The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-02-07

ward 10 the boilers
When thew had done So. a remart
able change came over the deck pas
senger. Without any warning what
ever. and without the usual prelimi-
nary symptoms of waking, such as
moving une.sily, turning over and
sighing. he sat bolt upright and de-
~iberately peeping out from his
bunk.
Wh-n he did 81 he saw some HUI
nIan figures moving about the front
.,f the m,ilers, aud \ dim light SHIN
ing la their midst. He also heard a
clinking sound, as Of tools at work
at iron machinery. and ne got out of
his bunk, noi-eles-ly rs a spirit. and
A mted forward over the deck like a
spirit,
The captain of the Water Lily,
aid the Two passengers With the car
pet bags, were Standing In front OF
une OF the boilers aud the former
was at work with a wrench, taking
the iron taps from the strong hollis
that held the iron plate IN It's place
over the man hole, while n OF the
passengers held the light in such a
way as to cast nearly all its rays
upon the work, and few of them
anywhere else.
1t is not unusual for this heavy
iron plate TO be taken off for the
purpose of examining or cleaning
the interior of the boiler but the
ragged young deck passenger, who
soon gained a position from which
he could watch their movements
closely, thought it quite remarkable
that a couple of passengers should
remain on board the Water Lily for
the purpose of watching or assisting
at operation at three o'clock in the
morning.
The heavy iron plate was at last
freed from its place, and the captain
with the assistance of the passenger
who was not holding the lantern, set
it carefully down on the deck. The
former then thrust his hand into the
aperture and said:
The water is pretty warm yet,
but all's right"
Are the bags sound ?" asked the
passenger who held the light.
Yes
Not cooked to shreds?"
"No."
"Can you lift them out?"
"Yes one at a time. Look around
carefully first. 1t would be pretty
rough to be caught now"
Good Lord"
This was the exclamation of the
passenger with the lantern. He bad
been on the point of raising it above
his head, that be might be able to
scan The vicinity closely. when a
strong hand, coming right out of the
darkness, snatched it from hun.
1t was a picture-that night
scene-the three men standing
frightened and amazed. and the dirty
and ragged little deck passenger
confronting them, with the lantern
in one hand ana o revolver in the
other, leveled upon them. while his
face assumed / look of 6rmness and
authority.
Put that iron plate on againl' he
said, with a sternness that contrasted
queerly with his inferior size and
appearance.
Who are your" asked the cap
tain in a voice that trembled.
My name is Donnelly. / belong
10 the detective force, and am on the
scent of that gold YOU have hidden
in that boiler. / knew it was on.
this boat"
The captain moved ~uneasily, took
a step or two backward, and put a
hand behind him to graspa large
poker, used by the fremen. 1t was
leaning against a stanchion but the
sharp eyes of the little detective
were on him, and he said:
Yes, just SO much as touch that
poker. and | will shoot you through
the heart. You'd like to lay me out,
wouldn't your"
The captain withdrew his hand
quickly, and his pale, frightened
face looked almost CHASTITY in the
dull light of the lantern.
I'm not touching it.. said the
captain.
Then DON'T" returned the detect.
i've.
Now, I'm watching you all.
0bey me! a motion, a word, a look,
and III empty this revolver. Do as
| tell you. Put that plate on again
and make it secure shall put a
crew on this boat and take her down
the river again. Do you hear2"
One or the passengers looked long
inglv toward the gang plank.
I'm watching YOU" said Dom
nelly, lust make a run for that, il
you think You can run faster than a
|, bullet"
Look here, officer" said the cap
tain. who had somewhat recovered
his c~omposure' you are armed and
have the advantage, otherwise you
, would find it a serious matter to in
terfere with Us. Isee YOU know all,
and we understand one another.
Now let ustalk like business men.
You are probably q comparatively
poor man. We have forty thousand
|, dollars here i'm this boiler. Take ten
thousand of i 90 on your way and
keep SILENT.
Nc, sir y said the detective. en-
phatically- Il wouldn't let you GO
for the whole amount. Do as / Or
der you, or III commence shoot
4 ing"
Seeing that he was not to be tri-
t fed with, the captain and two pas
sengers (who, of course. were simply
a couple of polished burglars) pro.
ceeded te replace the iron plate,
E under the sharp supervision Of the
little detective, who warned them
a that they had better do it right. as
they must remain ia custody on
board the Water Lily during he,
trip down the river, and would have
| TO risk the consequences of an ex.
t plosion if they sighted their work