The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1874-08-19
THE MYSTERIOUS sIARK.


ocean-roll! ~ shouted cheerful pass
enger, casting patronizing glances at
the billowy waste on whose bosom our
good ship was tossed like a plaything.
Roll on and be hanged to itv'
grumbled 1, "if only to roll me-"
It was my first acquaintance with
Neptune, aud we didn't get along to-
gether. To say the truth, / was in no
amiable mood. ] had disagreed with
the steward about the quality of steak
he had sent me for my breakfast, and,
finally, had disagreed with my break
fast itself and parted company with
it.
1t was while leaning over the taft
rail at this point, that my feelings
were narrowed by the poetical passen-
gers quotation.
"You are sea-sick," he remarked.
81 see an" I answered gruffly, in
tending no pun, bat decided criti-
cism on the self-obviousness Of the
statement.
"Pve a sovereign specific for that
malady," said the stranger.
"You're lucky man." l grunted.
II should be happy to- furnish you
with il" he replied II have an abun-
dant supply of it."
"Anything," said I-"I'll take any
thing-even arsenic enough to put me
out OF. my misery"
"Come below" said he. where's
your state room ?" he inquired when
we had descended the stairway.
led the way to it.
"Now, lie down." said he, "and I'll
fix you up directly"
threw off my coat and tumbled in.
to the berth. The benevolent gentle
man went out and. returned quickly
with something which he put into a
glass with some water and gave to me.
| swallowed it without a question.
The effect was almost instantaneous.
A gentle languor stole over me, then
followed what little before / should
have hailed as the acme of bliss, COM
plete Inconsistencies.
Whether it was the effect of the
medicine, or because the weather grew
milder-much obliged to the weather
if that was i'll know not, but when l
awoke, which was after lapse Of sew
eral hours, l found myself if not re-
covered, at least convaloscent. Next
day had gained my legs, and found
no other inconvenience.
Mr.. Rolickson-by which name 1
learned to know my Byronic benefac-
tor-and myself grew to be intimate
friends. He was an inexhaustable
talker. With men he was an agreea-
BILE companion; with ladies he was
captivating, charming, fascinating.
We had an exquisite young creature
on board, scarcely out of her teens, on
her way to join an elderly lady aunt,
in an inland English town, said to
have testamentary designs upon her,
which, if carried out, wSulj place her
in the front rank of matrimonial
prizes. To this young lady Mr.. Ro-
lickson paid special attention. He
read, talked and quoted poetry to her,
till her pretty little head was turned,
and before the voyage was over, their
engagement began to be talked of on
| the ship.
| Stress Of weather made the voyage
slow one. 1t was then two weeks
after we lost sight Of the highlands of
Neversink before we landed at Liver
pool.
| l had hardly set foot on shore, and
had not had time to congratulate my
self on the fact, when hand was laid
briskly on my shoulder.
"You must go with me-" said de-
termined voice in my ear.
/ l turned about quickly, and found
myself confronted by man who might
have set for Dickens portrait of In
spector Bucket.
"The fewer words here the better"
he added, as l was about to- speak.
"Will you come quickly, or shall /
summon assistance
| l demanded an explanation.
"You shall have it in due time,
was the answer. "Do you intend TO
come pcaceably or motif"
A short staff, surmounted by a
crown, produced by the speaker,
convinced me he had authority to en-
force my obedience, and ] walked
along by his side.
"Your name is Roach" said thin,
sharp man into whose presence l was
at length ushered.
sit is not" l answered.
Probably you will also deny hav-
ing three stars tattoOed on the back Of
your left arm, just above the elbow p
he sardonically added.
81 do deny it." / said. 81 bear no
such mark"