The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-06
BACK FROM THE DEAD
The Narrative Of John Preston, Actor,
Once HANGED for FratriCidc.
DATED AUG. 8, 1882.
4 Story of the Stage,
BY sAQUI SMITH.

lCopyriEht 1891 by 8. g. Mcclnrs,
with those words tho ofylcer marched or
again and We were taken down into The beds
allotted to us. Whom the tmo cnms for mo
TO enroll my name there arose within mo
sudden impulse to kocp my Identity secret
for what reason nm not nblc to say. All l do
know Is that when the boatswain put the CUES
tion gave the name OF James Southern. and
James Southern have boon called ever since.
Practically was cut right ndrift from every
association Of my lfe and from all who hal
ever known me-os much apart from yon as
though had never existed had no chance
OF communicating with those on !and. as l
have explained, w'il" no Ietters. or books. or
newspn pers OF any ktpI W !r" allowed to reach
us. 40 that wns rerfcc'ly ignorant o! every
thing that had befn'!sa YOU.
Ono day obtnnsd permission to SOC tho
commander Of this sh,o-Cnpt. Dnlrymple-
and told him The story OF the attempt on my
life and of the death OF my assailant He sent
for the mon VIII" had effected MY capture anil
they were nble 10 confirm the latter part OF my
storv. 1t apuaared that thsy had been out in
Grinlsby on n foraEinG expedition and wore
returning to the vesse! without n single catch.
whom passing across the southern eud OF the
quay to the bont which wna in waiting. they
heard my stitled cry md looking IN the direc-
tion from whence it cams saw tho two stru,-
CLING figures in tho distance. Quick as thought
they made toward us. tn" felt casing over
their boots efr.ctuullv dcndening the sound OF
their approach. They got near enough to SOC
the mndmans knife raised In tho air and to
500 him fall backward into the water before
they were able to seize him. Thon thew soizeh
mo rs the only available prey. All three OF
these mon have since becn Killed In act ion. but
their signed statements arc now in tho Cap.
tnin's cabin and can he produced wheneve.
they are wanted"
There is one thing cannot make out"
said. musingy how 1t was those spots OF
blood came to be on tho quay pavement that
morning."
"spots of bloolr' exclaimed Harry. What
on earth do YOU moan! BY love. remember"
ne cried. starting up. THE wound. you know
it-the old wound in the calf OF my leg. You
remember bathing it that morning at rehear-
sal. Well. 1t burst open IN tho struggle with
the madmnn. the blood dripping down my leg
all tho way along the quay. As lay In the
bottom OF the boat one OF the sailors. more
humane than the others. bouni 1t up with q
handkerchief and aiterward it was healed By
the surgeon OF the vessel"
He sat down by my side again. and there
was another brief silence
What can clearly make out OF all this
maze OF doubt and uncertainty and mystl-
dcation." said Harry. after IL while. is
that We two brothers. the brother who
Mas been murdered and the brother
who has besn hanged. are to all in
fonts and purposes dead mon. and likely to 70.
main so until We havs a chance Of proving
your Innocence and seeing homo. which IL not
likely soon to happen To tell our story hero
and make an appeal to tho commander OF tho
vessel would be simply useless. l sec no help
for It but to wait fair opportunity and then
make dash for escape. For the purposes OF
our plan We must appear to be entirely stran.
gers. and the secret OF our relationship had
best be guarded from every soul but ourselves.
I will walt and Quietly lay the plot by myself.
and when give the signal do you be ready.
Are you game to try it?"
For answer graspsd his outstretohed hand.
Then the six bells watch rang. tho hands
eame tumblipe up on the deck. and Harry and
I separated. Ispoke no moro to him that day.
and on the few occasions ON which we met
during the performance of our duties he put
his fingers to his lips as II to enjoin silence.
On all men-of-war tho sailors are divided
into eight or nine different gangs. each gang
being under the direction Of ono or other Of the
petty officers. Harry was In gang No. q: l was
IN gang No. 8. and we were engaged In differ
ont parts Of the ship. So that but little oppor-
tunity was afforded us for communication.
even had We desired it.
ooltoT " hoop 10 uuCu opuII do W0 CAu.
whispered Harry to me one day. as We passed
each other lest some OF these fellows should
notice the resemblance between US and re-
mark 1t. Be ready for me whom am ready for
you. The time for action is drawing near.
When 1t will be- know not-I am on the
watch"
When he passed. mo again he gave not the
iaintest sign OF recognition. and his face
might have been wooden image for all sign
Of animation it displayed.
The days and weeks and months went by in
this peculiar fashion and no change came In
Harry. and nothing occurred to Tighten the
msze Of doubt aud anxiety in which now
found myself involved.
Whatever Harry's plan he kept 1t to himself
and never broke through tho ifiipreRnable
wall OF reserve and secrecy In which. ~ 1t
seemed. he had resolved 10 enclose himself
We cruised about the American coast for
many months. without running across any.
thing more alarming than an occasional mer-
on this dull. lfeless. changeless way for the
rest OF our lives when one day the news came
that the war was over. that peace had been
made. and there was nothing more to do. The
end OF tho war would make no difference to us.
however. We were told. We should still no do
tanned In tho service OF the King so long as the
Government should choose to hold US. The
momontary hope OF freedom and vindioation
Of my name before the Iworld which had
sprung to life in my bosom was shattered. and
oil WAS dark again. l looked hard at Harry
once or twice as We passed each other. He
made no sign. never spoke. never even looked
q me In return. but went straight on with q
OountsnAnce about As expressive as that OF an
Egyptian sphinx.
It WAS the sunset Of beautiful day in Sep
tombsE that our seemingly inter minsbe jour.
nsytpg came to an end. and We at last dropped
anchor In the 81 Lawrence River. Just outside
Quebec. That night Harry quietly came up to
NJ - stood on tho quarter dock looking out
a the stArllt waters. and whispered. Make
ready. am going to strike" Without voucn-
ealing another syllable he strobe of. then stop
ned, turned. and came back.
"Hsvs you any money! he said. hesItat-
lsgly.
Nothing more than few shillings." / re-
Dlisd.
HIN. HIM. awkward" he unused. thought
Sullv strokinR his chin. Never mind, have