San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-17

awoke when in my room at the Occidental .
Anxious friends were standing about. They
told me of the events that transpired after
my injudicious remark - that | had been
knocked senseless with a blow from the fist
of one of the ruffians and would have I'M
doubtedly been murdered had the detective
not entered at the noise of the scufle. In
deed, the man with whom had talked about
the figurehead seemed determined to kill me,
and the detective had TO put ball into him
before no would give over his murderous de-
sign. All three were now in custody, and
the police were delighted, for they had long
been the terror of Chinatown. | recovered
quickly, and that night was about to join. a
theatre party, when hurried card from my
friend the detective called me to the Office.
THAT fellow that | shot this afternoon is
dying" he said, land he wants to see you be-
fore he goes Off. Can you come with me to
see him little whilep
Certainly" replied; I'll go at once"
lexcused myself from the party and re-
paired with the detective to the City hospital
The wounded man lay on a couch. The pallor
of death had spread over his face.
He is strong now and can talk well
enough" the surgeon said; but he is bleed
ing internally and nothing can save him. We
have told him that he had better make his
peace with God before he dies. He says that
he has something to confess to you, so we
sent for you. Here's the gentleman you
wished to see" he said, turning to the dying
man. do you want any one PRESENT.
Yes" he replied, II want the sky pilot
and no one else" So the Rev. Mr.. - and
were the hearers of the following remarka-
BILE story:
Young feller," he said, in voice that
trembled with fear and excitement, chow
you come to know anything about the bark
Acasta | don't know, but l argues that you
does, cause you spoke of Robert Harley
Charles Bennett and Hadassah Gardner
Robert Harley war the master of the Acasta,
and Charles Bennett war one of tle crew;
that's me- Ny names Charles Bennett, and
killed Robert Harley. He loved Hadassah
Gardner and she loved him. | loved her too
Them war days when | was better than | am
now, though not much, cause | killed Robert
Harley. 1t come about in this way: 1t war
in 1919 that the Acasta left Sag Haroor for
whaEin in the Pacific.
II knowed that Haddie anil robert war to
be married when he got back, and made up
my mind that he never would come back. So
shipped as carpenter on his bark. | made
myself solid with the crew. They all Swore
by me, but they had nothing aSin the old man.
and | couldn't get no cause to pick a row
with him. We catched few whales in the
Atlantic, got around the Horn, and stood up
for the islands with the southeast trades. 1t
war somewhere about twenty-five degrees
south latitude that we spoke big American
ship bound for Frisco. We boarded her, and
learned of the diggin's in Californy, and how
every one was bound for that country. When
we got back to our ship l said TO the boys,
Let's ask the old man to go to Californy.' So
we come ait in a body, and asks him to let
the whales go, and to stand up for the land Of
fortune. He refused to do so, and ordered us
forward. That night l worked up the crew
to take the ship away from the old man, and
offered to lead them. Enough agreed to do
the work, 50 the next day we took the ship.
killed the old man with a windlass brake, and
We dropped him out of the cabin window.
Nobody saw me, and nobody asked no ques-
tons. The mates guy in, and all hands was
glad that we was goin to the land of gold.
Weran across an island, and got up plan
70 fool anybody what happened to land there
II got the mate to write n letter sayin' as
how he war Robert Harley, sole survivor of
the bark Acasta, what was knocked down by
d squaH and all hands lost, ard as how he
loved Miss Gardner, and lot of other stuff,
and then | cuts a notice on a capstan bar to
look under a stone, and put the paper in
tobacco box under it. Then the mate steered
US for Frisco. We got there all SAFE and
the first night in the bay everybody but me
and my two chums-the same what you seed
this acknowledged the ship and put for
10 for nm
and the cable parted, and we went ashore.
The old Acasta piled up high and dry, and |
made hotel outen her, and made heap of
money, but somehow / couldn't keep it. !
was allus a-hearin' poor Haddie calling for
Robert, and went and got drunk to keep
from a-hearin of her, and now that | am
o dyin' man | swears that my life has been
one eternal punishment, aud | thinks ought
to be let up ~ when | dies. didn't do no
more than what any man would ha' done
when he war kept from his rights. Colds
better nor whales any day, and A sudden
pang brought him to a stop His face grew
CHASTITY white Some sudden rupture had
FASTENED the fatal tide, and life was fast
ebbing away
Have you any letters or papers Of Robert
Harley" | asked
Yes; one letter for Haddie. God II for
give me my sins if l do her right at last;
won't he, parson. It's in my chest at the
tavern. Take it to her, and say that-that'-
He heStated to express his mind, then began
with an earnestness that bespoke his last
efforts: My chums didn't have nothing to
do with the KILN of Robert Harley Let up
on them" The words came in faint whispers.
His face settled down to a look of calm salts
faction; he had been loyal to his chums.
Ill. 4