Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-02-28

mt ,aback, SIR"
"Naturally, you need not be sur.
prised at seeing me in any part OF the
vessel Pm studying its construction
as a scientific man. Captain Payson
has been good enough to give me adj
mittance to all parts of the vessel.
ou needn't shout in that disagree
able way again. 1t star ties nervous
man" with vague smile he blew
out the candle aud went out upon the
deck. leaving Dan staring after him.
"Irs not all right; or why should
he, being q gentleman, make such
long-wlnded explanation to me, be-
ing the cabin boy 2" said Dan At last
shaking his head.
That night, Captain Payson was
alone on the Quarter-ieck. when Dan
presented himself before him and
saluted. His voice shook little, for
he was terribly scared.
"Old Job" was bigger man in bis
eyes than any kiNg or potentate.
"Welll what's the matter with
yOu," growled the captain.
"Ths--the passenger. SIR"
"Whst have you to do with the
passenger 2"
81 beg your pardon, sir.-but are
you sure he isn't thief, or worse ?'
gasped Dan, forgetting, in his terror,
the respectful speech he had planned,
in which he meant to state the fact
of Doctor Farnall's visit below deck.
The captain seized the ropes END
"Taks that fer your impudence p
he shouted, aiming blow at, Dan,
who lodged it, anu then blurted out
the whole story. . --
"Searching among the buuks Doc.
tor Farnall ~ muttered the captain
ia astonishment dropping his weap-
on and then he walked noughtfully
up and down. Suddenly he stopped
before Dan.
''It is we'll you came to me and no.
body else with the story" he said
'It is of no account. Doctor Farnall
| is AL eccentric man. If he wishes to
examine the ship in any part, he is
not to be watched and spied upon
So keep your eyes TO yourself and
your tongue, too. If you go blab.
bing this story about Ill fog you.'
Dan crept off to his work feeling a.
if he had had sound drubbing
Tears Of rage aud modification stood
u his eyes.
A"Mother's rules do very we'll OF
land but they wont wear on ship
board" he muttered. ''But thsre'i
something that needs watching il
that man, and I'll watch him.
Nothing of moment happened how
ever, for W eek. Then Dan observ
ed that the passengers day of fasting
and depression grew more frequent
There were whole nights when b,
paced the deck until morning.
The crew jOked together abou
him. One declared that he was
murderer another, that he had es
capped from lunatic asylum but th,
common opinion was that he had rul
away from . termagent wife.
he eyes every ship we hail, Ms though
sle might be aboard 2"
Dan, alone never Joined in the gos
sip below, decks about the MYSTERY.
One day little incident occurre,
which suddenly strengthened hi
suspicion.
Just before nightfail, when passing
the after hatchway, LII the covering
of which was q slide that could b
opeued and closed 1T will. Dan me
Dr. Farnall coming up covered will
dirt aud dust. There was an unstead,
glare in his eyes. He seized Dan b!
the, shoulders.
do you know where I hav
been (" ne said hoarsely.
"What dye think is down there
boy-for you aud all of us3 Death
Deathl But tell nobody-nobody-'
He dropped his hold and staggere,
on.
Mad as = March harel" muttere,
Dan. 5i -i .a=. .- l.-.
But half an hour later, DR.. Farmal
was seated at the supper table, gay
self-possessed, keeping the captain
i'll roar with his good stories.
About the middle of the secon,
watch that night, Dan turned out o
his bunk, the boy was really to.
anxious to sleep.
"Death in the hold eh? Death il
the hold I? he repeated to himself.
He did not dare go to the captain
or crew with his story. Yet he wa
sure that some peril was at hand. H.
sat shivering for while, then pulled
on his clothes. -.' - ".eiT
sit Deaths in the hold I'll fint
him, he said. i.,...
He grouped his way to the after
hatchway unqusstioned for the mat
who had charge of the deck was re
clining listlessly against the raj
further aft, were the hatchway wa
hid from view by the cabin. ...
The Glide was open.
His heart beat quick with excite
msut, but nOiselessly as cat. Dal
crept down, to the lever deck ant
groped for the hatchway that openec
into the lower hold.
lie was so certain that danger wa
afsot that he was not startled whel
he saw faint reddish light, anc
found tho lower hatchway open.
The hold was not SO closely slowed
but that one could move about in i
quite freely, and lowering himsel
carefully Dan saw the light cam'
from a lantoru, aud that it cast l..
glare directly in the face of the pas
senger, who was kueeling and work
ing ut something on the floor.
$50 that's the way death looks
hey 2" thought Dan. .'He couldm'
we'll look worse;" and he eyed the
haggard ghaslly face.
"What grating neise is that 3' hs
asked himself, aud in the same in
stant he sprang forward with q CT.
of horror.
The passenger had an augur in hi
hands and q saw lay beside him.
He had bored hole through tn,
side of the vessel, below the wate
line, and water was already comm,
through.
The boy clutched Farnall aud shool
him like = wild beast. "You ar,
sinking the ship. Helpl help !"
The madmsn turned Oh him quick
ly and added:
"Yes we'll all go down together
Don't make that outcry nobody Cal
hear you"
He caught the boys wrist and heit
him with the unnatural strength o
the insane.
Nobody could hear him. Dan re
msmbered that and became suddenl,
silent. Horror and fear only mad,
thought more vivid.
Death was just at hand. There wa
nobody to drive it back but himself
and he was in this madman's hold
He stared into the fierce glass,
eyes with all agony of hesitation.
Farnall laughed back at him.
81 thought Of burning, but this i
quietest. l want to 20 calmly into tn
great hereafter. We shall all go to
gether in-a few minutes" glancin,