The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-10-02

forcibly that it made 9 loud, crashing
noise, which knew would undoubtedly
arouse the Captain In q moment dart
ed for Yep" caught him. and returned
to my room, but before reached my
door he uttered a queer, shrill scream
unlike anything / had ever heard. He
WIS not hurt. bat he was angry at me
for interfering and putting an end TO his
quarrel at the Captain.
Barely was my door closed, when the
Captain rushed out, shrieking:
"Tom Tom, What's the matter down
there l heard erssh--the boat is sink
ing Run to the wheel, quick, and see
what's the trouble. Don't yoa hear? Is
she goin ""
Coin whar. sar ?D innocently asked
Tom
You black rascal, M And the
Captain went for Tom.
Then followed splash Of water, and
the cry Of:
Man overheard
hurried out. and peeping over the
railing, / saw two drenehed men be-
ing pulled aboard-ihe Captain and
Tom.
Tom stood chattering at the furnace
his eyes, an unusual size, riveted on the
Captains vanishing figure. As the Cap
tsin's step died away. and all knew be
had reached his room, the fireman came
forward and asked:
Say, Tom, what did you jump in the
river for?"
Jumpt in de riber? Guess ef dat Cap
tin was ter liz on yer back, yer'd jump in,
too. Jes' es well to be drownded es
murdered"
The next day the Captain spent pretty
much in sneezing. And that night be
retired earlier than usual; on account OF
MS river bath not agreeing with him.
As soon as his snoring became audible
unlatched my door, and, for the sake oi
little more sport, let Yep" out He
went Immediately in search Of the snor-
er. The door was tried, as it was on the
preceding night, and then he perched
himself on the window sill, and began
as usual, grumbling in low tone at the
Captain He seemed wild to get in the
room.
The window was slightly raised, 50
Yep" reached in and drew out the Cap
tain's coat, vest, and trousers, throwing
each in turn on the floor; then he got
down ard searched all the pockets, ASH
he was an old hand at that sort Of busi-
ness. He found but quarter, which he
put in his own pocket, and then in the
space Of a moment, he doubled all the
clothes together and threw them in the
river, In a second, Tom, who Was about,
shouted:
Lord hab mussy de Cspt'in dun
gon' crazy an Gung his close ia de riber,
Goshermity, Sam, hep me catch him
when he cum, fer he be mex
Yep" turned and walked straight
into my room without word from me,
seeming perfectly satisfied With his ven
geanee and his find,
listened to the lively discussion GO
ing on between Tom and sam, about the
Captain.
Sam advised Tom to go up and see
what was the matter, but Tom suffered
out
"Neber in dis worl not by myself
no Stree He lit on me once"
Both seemed to believe the Captain
was crazy, sure enough both were
frightened, and neither went near his
room.
The next morning the Captain yelled
for Tom and inquired in a Numbering
voice for his clothes. sam and Tom an
swered the summons together, and ear
rying between them his clothes, which
had caught on the side Of the boat and
only fallen partly into the river.
A short discussion followed, and both
men returned below.
The Captain looked puzzled and some
what worried most ofthe day. BY noon
ne had decided that Tom should arm
himself and keep watch in his room
that night.
All on board we're becoming interested
in the matter, and the most amusing
part was that they all seemed TO attrib-
ute it to the Captains mind, though il
was perfectly sound.
At 9 O'Clock p. N. we reached Vicks-
burg. threw my duster carelessly over
F" Yep's box, picked it up and went
ashore. leaving Tom looking more white
eyed than ever, at The thought of the ex-
pected dangerous encounter with the
mystery, little dreaming that with me
went the mystery also.
After a weeks stay ia Nicksburg,
took the train for home A few days Ia
ter letter came from the man with
whom the old Italian had been staying,
saying that the Italian had disappeared
with ten-dolIar bill Of his, and, count
ing that in, my bill to him was fifteen
dollars. This was a BIT more than had
bargsined for, but paid it, though not
too willingly.
"Yep and were getting along nice
", the only trouble being his fondness
for stealing, and with all my tryingI fail
ed to cure him Of the habit, 50 felt pref
ty certain his master had taught him his
trade years before. On returning from
town one evening, Yep" was missing
Later heard that an Italian and mon
key had been seen in the neighborhOod.
| knew then Yep was with his old
rasczlly master, and was not very sorry.
The transaction cost me just twenty dol
lars, but it has taught me to be less ready
to sympathize with and aid the I'M
deserving.
When the Captain reads this. the mys-
teiy will be cleared up for him. l hope
he will agree that We are eyen-
Ringing Noises