The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-04-15

His subjects tend before him, too.
Pm one Of them. God bless him!-Jehn
Dennis.
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.
About two years ago I left the SER
vice. I was tired OF it, and as l want
ed some more exciting employment 1
joined whaler. We were unlucky-
somehow bring no luck anywhere
and we were nearly empty. We were
cruising up here to the north, and were
thinking of making for home, as the
weather had changed-and the ice
forms precious quick in those ATTITUDES
when it once begins. The captain
naturally wanted to hang on to the
last for the chance of another haul.
One bright afternoon, just after eight
bells, l made up the log and took it to
tho captains cabin. l knocked at the
door, ard as nobody answered, walk
ed in. thought it odd the captain
hadn't answered me, for, there he was
sitting at his desk, with his back to me.
writing. Seeing he was employed, l
told him had brought thelog, laid it
down on the table behind him, and, as
he made 40 answer, l walked out. l
went on deck, and the first person
met was the captain. was puzzled
I could not make out how he had got
there before ME. "How did you get
up here?" l asked; Il just left you
writing in your cabin
II have not been in my cabin for the
last half hour the captain answered;
but l thought he was chatting, and
didn't like it.
There vas some one writing at your
desk just now,' said; If it WASH t
you you had better 80 and see who it
is. The log is made up. Ihave left it
in your cabin sir,' and with that
walked sulkily away. 1 had no idea
of being chaffed by the captain, to
whom had taken a dislike.
"Mr. Brown" said the captain, who
saw was nettled, "you must have been
mistaken; my desk is locked. But
come-we'll go down and see about it. -
followed the captain into the cabin.
The log was on the table, the desk was
closed, and the cabin was empty. The
captain tried the desk-it was locked.
"You see, Mr.. Brown" he said,
laughing, you must have been mis-
taken; the desk is locked.''
was positive.
"Somebody may have picked the
lock- l said.
"But they couldn't have closed it
again. the captain suggested; ''but
to satisfy you 1 will open it and
sec if the contents are safe, though
there is not much here to tempt a
thief
He opened the desk, and there
stretched right across twas sheet
of paper with the words ''Steer n. w. :"
written in an odd, cramped hand.
The captain looked at the paper and
then handed it to me.
'You are right, Mr.. Brown; some
body has been here. This is some
hoax
We sat there some talking and try
ing to guess what could be the object
S0f oH0 : so1y
be. | tried to identify the back of the
man l had seen at the desk with that
of any of the crew. l could not do it..
1t is true had at first taken the man
for the captain, bat now points of diff
ference suggested themselves. l had
not looked very attentively at the fig
ure, but still l was under the impress
sion that the coat it had on was brown,
and the hair, which appeared under
the cap, seemed, as remembered it, to
have been longer and whittier than the
captain s. There was only one man
on board who resembled in the least
the figure had seen. l suggested to
the captain that it might have been
old Shiel, the boatswain. He did not
like to suspect the old man, who was a
great favorite; beside, what motive
could he, or indeed any one else, have
had in trying to change the course of
the vessel?
Not to appear to suspect any one in
particular, the captain determined to
have up all the crew. We had them
up one by one. We examined them
and made all those who could write,
write "Steer N. W. but we gained no
clew. Ono thing was very clear-it
could not have been old Shie], who was
proved to have been forward at the
time l was in the captains cabin. The
mystery remained unsolved.
That evening sat drinking my grog
with the captain in his cabin. We
were neither Ut us inclined to be talka-
tive. tried hard to think of home
and the pleasure it would be to see the
old folks again, but still my thoughts
always wandered back to that myster-
ious writing. l tried to read, but
caught myself furtively peeping at the
desk, expecting to see the figure sitting
there.
The captain had not spoken for some
time, and was sitting with his face bu-
ried in his hands. At last he suddenly
looked up. and said,-
''Suppose we alter her course to
northwest, Mr.. Brown?'
don't know what it was; l cannot
hope to make you understand the feel
ing in my mind tn at followed those
words-it was sense of relief from a
horrible nightmare. l was ashamed
of the childish pleasure felt, but l
could not help answering eagerly
Certainly; shall l give the order?'
waited no longer, but hurried on
deck and altered the course of the YES
sci.
It was clear, frosty night, and as l
looked at the compass before going
below l felt strangely pleased, ana
caught myself chuckling and rubbing
my hands; at what, l cannot say
didn't know then, but . great weight
had been taken off my mind.
went down te the cabin and found
the captain pacing up and down the
small space. He stopped as l came
in. and looking up, said abruptly
1T can do no harm. Mr.. Brown"
eff this hrQnZQ continues - I sold