .'keep everything as it
stands, with the chests, forward. Don't
allow a man to touch thing, till further
orders"
He bcckoned Wrightman and myselfto
come below. But as he did not counter
mand the orders he had given about seiz-
ing John up, the mate, it seems, proceed
ed to obey them He prepared the seiz-
l. =, a. l~.x,
move his shirt, he met with unexpected
resistance. While l was relating to Capt.
Soue, in the forward cabin, what, / had
seen during the middle watch, there was
a scuille over our heads, and John Merrill
in a frenzy of excitement. rushed down
the stairs and into the after-cabin.
'Hold on, Mr.. Baldwin! Never mind
what told you, for the present
And the Captain followed the boy into
the sanctum, while we awaited the result.
In minute afterwards he put his head
out at the door with the strangest look on
his face that | had ever seen mortal man
wear.
..Wrightman. you and Bill pass-John
Merrilfs chest down the stairs-right into
this ROOM"
5 We obeyed the order. and set our bur-
: den down at his feet But the lad was not
to be seen rs we looked about us.
"Thatll do. You can go on deck, now
IN talk with you again soon"
And the door was closed between us
and the mystery
f Itwas half an hour before Captain Soule
. came up, and ordered the search contin-
ued. When he came to Toms chest, he
overhauled it very carefully; but it was,
apparently emptied to the bottom, with
out finding any stolen property. But.
still unsatis6ed, he stood it up on end.
thumped it heavily, and threw it bottom
> up. false bottom was dislodged and