The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1877-05-04
VOL. II.

brought, they rushed to the place whence
the helmsman had heard the cry, when, t
their surprise, they discovered the second
mate, a wild and haggard look upon h
face, holding in his hand heavy, murder
ous-looking club.
What means this r. tlundered the skip
per, as thoughts Of foul play flashed upor
his brain
But, amazed and startled. Haywood was
silent
"Who is lost?. cried the captain in the
next instant
But before any one had time to answer
him, his own eyes told him.
"My God It's Lewis /! and this red-hand
ed villain has murdered him Qnick, metl
hoist all the lights and man the boats let
everything be done that can be, as quick
ly as possible, He may be living, and, if
this shall be good nights job for you
Work, work for your liyes!"
The orders Of the grief-strichen father
were readily obeyed. But though lights
were hoisted and boats went out in every
direction, nothing could be found of the
lost one. So at last it was given up as a
hopeless case; and the men returned to
the ship, when Frank Haywood was seized
for the murder Of Lewis Stanford.
No more sleep visited tile ship that night.
The sorrowing father paced the deck till
daylight; and III the cabin below the
dacghter was sobbing for the death of her
only brother, and for him accused Of that.
terrib deed.
In the morning Haywood was arraigned
before the crew on charge of willful muir
der. Nothing seemed lacking to substan-
tiate his guilt. His quarrel with young
Stanford, and the circumstances under
which he had been found after the alarm,
together with his appearance at the time,
seemed sufficient to prove his guilt
Yet he stoutly protested his innocence,
saying, in explanation of his conduct, that
he had harbored no III feelings against
Lewis, but had been ready to forgive and
be forgiven.
As to his being found with that murder
BUS looking club in his hands, it was ac-
;idental. Feeling little anxious about
he weather, he had left his bunk to go up
n deck, and was just in season to hear
he cry which had caused the alarm.
Fastening to the spot; he stumbled over
something in his path. 1t was the club
which he had in his hands when they dis
covered him a few moments later, with that
wild look upon bis face, caused by the fear
,naJ SUnTc tTVr1-tsgrS -e1-- sss-~e
nitted.
Heywood's story was received with /
shout of derision. The circumstantialevi-
lence was too overwhelmingly against him
or any one to have the least suspicion that
his seemingly inconsistent story was any
thing but false fabrication gotten up for
the occasion.
AS soou as order was restored, the cap
tain stepped forward with pair Of mana.
cles, and, placing them upon the doomed
mans wrists, said:
.'Before God and man, Frank Haywood,
l believe you guilty Of numbering my son.
Therefore secure you in irons, and order
that YOU be kept in close confinement un-
til we reach port, when you shall be deliv-
cred over to the proper authorities, to meet
the punishment you 50 richly deserve
Here" he added, turning to the crew,
"solne one of you take Mr.. Haywood be-
low"
20, father, don't!" cried Mabel, who
had been a silent spectator of the terrible
scene. "He didn't do it know he did
not!"
Tut, tut, girl, no more Of this!' said
her father, sternly. @Men, do your duty
A couple Of the sailors stepped up to
obey their srperior,s orders, when, with q
low cry, Mabel sprang forward between
them and her lover, as to shield him from
their grasp.
Without word the captain, in spite 9.
her fearful entreaties, rudely snatched his
daughter away.
Haywood, CHANGING to look up, eaugh'
sight Of the mate, Warren Gregg, standing
but a short distance off, an exultant looi
o. fendish satisfaction cleaning N h''
usually expressionless eyes. It was PLAN
| " a look of seornful triumph; and as tn
sailors placed their hands upon his Shout
der, The young man fnlly realized the PER-
Of his situation, and to what source It wa
due. But further thought Or action wa
suddenly stayed by loud cry from the SEA
of the lee bow.
The next instant there was plainly heare
in strangely familiar voice, the staFtlln
- 4b,,,ao ror,aatad