Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-09-02


tie hstcn that she might 60 down inia
the hold.
:" / declare" mn.tered Daniel Garter.
en- old sailor. who IVES standing at the
wheel, "she takes on dre'fully!r
Yes. poor thIng!" said Tucker, as
LIE heard her sobs un.i groans.
! Dye notice what II eye she's got :? "
continued Carter.
NO." said Tucker, only twas
| swollen with tears"
: my eyes! but they shore, though,
when che stood here, looking at the
compass"
/ Tucker smiled at the mans quaint
earnestnesS and wen: down to the
! cable.
When the woman cana up from the
hold. she looked about the deck of the
/ schooner for O few moments and then
went aft. There was something ia her
countenance that puzzled Carter. He
had been one Of those who oil iected TO
the coffin being brought aboard. The
woman's eyes ran over the schooner's s
deck with strange quickness, and
Carter eyed her very sharply. Soan
she went 10 the tstfrail and she came
and stood by the binpacle again.
! "Look ont, or you'll jibe the BOOM"
uttered the passenger.
Carter started. and fonnd that the
mainsail was shivering. He gave the
helm couple of epokes apart, and then
cast his eyes again upon the woman
"Thsnk'e na'am, said Dan. "Ha,
hold on-why bless my soul. there's u
big spider right on ynur hnir. No-pot
there. Here I'll Ughi"
The last .jleuiatiun Dan made az he
seemed TO pull something from the.
wonlan's hair. which he threw upon the
deck with I" "Ush!" above mentioned.
| Shortly after tho passenger went be.
low. and ere long Tucker came Oh
deck.
"Commodore," said C,rter, with a
remarkable degree of earnestness in his
manner, "is the oman turned in?"
Il rather think So" said Tucker,
looking at the compass. Look out,
look ont. Carter! Why, man alive,
you're two points to the south ard of
your course"
BLOW me! so am" said tho mar
bringing the helm smartly aport. /" But
say. didn't you notice any thing peculiar
sbou. the old 'oman?"
Why. Dan. you seem greatly inter
ested abont her."
So l am. commodore, an so 1 sm
about the coflin, too. Wouldn't it be
we'll for you and to overhaul it ?"
"Pshaw you're rs scared as child
in graveyard!"
No. not bit. Just hark bit.
That oman amt 10 'oman."
The commodore pronounced the name
Of bis satanic majesty in the most en-
phatic manner.
Its the truth, commodore--I rur.
tended there was spider on her hair,
and rubbed my hand agin her face.
By Sam Hyde if it wasn't as rough and
bearded as q holy-stone. You see, she
told me as how I'd let the boom iibe if
didn't look out. knowed there was
no oman there, and SO l tried her
Call somebody to the wheel and let's 70
and look at that coffin"
The commodore was thunderstruck
by what he had heard, but, with calm
presence of mind that made him what
he was. he set coolly to thinking. In a
few minutes he called one of the men
aft to relieve Carter, and then went down
to look after his passenger. The latter
had turned in and seemed to be sleep.
ing. Turner returned and took Carter
one side.
"No noise now Carter; follow me as
though nothing had happened.
"Sartin."
The two approached the main hatch
and stopped to raise it. when Dams
hand touched small ball that seemed
up under the break of the hatch.
" It's ball of twine," said he.
Don't touch it. but run and get q
lanterH," replied Tucker.
Carter sprang to obey, and when be
returned number of the men haG
gathered about the spot. The hatch
was raised, and the commodore carefully
picked up the ball of twine and found
that it was made fast TO something be
low. He descended te the hold, and
there he found that the twine ran il
beneath the lid of the coffin. He had NJ
doubt in his mind now that there wss
mischief boxed up below. and sent
Carter for something that might answer
for q screw.driver. The man soon re
turned with stout knife. and th'
commodore set to work. He worked
very carefully. keeping bright lookou
fer the string.
At length the screws were out and th
, lid very carefully lifted from its place
Great God in heaven!" burst from
the lips OF the commodore.
by Sam Hyde!" dropped like ,
thunderclap from the tongue of youns
Dan.
D The two men stood for moment att
gazed into the coffin. There was n,
:. dead man there. but in place therco
;, was material for the death Of a score
4 The c. Tin was filled with guopow1e
2 and pltchwood, upon light framework
\ in the center were arrange d four pistols
r all cooked, and the string entering th
coffin from without communicated will
q the triggers Of each.
. The first movement of the commo
$ dore was to call for water, and when i
! was brought dashed three or four buck
e etfuls into the Internal contrivance an,
t then he breathed more freely.
NO. TO-" he uttered, as he leape,
e from the hold. mo, no-my men
Do nothing rsshly, let me go into th
o cabin Grst.''
Commodore Tucker strobe into til
caoin, walking up to the bnnk wher
his passenger lay, and grasping hold @
+, the female dress, he dragged it's weare
i ont upon the floor. There was q shar]
): resistance, and the passenger drew
pistol but it Was quickly knocked ava