The National tribune., 1882-05-06

a chair as in berth. 1t don't make no diff
ference TO me-"
l was forced, in defence of my sanity, to
stop in my walk and explain the circum-
stances ut some length. When L had finished,
he said:
Lets see your flask"
l was disgusted, although 1 was not sur
prised. / had related to him my adventure,
and without a word of sympathy he asked
for drink-and at that time in the morn
ing, too! However, l found the flask in an
inner pocket of my overcoat, where I had
seen the stewardess place it, and as | had
the coat on my arm and the flask was rather
large for the pocket, held the coat while he
pulled out the bottle.
You'll find that very good liquor" said T.,
complacently. "Don't shake it,"
How much was there here when you went
to bed last night?" he asked, without pay
ing much attention to what l had said.
Il suppose it was at least half full"
He unscrewed the top, and turned the
mouth down. 1t was empty.
ga very dry ghost" he said with grin.
y
one train, when the boat gets in, l guess
can show you your ghost. You will? AL
right. You just go and sit down opposite
your stateroom, and see that nobody goes
out nor in. Ii the stewardess tells you the
train is starting, just say to her you are
! waiting to take your ghost along with you"
why not look for him now?"
Because [ had rather wait, if it's all the
same to you. Just you keep sharp look
out, that's all, and I shall be around"
went and sat down opposite No - and
waited for the boat to arrive at the town
where passengers take the cars for Boston
Presently, certain restless people began to
come out of their rooms, and hustle about
and compare notes, and wonder when we
should get in. Then Il colored man went
about waking up the sleepeTs, and by-and-by
| they appeared one after the other, half awake
and very cross with having to rise at such an
unseemly hour. Then there was great
ringing of bells below, great humping of
the boat against the wharf, and a great
! trampling of feet. The passengers took up
! their bags and band-b0xes, their umbrellas
and canes, and went off down stairs in pro-
cession as melancholy as if Charon had just
ferried them across the Styx, and they were
about to disembarb in Hades#
l noticed the barkeeper lettering on the
other side of the cabin, and he did not 90
down until the occupants of the state-rOoms
on both sides of No. - had come out and
departed Then he followed, and the cabin
was presently very quiet. The black stew
ardess had, apparently, been called away by
her duties; at any rate, she was not TO be
seen. l shall not attempt to describe my
reflections ut this time, because, as it after
ward turned ont, they were worth very little
| may say, however, that l began to have
some new ideas about it.
When the barkeeper came back, he was
accompanied by man in plain clothes, and
a policeman. He placed one in each of the
state-roOms adjoining mine, and then I'M
locked my door and we entered No. -. Just
over the threshold, | tr0d on my knife, which
had before forgotten. pointed out the posi-
tion of things at the time of the appearance of
| the spectre, and showed my companion where
my flask had stood. He took from his pocket
box Of wax tapers, and lighting one, got
down on his hands and knees and looked
under the lower berth.
| suppose some wiseacres will ask why |
had not done this myself, earlier in the night.
In fact, my nephew goes to the length of
asserting that my neglect to do this gives
my story an air of improbability. But I
beg to ask if person always does in mo-
ments of excitement what he himself look
ing back upon the circumstances afterward,
would say ought obviously to be done. l
think not. At all events, when ! examined
the state-room, with the stewardess looking
over my shoulder, it did not occur to me to
do what my companion was now doing
One reason for this, doubtless and this
seems to me important-was that the frame
work of the berth appeared to one looking
at it from above to come within two or three
inches of the floor.
My companions first match went out and
he lighted the second one. BY this time
was not much surprised TO hear him ex-
claim:
Il see you, my friend! I'll trouble you
Just to come out of that"
The lower portion of the board immedi-
ately above the space I have mentioned was
lifted up, and it now appeared that the
board was cracked its whole length and was
held together only by certain strong fibres,
which acted as hinges Through the aper-
ture thus left, and which was still very
narrow, there wriggled the slender form of
a young man, who, on turning over to the
light and rising showed ne the features of it.
We came out into the cabin, and my COM
panion called out exultingly.
Here you are, Brown! I've got him"
So the two men came out, and Mr. Brown,
who proved to be a detective in plain clothes,
slipped a pair of handouts on the prisoner,
who looked very unhappy.
Il suppose" said Mr., Brown, "you know
what you are wanted for. I've got the war
rant here all right"
II suppose do," said the prisoner "but
I can prove that 1 did it in self-defence.
Look here, e,"-and he pointed to the scar on
his face. "He gave me this"
"If you can Prov that you did it in self
defence" said Brown, $50 much the better
for you. But that is as it may be-"
/