The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-08
The Tell-Tale Finger of the
Sea

when the hands OF the living would
have been utterly impotent. Some
oil those who witnessed what am
about To relate may see his when ii is
in print; and if so they will doubtless
be willing to corrobornte the facts.
The incident occurred as | was re-
turning from my fist tripto Europe,
but you must know that Tor sevcrn]
wears before then | had had some
unimportant business relations with
the firm OF Murdcn1iropc Brothers
builders. I forget the number of
their then place in Franklin street,
New York. They were Il thrifty pair
wei! on in they sos. though 4 hey used
every art To keep II; near - as
might pass muster. Their fnthcr.
two ycnls deceased. had lci1 them lie
business, ami Just about tina, time
IL large sum of money had fallen
in, s;lUU.OOO it was said, aud as it
had been invested in England, Jacob
and Benamin had been across To
settle the affair.
Ms the tender was taking the bic
cru"d of us passengers along the
Mprsry 10 the magnificent Se@nIia, !
was politely s;,lutcd by the pair.
Hello. .Ia!ie-what! you here. too,
Benz Bless my who'd IL
thought it, Been over to contract
for - new palace for some fourth
ward American duchrsSa'
NO, sislce.' said Ben. rather sour
IL. ms it struck mo. NO. sir. our
girls ain Jest fool; enough to 90
iartlnF and fare worse than they
w"ul, III home
"'rI"y We never been able to catch
yon vet. anyway" replied iokin"lv,
giving Il wink 10 the elder brother,
who WIS rcpnted To lc rs popular II
ln'irs manns Ben wus br;lr. They
were bachelors, both
! felt had not struck the right
keynote. so rrHturrd IL congratulate
ion on the good luck they now had
lis ! llrm!Scd-rntcrcd upon the
enjoyment OF. Al tl, Jack gave i,
queer jerk oi his head: faint all
gold MS glittcrs, sir, is it,! Bnt Ben
and have ha smooth enough sail
ing so ilr. haven't we. Benz and |
don't know us either of us really
needs another dollar"
Mot for our own selves, why, GER
tiinly not" said Ben. hut I've got
that scheme % mine eterlastin'ly in
my head, night and day, and when
yon re kinder comm in siglt o land.
asyoi lnnysnN You know how you'd
feel il SOME i,rnrr4 WIS to ru,tir along
and Just hid inir To smash you all
M to-"
Before had time to wonder why
Jake should ilstly interrupt his
brother with Il highly ridiculous re-
mark about feeling rather sraSick
We had arrived mt the steamer. and
We're ali a@nYe'l in IL mad scramble
to "il,! her our wraps and struggle off
the rugkin" "an@wav to I h. deck of
the liner as it lowered Enthusiastically
overhead.
| could not sleep that first night,
though the Sr;, was not ut I'LL rough.
NJ last ! wrapped up and stro!lrd on
deck. 1t was li-t us the dawn WAS
breaking. an'! lraneI over he rail.
fascinated by Ii" play oi the ilotsam
and irtsHm rubbish hat WAS being
tossed into the light bytllr waves.
nne particular splinter of wood. pc
cuiaiiy shaped, kept bubbing' up
and down with II regularity that
started me on II queer train OF
thought.
AT last grew chilly, which arous-
cd INC sufficiently TO decide upon 60
inc below for IL cup OF hot bouiIion.
] started to go. when who should
come pacing along like Il rat,e-w,lIscr
but Jake Murdenthro)".
"llriIo. there! What's kicked YOU
ont of IL snug berth this raw
morning."
"Oh I've had IL ,eveish bad night
mare: always do aboard ship. spec
Tally after bottled bcer aud pipe.
We'll, lgucss | should sleep sound
lv through IL lrmlmst il | were ~oinY
hoinrwith IL fortune i'll my po.k..t-'
"oh, bless the fortune. 1t $ that
that botirrs me, but what's I he Use
OF talking abou, it: It's Just villa;
want TO forget" and we set off on i,
smart tramp from end to end o! lie
deck. 1t WAS Just what needed.
I'll be bound your brother takes
good fortune rnsirr than YOU seem
tn. gathered from what he w,ls
saving when we met on the tender
that he has some benevolent scheme
OH hand or in mind"
"lie always was Il bit OF n crank:
what do you think" The TOOL refused
to come on the boat nj all: the min
ute the plank was going to lie taken
in I'm hanged if he didn't rush right
back and Jump into the tcnder.'
What Il queer trick to he sire.
Well. | guess he Thought there was
something left OF
Not II Lit ui it h" never would
agree to fair and square shnrin~:;--
newer wish to God I'D"
Look at that thin" down there"
| said. as we came ruuiid to where |
had been standing. caught sight
oi the bit OF wood unexpectedly, and
felt glad to change the current OF IL
FATHER unpleasant conversation.
II don't see anything"
'I'ere, there. don't yon soc that
whit" thing tlirip--look al it now
it'si"A.n.i that wave now--it' ii come
upnh sevoni-now, thcn--cant YOU
,ee it right thelr!!'
"Why-why-it looks something
like IT,
Yes. that's it-Iile land-what.
Good Goc!-it is Il hnnd!'
Jake turned livid, he looked per-
trctly awful in that morning Ii chit.
The shock nrrve, me up. lialord
out know no, w!nt-hut halt %
dozen oi the officers and men were
with us i'll IL jiifY. could only point
overheard, sperrlirss. There now
was an ann, stiff as II mast, with
tlntcvi finger. which had mistaken
for splinter, pointing, now hercc
now there. but in each still moment
it pointed dead at our group.
A -, IL.