Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-02-10

putation of Z foul crime, free to carry out
my honest intention Of fulfilling the dead
mans wishes, but also lreex ifom thu
dread Of exposure which to mo would bt
worse as a. bare suspicion than death
itself. $3.50. .$.s5..
II the captain could but sleep his life
would be saved. How easy to make that
sleep his laet-the devil was at my elbow
the laudanum in my hand. But at my
sorcst need the strength to resist was
given me. 1poured out the proper dose
and advanced toward the cot in which
the captain lay. A strange light was in
his eyes. Rising suddenly, and throwing
the bed.clothcs off his tall, lean, sinewy
form, he half leaped from the bed and
Selling the box Of. diamonds, which he
had throughout his illness never allowed
from beneath his pillow, in one hand, he
shriekcd--
''Never, never! Will you allow me to
be poisoned. like . dog !? Help some
Of you The effort was too much:
clasp,ng the box to his bosom he fell
back on his pillow convulsivc shudder
passed over his lramc-he was dead.
l don't pretend to analyze my feelings
at that moment. My reason well-nigh
deserted me. did not stop to think Of
the possible consequences. Snatching
the box from the relaxing grasp Of the
corpse rushed from the cabin and fell
over Pete, the negro, who was just out.
side.
"See to the captain he is dead" and
sped onward; but the powerful negro had
his hand upon my arm.
"Massa Doctor not 60 so quick-Massa
Grierson dead, Cap'n die, too--Doctor
got his bog Of jewels. Give up dat box, -
and the negro seized me in his grasp and
struggled with me for the possession Of
the box.
At that moment the strength Of a lion
was in me l wrestled with my assailant,
and, freeing ,ayself from his grasp, made
for the companion stairs. I had reached
the deck, with what intention I knew not,
but Pete was again with me, wrestling
with the strength of a demon for the pos.
session Of the prise.
The ship was rolling heavily in dead
calm, and, as We fell together, we slid
across the deck towards the ice scuppers.
With supcrhuman effort l freed my
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the box over the quarterback railing. It
flew open as it fell into the sea, and in
the moonlight the diamonds fell like q
shower of falling stars into the black
water.
The negro, seeing my movement, left
his hold Of me, and sprang forward to
catch the box as it fell. A heavy lurch,
and I was alone on the deck.
The rapidity with which everything
had taken place seemed to have stunned
me. and deprived me of the power to ut
ter even one cry for help-Petc and the
diamonds were gone forever.
l look round-the deck vas deserted,
save the man at the wheel, who half hid
den by the whecl'hoasc, had not seen the
struggle.
Can be blamed! I held my tongue.
The captain was buried at dawn. and
the chief officer took command of the ship.
It was clear that Pete had fallen over.
board, and no one suspected the share !
had had in the catastrophe. In due time
We arrived at Bristol, and, for my own
satisfaction, instituted the necessary in.
quirics as to the individuals named by the
man Grierson. The bank had long ceased
to exist. l tra,ed some vague rumor OF
a man having died suddenly in a stage.
coach while passing through All obscure
village in Somersetshire, but could never
obtain any clue to his representatives. II
was, perhaps, as we'll that failed. I am
still poor man, but would rather die
so than accept the possibility of becoming
rich at the terrible risk which attended
the unlucky bequest Of the Box Of Dia'
m0rds