The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-17

| summoned the passengers. Mr.. Gurrell
and his daughter left the table before
did. The dark-faced young man, whom 1
had set down as mechanic on his
travels, sat opposite me, and soon became
| communicative. His name was Collins.
"Do you know who that is?' he asked,
i leaning forward and nodding mysterlously
toward the retiring figure of MIR. Gurrell.
81 saw him for the first time to-day, but
his name has been familiar to me Tor
some years. l replied.
81 know him." said Collins Though
don't suppose he knows me from Adam.
| I've worked in his railroad shops four
years. We're out on strike now, and
I'm taking a little run while we're waiting.
I'm a striker from'way back"
"Ah You don't seem much the worse
/ for it," ventured.
''No-o-o," he said slowly. 'Id good
deal rather be at work, though. ! soon
get tired loafng, and Teller spends a
| good deal, too
1t was now dark, and, after remaining n
few moments in the cabin, went on deck
/ to smoke a cigar. Ii was quite cloudy,
| and the wind had not subsidized in the
least When my eyes had become little
accustomed to the darkness, discovered
a figure standing at a window gazing into
| the cabin. The rays from the lamp inside
soon enabled me 10 perceive that the per-
son was the strange passenger. He seemed
/ entirely oblivious of his surroundings; his
! whole being seemed thrown into his eyes.
! If ] had not conversed with him before, /
might have suspected no was slightly of
his mental balance. made an attempt to
attract his attention, but, not succeeding,
| / addressed him.
you seem fond OF the deck monsieur. "
His gaze remained fixed. but he heard
me, for Immediately he said in tone of
/ intense interest, almost awe; Us that a
/ phantom or living child?
! | stepped forward 10 the window, and
saw Mr. Gurrells daughter sitting alone
with clasped hands, and apparently lost in
/ thought; for, unconscious of being OBJ
/ served, she was gazing upward with a look
/ that was really angelic-as mortals imagine
| celestial things.
''No phantom, but lovely idol OF clay"
l replied. ''She is, believe, the daughter
/ OF Elijah Q. Gurrell, and | never thought
him rich until to-day. Let us take a
walk"
'Nol no." he said, in a strange, husky
voice, without removing his eyes from
the girl, and he grasped my arm with a
/ powerful and nervous hand. "Ah" he
| said, in tones of Undesirable melan-
| choly, ''for a moment imagined that she
! had come back to me-the pure spirit of
/ the one who-who died in Russia" The
tone in which he spoke the last words
was enough to make one shudder. Never
/ had l heard such horror, rage and grief
/ expressed by human voice.
Up TO this moment he had not taken his
/ eyes from the GIRL but, like lightning, his
/ his manner and mood changed. Drop
ping my arm, he darted his hand fran
/ tically into the breast of his coat. i'm
/ agined he was about to pluck out pistol
or bit OF cold steel, and become felo de Sc
on the spot. Not so. He brought to light
large antique gold watch, and glared at
| it for a fraction OF q second, then thrust
/ il back and flew away toward the stern OF
| the steamer, as though possessed by a de-
mon. ! was considerably surprised and
| puzzled, and watched my eccentric fellow
| voyager with unadulterated curiosity.
Hallway TO the taffrail he wheeled and
came rushing back like some strange pro-
| jectile. | believe that | actually took a
position OF defense. As he passed me he
said something which | did not clearly
understand. thought it was ut is too
late. Follow me-
While he was vet speaking he vanished
through the cabin door ] hurried after
him, and entered Just in time to see him
stoop and lift Gurrelps daughter in his
arms and dash out OF the opposite door.
| heard she girls terrified scream as she
was borne out into the night, and the
door slammed behind them. In the name
of nine devils, what tragedy was that
mailman about to perpetrate?
Mr.. Gurrell was Just coming up the
stairs from the dining saloon. He gave an
sgonized shout, and though | had started
in hot pursuit the father passed the door
way first. Instinctively we looked over
! board, but we saw nothing but the froth-
ing waves and heard nothing but their
dashing Then l became aware of a dis
turbance at the bow, and we hurried for
ward in a body-for many other passen-
gers had Joined us--to the narrow space
before the pilot-house.
The watch on deck were gathered there
IN an astonished group, and the light of a
lantern fell on the dainty figure of Miss
| Gurrell, who stood very erect, very pale
and very much frightened. Just before
her in the gangway stood the strange pas
senger. whom she was entreating to per-
! nit her % pass and return 10 her father.
The sailors were beginning to glover dan
! gerously upon him, but he seemed to
take no notice either OF them or of the
girl. He stood like bronze man. calmly
contemplating the gold watch which he
held in his hand.
Mr.. Gurrell had Just reached him. and
had raised hand to push him rudely
aside, when the strange man thrust the
watch in his pocked and drew forth a scarf
or sash OF russell silk, and in an instant
wound it round and round the girls head
before she could lift finger to help her
self.
"You scoundrell" said Mr. Gurrell
/ hercely, Selling the strangers arms
The man wheeled swiftly and faced u.s.
With a naughty look he raised his hand
and said coldly and distinctly:
"Wait."
We did not have to wait long. Hardly
had the words passed his lips when a ire
mendous explosion shook the steamer II
was not so much a heavy sound as fear
fully instantaneous crack that seemed tc
split everything into ribbons. / was
knocked down and became so deaf that
could hear nothing for some moments
Many thought we had been struck by
lightning.
sprang up instantly and saw a number
OF men lying on the deck or slowly rising
To their feet, but, strangely enough, Mis-
GUrrell stood erect engaged in releasing he
head from the folds of the scarf. / steppe,
up to help her, and told her not to bt
heightened, and was much startled at no
hearing my own voice. She look e.
around her in establishment, and, think
said something, which, of course, | could