The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-06-05
THE FATAL CR.ADF.E.
Otherwise, the lEears-Rendins story |
of Mr.. Heavysfdes.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
tconcludedl

that emanated from his natural enemy
all through the voyage.
'Wait a minute. gentlemen, said
Captain Gillop. I've got this difficult
matter, as think. in its right blessings.
W. must make clean breast of it to the
husbands. and let them take the respon-
sibility
Il believe they won, accept it. OBJ
erveG Mr. Sims.
And I believe they WILL asserted
Mr.. Purlipg, relapsing into his old
habits.
$ IF they WON'T said the captain,
firmly, " IN master on board this ship
and as sure as my name is Thomas
Gillop, I'll take the responsibility p
This courageous declaration settled all
difficulties for the time being and
council was held to decide on future pro-
ceediDgs. 1t was decided to remain pas
sive until the next morning, on the last
faint chance that few hours sleep
might compose Mrs. Drabble's bewilder-
ed memory The babies were to be
moved into the main cabin before the
daylight grew brighton, in other words
before Mrs Smalchild or Mrs Heavy
sides could identify :he infant who had
passed the night with her. The doctor
and the captain were to be assisted by
Mr.. Purling, Mr.. Sims and the first
mate. in the capacity Of witnesses aud
the assembly so constituted was to meet,
in consideration Of the emergency of the
case. at six clock in the morning pune
tually.
At six o'clock, accordingly, with the
weather fine, and the wind still fair, the
proceedings began. For the last tine
Mr.. Jolly cross-examined Mrs Drabble,
assisted by the captain, and supervised
by the witnesses. Nothing whatever was
elected from the unfortunate stewardess
The doctor pronounced her confusion to
be chronic, and the captain and the wit
nesses unanimously agreed with him.
The next experiment tried was the
revelation of the true state of the case to
the husbands.
Mr.. SmallchiId happened on this ocea-
sion to be squaring his accounts for
the morning and the first articulate
words which escaped him in reply to the
disclosure were: "Deviled biscuit and
anchovy paste" Further perseverance
merely elected an impatient request that
they would pitch him overheard at
once. and the two babies along with
him" Serious remonstrance was next
tried. with Ito better effect.
Settle it how you like said Mr,
Smallchild family.
DO you leave it to me, Sir, as com
mander of this vessel" asked Captain
Gillop.
No answer.
Nod your head, Sir. if you can't
speak. y
Mr.. Smallchild nodded his head
round-wise on his pillow-and fell asleep.
Does that count for leave to me to
act?" asked Captain Gilop of the wit
nesses. And the witnesses answered de-
cidedly, Yes
The ceremony was then repeated with
Simon Heavysides, who responded. as
became so intelligent man, with
proposal of bis own for solving the diff
Guilty.
Captain Gillop and gentlemen, said
the carpenter, with fluent and melancho
ly politeness, :" should wish to consider
Mr.. Smallchild before myself in this
matter. | am quite willing to part with
my baby whichever he isl and | re-
specially propose that Mr.. SmallchiId
take both the children, land so make quite
sure that he has really got possession of
his own son.
The only Immediate objection to this
Ingenious proposition was stated by the
doctor, who sarcastically inquired Of
Simon what he thought Mrs. Heavy
sides would say to it p The carpenter
confessed that this consideration had es-
capped him, and that Mrs. Heavysides
was only too likely to be an irremovopie
obstacle in the way of the proposed ar
The witnesses all thought
80 too and Heayysides aud his idea
we're dismissed together, after Simon
had first gratefully expressed his entire
readiness to leave it all TO the captain.
8 Very well, gentlemen. said Captain
Gillop. . As commander on board,
reckon next after the husbands in the
matter of responsibility. | have consid-
cred the difficulty in all its bearings. and
/ m prepared to deal with it. The voice
of nature (which you proposed Mr.. Pur-
fngl has been found TO fail. The tossing
up for it (which you proposed Mr.. Sims
doesn' square altogether with my :
lions of what's right in very serious
business. No, Sir! I've got my own
plan; and m now about to try it. Fol
low me below. gentlemen,t to the stewards
pantry"
The witnesses looked round at one
another in the prsfoundest astonishment
and followed.
" Pickerel, said the captain, address
ing the steward, bring out the scales"
The scales were of ithe ordinary kitch
en- sort, with 3 tin tray on one side to
hold the commodity TO be weiged, and
stout iron slab on the other to support
the weights. Pickeral placed these scales
upon neat little pantry table. fitted Oh
.he ball and socket principle, so as to
save the breaking of crockery by swing.
ing with the motion Of the ship.
8 Put clean buster in the tray"
said the captain. Doctor. be eontiL-
ued, when this had been done, "shut
the doors of the sleeping berths fer fear
of the women hearing anything), and
oblige me by bringing those two babies
in here.
Oh, Sir!' exclaimed Mrs. Drabble,
x.bn lo loo,