The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-24

over my face, and my eyes full of 'em,
and there was Thomson standing within
ten feet of me, looking at me with grin
on his face, and fist in his eye, making
believe to cry and wipe his tears like a
bawling young one.
I waited just long enough to let my
nerves and muscles find it out, and get
ready; then I pounced on him so quick
ly, that had my hand on his throat
before he could utter sound. He
kicked, though, as he got purple in the
face, and rs 1 held him down. let him
kick, for he was going just where L
wanted him to.
There was place, near by, still in the
shelter of the boards, where, for some
reason, two or three planks had been
taken up of the deck, and it left hole
that led down to the very keel between
the outer walls of the ship. In an idle
way had often dropped little blocks
down there, and heard them bump,
bump, like stones in well, as they
went down. Thomson kicked himself
in this very direction, and just as my
hands were getting tired, and as he had
got his foot up between us, close to my
chest, to give me kick away from him,
with his last strength, humored him,
and down he went, headforemost. l
heard two or three bumps, and I heard
no more. I stared down into the dark
ness, and fancied that I saw two eyes
staring back at me-but 1 heard no
sound.
By-and-bye 1 heard steps approach
ing. I started away, and laid down by
the board pile again. My brother John
came along and shook me, thinking l
was asleep, and I went home with him.
The next morning I went on board
again, but saw no Thomson. Men
were asking for him, but nobody knew
where he was. His friend Jackson came
and asked me if I had seen him, looking
at me in a very curious way. L told him
I'd seen all l wanted to see of him.
About noon they sent off to Thorn
sons house to inquire for him, and
found out that he hadn't been + cen
there since the morning before. But
they hadn't wondered at it, for he al
ways had neglected his family shame
fully. Well, to make long story short,
they never found him, and they never
that he had run away, for he owed
uOr5 Gutll ue OWueu, anu llau WrltS Out
against him.
kept on going to the ship just as be-
fore. | suppose you think that there
was one spot that I avoided, but you
mistake. The same place where the
hole was-that particular hole that I
have spoken of-for there were others
was the most attractive place on board
for me. kept near it constantly, and
when I could get chance looked
down. Sometimes L would throw a
little block, or perhaps shaving down,
and listen to the sound. The blocks
used to fall T. long time, bnt not 80
long as they had, and they always
brought up against something that
wasn't hard like wood.
But one thing made me uneasy. and
that was Jackson was entirely changed.
He grew sober and quiet, and kept out
of my way, though he watched me con-
stantly. 1 knew from the very first that
he suspected me of doing something to
his chum. He never said word when
they talked about the others running
away. Well, I wasn't much afraid,
since nobody could find the body, and
nobody had seen the deed done, and l
idea of the place but it fretted me to
be watched Besides, l had begun,
after day or two, to want to tell some
body.
Sometimes had great mini to tell
John, but didn't. BY the end of a
week my nerves were on edge about
telling and about Jackson. The way
he watched me was awful. When 1
passed near him he wouldn't raise his
head; but L could see him rolling his
eyes round to keep me in sight, and
watch me out of the corners. 1 couldn't
stand it, Besides, that black hole was q
nuisance. [ couldn't help looking in
I saw and locked into it in my dreams,
and in my sleeping and waking fancied
+ saw awful sights there.
One afternoon, late, just before the
workmen left off, / went and lay down
out of sight near that awful hole. l
meant to wait until it was duskish, aud
then throw down some shavings and
chloride of lime. The smell made me
crazy. / Ilay still about an hour, and
heard them go. They thought l was
gone, and pretty soon all was still. l
was waiting till thought no one would
see me, and just going TO start, when !
heard soft step coming along, and
presently there was Jackson. He did
not see me, and [ hid again quickly.
First he bent over the hole, then drew
quickly back, holding his nose.
"He is in there" he said to himself.
He took tiny little lantern out of o
paper in his hand, lighted it, tied q
string to the handle, tied handkerchief
over his nose and mouth, and kneeline
beside the hole, bent over it, and slowly
lowered his light. He thought he had
me, you see, and that the body had
struck somewhere, not so far down but
he could get glimpse of it with his
light. He was too much interested tC
hear step behind him, though it would
have taken sharp ears to hear it any
way.
Why didn't he mind his own business
and look out for his own life Wha
did he want to meddle with me for, ant
go spying round2 Why didn't he let me
alone? If he had, wouldn't have
touched him. He knew that Thomson
deserved what he had got for his med
ding. l gave him sharp, quick tip
and down he went, lantern and all.
must have been pretty safe lantern, t.
go out without setting anything afire.
Someway I felt sick, though I'd givel
him only what he deserved, and wen
back to my place and lay there all night
and I kept hidden till late in the morn
ing after the workmen had come. ALL
waited for then was to bear the maste
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