The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-01-31
A MYSTERIOUS MARK.

A MYSTERIOUS MARK.
'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue
ocean-rollr' shouted cheerful-look-
| ing passenger, casting patronizing
glance at a billowy waste on whose
heaving bosom our good ship was
tossed like a plaything.
Roll, and be hanged to itr' grum-
bled /, IF only it wouldn't roll me. ="
1t was my first acquaintance with
Neptune, and we didn't get on well to-
gether To say the truth. was in no
| amiable mood. l had disagreed with
| the steward about the quality of the
steak he had sent me for breakfast,
and, finally, had disagreed with my
breakfast itself, and had parted COM
| pany with it. 1t was while leaning
over the taffrail at this point that my
feelings were narrowed by the poetical
passengers quotation.
You're sea-sick," he remarked.
Il see am," replied gruff1y, in
tending no pun, but slight criticism
on the self-obviousness of the state
ment.
"Tve a sovereign specific for that
malady," said the stranger.
You're lucky man." groaned I.
Il would be happy to furnish you
with it, he replied. II have an
abundant supply of it.''
Anything I'm take anything
even arsenic enough to put me out of
my misery
Come below said he, taking my
| arm.
Where is your state room?" he in
quired, when we had descended the
stairway.
led the way to it.
Now lie down." said he, sand I'll
fix you NJ directly"
l threw of my coat and tumbled into
my berth. The benevolent gentleman
went out and returned quickly with
something which he put into a glass
with some water and gave me to drink.
/ swallowed it without question. The
effect was almost instantaneous. A
| gentle languor stole over me, and then
| followed what little before / should
| have hailed as the acme of bliss, COM
plete Inconsistencies. Whether it was
the effect of medicine, or because the
weather-much obliged to the weather,
| if that was i'll know not, but when /
awoke l found myself, if not recov-
| cred, at least convalescent. Next day
| / gained my sea legs and felt no in
| convenience. Mr.. Rollickson-by which
name l learned to know my Byronic
| benefactor-and myself grew to be in
| innate friends. The truth is, he had
| knack of making friends. He was an
| inexhaustible talker. With men, he
was an agreeable companion; with
| ladies he was captivating. fascinating.
We had an exquisite young creature on
| board, scarcely out of her teens, on her
way to join an elderly maiden aunt, in
an inland English town, said to have
testamentary designs upon her, which,
| if carried out, would place her in the
front rank of matrimonial prizes. To
this young lady Mr.. Rollickson paid
especial court. He read, talked and
quoted poetry to her, till her pretty
| little head was turned; and before the
voyage was over, their engagement be-
gan to be the talk of the ship. Stress
| of weather made the passage slow
| one. 1t was more than two weeks
after we lost sight of the highlands of
| Neversink before we landed at Liver
pool
| | had hardly set foot On shore, and
hadn't had time to congratulate my
| self on tie fact when a hand was laid
| briskly on my shoulder.
"Yo on mus go with me-" said q
| determined voice in my ear.
l turned about quickly and found
myself confronted by man who might
have sat for a Dickens portrait of In
spector Bucket
1.-The fewer words here the BETTER"
he added as l was about to speak.
'Will you come quietly, or shall sum-
mon assistance?"
| demanded an explanation.
You shall have it in due time, was
the answer. '.Do you intend to come
peaceably or notp'
A short staff, surmounted by a crown,
produced by the speaker, convinced me
he had authority to enforce my obe-
dience. and walked along by his side.
Your name is Roach, said thin,
sharp man, into his whose presence 1
was ushered.
1T is not" answered.
Probably you will also deny having
three stars tattooed on the back of
your left arm. just below the elbow2"
he added sardonieally.
II do deny it" said, Il bear no
such mark"
THAT is easily tested" was the re-
ply.
Turn up his sleeve. Jarvis"
The assistant obeyed
II think we have the right man."
said the latter.
',Qui.e sure of it, replied the sharp
man, after glancing at the exposed
member.
twisted my arm so as to gain view
of the part in question, and was utterly
amazed to find the mark described by
the oficeri
IL never saw it before" I stam-
mered confusedly.
"Such statements will do you but
little good" said the officer. First,
you deny your name and next the ex-
istence of a mark, which it is inpos-
sible you should have borne upon your
person without knowing it. 1t so hap
pens that this is the very mark to
which we are instructed to identify
Roach, the famous bank robber, for
whose arrival we have been for some
time watching. 1t further happens
that your appearance tallies with his
description in other respects.
'.All this is inexplicable," said /,
helplessly.
Except on the theory that we've
got the right man." the other an
swered