The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-11-11


It was evident that his friend had been
anxious to conceal from the crew the
fact that they were being photographed,
for every figure in the group was rs
natural as possible. It was more than
likely, Mclean thought, that neither
captain nor crew knew what Il camera
was
The second to last picture surprised
Mclean. The men wero grouped
around the wheelsmen, and were evil
IDENTITY discussing some subject with
animation. One of the men was look
ing directly at the camera at the time
the shot was made, and his expression
was one that might have alarmed Fred
cricks if he had not been SO absorbed
in his work
The next picture was revelation.
Mclean watched it as it came out, and
at first thought it was failure.
There seemed to be too much of the
central figure, and the man was so
close.'O the camera that his figure was
rather out Of focus. If the figure had
stood up straight its head and Shout
ders would have been out of the pic
ture. AS it was, Mclean saw that it
was the picture of n man crouching
along toward the holder of the camera.
When the picture was fully developed
and Mclean held it up before the red
light he was startled to see that the
crouching figure held in his uplifted
hand long Italian stiletto. The pic
ture was evidently taken the moment
before the stroke was given The man
aimed ut was doubtless the unconscious
photographer, who, busted with his
camera, did mot notice the figure steal
ing upon him.
Mclean finished tn at negative with
more care than he ever took with a
picture before. He printed positive
as soon as the negative was dry, and,
although the figure was out of focus,
anyone could instantly recognize the
face as that Of the captain Of the Fly
ing Scud. The little picture was evi-
dence enough to Mclean that his friend
had been murdered, probably to get
what money he had on his person. But
he realized that It still was not evidence
enough to enable him to convict the
uurderers at Q court in Venice.
He made a lantern slide Of the pic.
ture. hired a stereopticon and made his
preparations He took one officer OF
the law IA man entitled to take deposit
tions) into his confidence.
When the schooner again arrived in
Venice Mclean got ono Of the men To
come with him to his rooms. He
wished, he said, to hear again how his
friend came by his death, and he
promised the man money if he would
give him faithful account.of the acct
dent. AT McLean's rooms the man told
the tale that had already been told.
do you believe in tn c devil?" asked
Mclean when his story was finished.
Sure" replied the man in an awed
whisper.
"Then come into the next room and
will show you some of the devils work
You wall see what he says became O.
my friend"
The man drew back. He had no de
sire to see any Of the devils work.
Then it is true what the devil saws
that you killed my friend"
81 didn't kill himl" cried the sailor
sit was" Then he checked himsel,
and was silent.
The officer of the law stepped out O.
the other room, and, seeing him, tn,
sailor appeared to be afraid to refuse t.
enter
The room was pitch-dark Suddenly
there appeared on the wall group OF
men around the wheel on board the
boat. The sailor at once recognized