The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-05-31

u
and decorated as a bridal chamber.
had some accounts to go over with II
captain, and it was nearly 10 o'cloc
when left him to go 10 my own ber,l
AS ca" on deck and glanced to winC
ward | felt more sure than ever that W
were to have a blow. We were goin
nearly in the winds eve. The first off
Ger was on the bridge, the lookout wa
on the bridge and the quartermaster wa
at the wheel. As | approached tn
hatchway that leads into the engIn
room saw the red end Of a cigar il
front of me, and the next moment
came upon Stapleton, who was smoking
the cigar. l could imagine that h.
might be in rather a nervous state jue
then, so l merely bade him gOod-nIgh
and was going by, but he caught me by
the arm and | stopped, facing him anC
supposing he had something to tell Of
ask me, But after waiting a momen
he only blurted out, I'm tremendously
happy, old feIlowr and graspIng my
hand, turned away.
l went to my room, smiling TO myself
and had put my papers away and was ir
the act of removing my coat when
heard the lookout forward hail the
bridge.
Sail no. sirr
Where away P shouted back the Off
Ger.
'One point off the weather bow.
Hard a.port-put her over, now!
came the order to the quartermaster.
BY this time | was on deck again.
The watch we're all straining their eyes
through the darkness to make out the
10, l,I In In
her; she was 50 near that we could hear
the orders of her officers and the creak-
ing of the blocks as the crew manned
the halyards. She was a big three
masted merchantman, with all sail set.
She passed us to poIt, not more than
fifty yards away. 1t was narrow
escape for both of us. In couple of
minutes she had faded into darkness
again off our port quarter. / fetched a
long breath, and after leaning over the
rail for while longer | crossed over to
the other side of the vessel and made
my way aft again to exchange another
word with the captain.
Passing the engine room hatchway /
stumbled upon heap of something that
lay on the deck. stopped to examine
it, it was a mans body. He lay face
downward. l seized HIM by the shoul-
ders and turned him over. 1t was Brian
Stapleton, and he was dead.
was so stupefied with sheer amaze
ment that for several moments | could
not find breath TO call out for help.
stood staring down at him, unable to
credit the evidence of my own senses.
1t seemed but an instant-lt could not
have been more than ten minutes-since
| met and spoke with him in good health
and spirits; and now he was dead! A
slight creaking sound C used me to
glance over my left shoulder. One of
the ships boats, suspended on it's davits
at that point. was swinging slightly to
and fro. 1t broke the spell, and gave
the alarm at the top of my voice. 1t
was Immediately answered, and in less
than minute Captain Bulmer and half
a dozen of the ships company we're on
the spot. l told them all knew in a
few words.
We lifted the body and at first were
for carr, ing it into the cabin, but the
captain said: Not there. men. 1t might
kill her if she should SET him. Take
him to the surgeons ROOM
Poor Nellie! had forgotten her.
What fearful elimination to her wed,
ding night! We carried him to Broxill's
room accordingly, with as little noise as
possible, and laid him on the bunk.
BroxIll examined him carefully. He
was quite dead.
But can't find mark on him., ex-
claimed the surgeon. 1t can't be either
murder or suicide-unless he took poi
son.
He put his face down close to The dead
mans and shifted for traces of some
drug.
is FetwIke here p he asked, raising
himself and looking around.
Mo- shall he be called ?
L thought he was here; | caught a
whiff of that musk of his. Yes, we may
as we'll have him. He may be able to
find something that can't
, looked round and caught the eye OF
= the steward. go and call Mr.. Felt
e wike, said.
Il was knocking at his door not ten
: minutes ago, sir, answered the steward
a whose name was Savory, There was a
q pair of Mr.. Stapletons boots in there
l and | was after them to black EN-.
took it he wasn't in there. sir.
= Il know he is there, for l saw him gC
e In and heard him lock the door, Ther
e l remembered that the poor fellow
9 might have been in no mood to answer
i stray callers, and added, Never mind
n III call him myself.
!. / hurried to his door, knocked anC
n said: "Tis |, Feltwike. Something ha
n happened to Stapleton. Come at once.
e heard his feet strike the floor as b.
e jumped out of his berth. The next mo
!. ment he unlocked the door and opened
d it. He had on his trousers and Rra,
e flannel shirt. His face looked pale ant
) haggard.
b What is the matter ? he said.
= 'Stapleton has been found uncnnsciou
IS and Broxill thinks he's dead. We can
n find any marks on him. Broxill want
h your advice
I 'Stapleton deadr he echoed in HUSKY
e voice. Great God! and he married onl,
8 three hours ago! What an awful thinJ
for poor Nelliel Does she know
t Not yet. Yes, it's a bad business
n Are you readyp Come along
g He had thrust his feet in a pair o
n slippers, put on a coat, and now fol,
e lowed me to the surgeons room. Tn,
e men moved aside, and he approached
8 the body and looked down upon it. Fl,
d breathed heavily, but said nothing
o Presently he put out his hand and laiC
& it upon Stapleton's heart, Then
b strange thing happened. A thin stream
8 of red blood issued from the dead man.
g nostrils and trickled down into his thicl
e brown beard. Sailors are superstitious
and this occurrence made little sensa
a ton,
10 That's odd muttered Broxlll. Look
n aa n he nnuat have died of anODlexv M
o some form Of suffocation. What do yol
= make OF 1t, Feltwiker
y 4 was going to say it must have beeI
e something OF that kind he replied
: The face looks congested. He was o
n rather a full habit. Where was h,
o foundr
y Lying by the hatchway, just abaf
9 the funnel said l. 1t must have beef
i sudden. l had seen him not a quartz
l. OF an hour berore. alive and WE'LL
o He always looked to me like a maj
a liable to this sort Of attack remarked
g Feltwike. The excitement Of the even
d ing may have brought it on. There i
certainly no sign of violence on tn
Y body. | don't see what else il can be
!. surgeon
e Broxill wagged his head gloomily il
d assent and fetched a sigh.
d i am glad you are agreed on tha
II point, gentlemen, said the captain. i
d remains for me to cause strict inquiries
h to be made through the ship, with
is view to discovering whether any on
20 saw Mr.. Stapleton later than the purse
d did, and whether there is any other evi
d dence tending to throw light on th
d matler IL will also be necessary to in