Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-09-21
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CHAPTER VII.
.,oU1s PATTERsoN's DOUBLE


he had been in dazed condition as
though partially under the influence
of spirits His ambition had deserted
him. He took everything as matter
of course, and did not care whether
the outcome was life or death. He was
content with all his surroundings, and
did not possess the courage to protest
against anything his jailers did. So
when he was placed in charge of the
steward of the vessel. he felt as though
he were going on pleasure voyage,
and his kidnappers were doing him a
service by giving him an opportunity
to travel and see the world.
! On the morrow all was changed. The
vessel was far out at sea. Louis awol1e
as from long sleep. He began to re-
call the scenes and events which led
up to his being put on board the ship.
| All his keen senses had returned.
The steward noticed his disturbed
look, and asked him if he could serve
him in anyway. From the steward he
learned that the master of the vessel.
was informed by the men who had &C
compiled him on board, that he was
wild and ungovernable, having a dis
position to commit crime, and to keep
him from evil company that was lead
ing him to the gallows, his parents had
deemed it best to send him on long
sea voyage.
The mystery grew.
| He could not even conjure a suspi-
cion that would help them solve it.
The more he pondered over the
strange and bold proceedings, the
greater the mystery. Could he only
! have written q line TO his mother or to
Mary, he would have been more recon
ciled to the long journey before him.
The assault, the capture, and the flight
had been done so noiselessly, and the
wicked scheme had been carried on so
adroitly, that the neighborhood would
never know, except as he should live
to return and tell the story, who had
done it.
He knew the whole region would be
aroused and search made for him. that
the time would come when he would be
given up for dead and the two beings
on all earth he loved best and most
might themselves go down to their
| graves weeping and mourning because
he returned no more to his home.
Such reflections must be abandoned.
Yhe right to hope for freedom was at
least left him. Resisting the rush of
gloomy fore bodings, which were tug
ging at his brain, he determined to
brood no more over the great outrage.
On the first appearance among his
shipmates Louis attracted the atten-
ton of all the officers of the vessel.
Instead of being sullenly disposed
or Ill tempered Or i'll = natured as
those who were knowing of the alleged
reasons for his being put on board ship
expected, they found him courteous,
pleasant, and agreeable. He soon be-
only the officers and the few passen-
gers but of the whole crew. The
captain at once Conceived liking for
his office, asked him ii he would like
to keep the ships record. It did not
take him long to make up his mind to
accept the offer, adding that he was
prepared to make himself useful in any
place he might be put.
His work was light, but it was labor
requiring care and thoughtfulness, and
close attention, and SO we'll did he look
after the duties assigned to him that
the captain soon became much at
tached to him. So that long before
the voyage ended the captain not only
heard the young mans story, but be-
ieved it, and while he had special in
structiOns not to permit Louis to re-
turn with him, but to send him far into
the interior of the India country, he
had not only long since concluded to
to take him back, but to leave no stone
unturned to discover the villains that
had done the kidnapping, and learn
the cause Of the outrage.
At the first port reached, Louis
mailed letters to his mother and Mary
with full account of all that had hap
pened to him.
The letters were never received.
It may be that the gold slipped
into the hand of one the sailors
by one of the kidnappers, as the vessel
was unfurling its sails in the harbOr of
New York, had much to do with these
letters going astray, or not going at
all.
While in Calcutta, familiarizing
himself with the sights Of that wonder
full city, he was hailed by an American
and asked how it happened he had re-
turned so soon from Darierling. The
lad could not conceal his surprise at
being approached by a stranger and
promptly replied that he had never
been in the city mentioned, and was
not aware that he had ever met the
stranger before.
"What, is not your name Charles
Manning? and was you not my mess
mate on the voyage here, and did I
not leave you week since at Darjer
ling, and did you not make an engage
ment to meet me here next Monday?
Why are you so silent? What does it
mean? 1t is not possible for me to be
mistaken"
II assure you," replied Louis, having
in mind his strange adventure in
America, Il never saw you before in
all my life. Months ago sailed from
New York on the good ship Lucky
STAR Captain Bodfish, Master, and l
landed here only yesterday. Am I to
infer that this is a case of mistaken
identity, or to what am to attribute
this manner of accosting me by an en-
tire stranger"
The stranger did not seem I'M
friendly. Louis, apparently in doubt,
was at loss to understand how such q
blunder could have been made. The
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