The McCook tribune., 1890-08-15
The Tell-Tale Finger OF the
Sea.

Reb my strange experience Oh bne
justice that was brought about by
1.-THE dead hand" and by it alone,
when the hands of the living would
have been utterly impotent. Some
of those who witnessed what / am
about to relate may see this when it is
in print; and if so they will doubtless
be willing to corroborate the facts
The incident occurred as / was re-
turning from my fist trip to Europe,
but you must know that for several
years before then | had had some
unimportant business relations with
the firm of Murdenthrope Brothers,
builders. / forget the number OF
their then place in Franklin street,
New York. They were a thrifty pair
well on in they Sos, though they used
every art to keep as near 35 as
might pass muster. Their father,
two years deceased, had left them the
business, and just about that time
a large sum of money had fallen
in, $10O, 900 it was said, and as it
had been invested in England, Jacob
and Benjamin had been across to
settle the affair.
AS the tender was taking the big
crowd of us passengers along the
Mersey to the magnificent Segullia, I
was politely saluted by the pair.
"Hello. Jake-what! you here, too,
Ben? Bless my soul-who'd a
thought it? Been over to contract
for a new palace for some fourth
ward American duchess?"
"No, sirree," said Ben, rather sour
ly, as it struck me. "No, sir! our
girls amt jest fools enough to 60
farther and fare worse than they
would at home"
They've never been able to catch
you yet, anyway" replied jokingly,
giving wink to the elder brother,
who was reputed to be as popular a
ladies' man as Ben was bear. They
were bachelors, both.
l felt had not struck the right
keynote, 80 ventured a congratula-
ton on the good luck they now had
AS / surmised-entered upon the
enjoyment OF. At this Jack gave a
queer jerk of his head: "'Tain't all
gold as glitters, sir, is it? But Ben
and l have hal smooth enough sail
ing SO far, haven't we, Ben? and I
don't know as either of us really
needs another dollar"
"Not for our own selves, why, GER
tainly not" said Ben. "hut Pve got
that scheme o. mine everlastin'ly in
my head. night and day, and when
you're kinder comm in sight o land,
asyou may say, you know how you'd
feel ifsome iceberg was to come along
and just bid fair to smash you all
uD to"
Before I had time to wonder why
Jake should fatty interrupt his
brother with a highly ridiculous re-
mark about feeling rather seasick
we had arrived at the steamer and
were all engaged in mad scramble
to gather our wraps and struggle off
the rocking gangway to the deck of
the liner as it lowered majestically
overhead.
/ could not sleep that first night,
though the sea was not at all rough.
At last wrapped up and strolled on
deck. 1t was Just as the dawn was
breaking, and [ leaned over the rail,
fascinated by the play of the fiotsam
and ietsam rubbish that was being
tossed into the light by the waves
One paticular splinter of wood, Pc
culiarly shaped, kept bobbing up
and down with a regularity that
started me on a queer train OF
thought.
At last l grew chilly, which arous-
ed me sufficiently to decide upon 60
ing below for cup of hot bouilion.
/ started to go, when who should
come pacing along like a race-walker
but Jake Murdenthrope.
Hello, there! What's kicked you
out of a snug berth this raw
morning?"
"Oh I've had develish bad night
mare; always do aboard ship, spec
tally after bottled beer and pipe"
"Well, Iguess | should sleep sound
ly through a tempest if I were going
home with a fortune in my pocket
"Oh, bless the fortune! It's that
that bothers me, but what's the use
of talking about it? It's just what 1
want to forget" and we set off on a
smart tramp from end to end of the
deck. 1t was just what needed.
I'll be bound your brother takes
good 70. tune easier than you seem
to, gathered from what he was
saying when we met on the tender
that he has some benevolent scheme
on hand or in mind"
"He always was a bit of a crank;
what do you think? The TOOL refused
to come on the boat at all; the min
ute the plank was going to be taken
in Pm hanged if he didn't rush right
back and jump into the tender?"
What a queer trick to be sure!
Well, guess he thought there was
something left Or"
"Not a bit of it he never would
agree to fair and square sharings-
never-I wish to God I'd-"
sT ook at that thiDo down thoro ,,