The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-06-14

have converted all my fortune into these
| gems, and these ! intend to intrust to
your care. Take this box at once to
| your cabin and return to me for your in
structions as to the disposal of the con-
| tents"
| hesitated, but he was imperative.
| " Not word! L am dying fast, and /
implore you to accede to my last re-
quest"
| took the box, locked it, and left the
cabin.
As | passed along the main deck
toward my own cabin forward, | met
/ Captain McFarlane.
| " How is your patient, doctor?n
| Dying, fear. He cannot last long"
| | passed on, and, depositing the box in
a place of safety; tettfned. Grierson
was slowly sinking, and in few broken
| sentences he instructed me as to the dis
posal of his property, of which fl00oc
was to 90 to the bankers Holt < Wardly,
| Of Lombard street, and the rest to the
family OF the murdered man, whose
name was giyenme, and whose represent
ative | pledged my word to do my best
| to discover. Finally, binding me over
not to disclose what had just been told,
except to the parties named by him in
his dying bequest, Grierson reiarsed into
a state of partial insensibility, from
which I in vain attempted to rouse him,
and before half an hour had elapsed, the
unhappy man was no more. Going on
deck | communicated the news Ia the
| captain, who gave the necessary direc-
tions as to the ianefal, which took place
next day; and once more we were plow-
Ing our way through the blue water as if
nothing had happened.
| was an altered man. The strange
commission with which ! had been in
trusted weighed on my mind. Over
and over again in the stiffness OF the
night opened 'he box and gazed on the
gents, What proof was there that they
We're. not mine; the box with its brass
plate bearing the owners name could be
destroyed in a moment, and then
Over and over again the evil one whisp-
cred to Inc, but, Thank God, resisted the
temptation / would fulfill the trust
confded to me, and | prayed fervently
for strength to resist the evil promptings
OF my baser self.
One day | sat alone, the box unlocked
on my table, gazing with an irrepressible
curiosity, which / was unable to con
troll, on the Jewels which scintillated be
fore my dazed vision, The door sud
denly opened, and Captain McFarlane
entered.
Il beg your pardon, doctor, didn't
know you were engaged" but before
could close the box or reply, his eye had
caught the simmer of the briIliants;
Hollo, what's hetef'
With Finn hand he closed the lid and
, read the name upon the plate. Innocent
rs | was, involuntarily stung by the re-
membrane of what my thoughts had
been but moment before, / quailed be-
, fore his eye.
81 know all now-that man was
poisoned--considery yourself my prisoner .
, | endeavored to explain, | told every.
thing as it had occnrfed, and appealed
, to the captain 10 believe the story, or a,
, least to await its reasonable confrmation
, before acting on his rash conclusion. He
E was incredulons, Che concession | OBJ
= tanned, aid that was, that all should be
= kept secret till our arrival in port, ant
T that | should not be publicly branded a
: a suspected murderer before the cteH.
A fortnight passed, Weary fortnight
] during which repeatedly endeavored tC
: shake the conclusion at which Captain
q McFarlane had so hastily arrived. Sud
denly, without a moments warning, the
, captain fell sick He was suffering from
, a low fever. | begged him to accept my
services.
"Never! You shall not poison me
too"
Days passed, and the captain grew
worse; he babbleu in his delirium o
poison, OF stolen Jewels; and night and
; day | watched at his bedside, jealousy
excluding everybody who might per
chance overhear his rawlings and raise UP
in judgment against me.
Il One day the crisis came. \ few hours
would determine all. If he died ] was
o once more free man, flee f'om The Inn
! putatjon OF y foWl Chine, free to carry
I ont my honest intention of fulfilling the
r dead mans wishes, but also free from the
= dread of exposure which to me would be
: worse, rs bare suspicion, than death
itself.
! If the captain could but s'eep his life
would be saved, How easy to make that
; sleep his last-the evil one was at my ell
bow, the laudanum bottle in my hand
But my sorest need the strength to resist
wasnot given to me. Ipoured out the prop
er dose, and advanced toward the cot in
which the captain lay. A strange light
was in his eyes. Rising suddenly, and
throwing the hc,lclolhes off his tall, lean.
siaewy form, he half leaped from the
bed, and selling the box of diamonds,
which he had throughout his illness kept
beneath his pillow, he shrieked:
. Never, never, VIII YOU allow me to
be poisoned like dog? Help! some of
you"
The effort was too much; ciasplng the
box too he Bosom he fell back on his
piiioW-a convulsive shudder passed
over his frame-he was dead.
Snatching the box from the relaxing
grasp of the corpse, | rushed from The
cabin and fell over Pete, the negro, who
Was gust outside.
and | sped onward, but the powerful
negro had his hand upon my arm.
Massa doctor not 90 50 quick-Massa
Griefson dead-cap'n die too-doctor got
| his box OF iewels-give me that box''-
and the negro seized me in his grasp and
struggled with me for the possession of
| the treasure.
At that moment the strength Of lion
was in me. | wrestled with my assail-
ant, and freeing myself from his grasp,
rushed TO the cbmpahion staifs. | had
reached the deck, with what intention |
knew not, but Pete was again with me,
wrestling with the strength of demon
Tor The possession of the prize.
The ship was rolling heavily, and as
we fell together, we slid across the deck
toward the lee scuppers. With super
human effort | freed my right arm, and
with ali my force threw the box over the
quarter deck railitgs. It few open, and
in the moonlight the diamonds fell like a
! shower of stars into the black water
The negro, seeing my movement. left his
hold of me, and sprang forward to catch
the box. A heavy lurch, and | was alone
II H.,