The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-11-17
Ihe Crime Of Edmund ChaIIOn0r
By JAMES KNAPP REEVE.

copyright, 1893. by American Press Associa-
toni
When the steamer Pelican set sail from
the port of Vera Cruz for Havanaen the
afternoon Of Jan. %, 1SS-, it had before
it as fair prospect for fair voyage as ever
did ship that put to sea.
The passengers, mostly tourists who
had come down the long rail route
through Mexico or across from that
ocean which is misnamed the Pacific,
lounged contentedly about the decks and
congratulated themselves that their lines
had fallen in pleasant places.
The voyage was begun upon Saturday
Sunday morning dawned clear and
bright. The sea was without a ripple,
except as the sharp PROV of the ship cut
through 1t. The water lay like a mass
Of molten silver, and the hot sun beat
upon it and was reflected back as from
ashield.
The captain ordered awnings stretched
upon the decks, and beneath their shade
the passengers 1ounged and read novels
and slipped ices which the steward
brought and dozed.
just before nightfall a little cloud
came up out of tho south. It was the
AOICIOnnOI VI OAC u GIOSO ObOIuiS
sweep the southern seas SO swiftly and
so terribly.
BY the time the sun was fairly below
the horizon the storm was upon them.
The passengers, who had hurried below,
could hear the rain dashing upon the
decks, feel the wind and waves sweep
ing against the ship and see at intervals
the wild and vivid play Of the lightning.
The calm sea was churned into mass
Of angry foam that seethed and Ieaped
about the ship, but the beating of the
great engines never ceased, and the ship
held steadily upon its course.
Except when the lightning revealed
the tossing sea 1t was but sailing for
ward into the ocean of inly and impen-
etEable blackness. Such night demands
confidence in your captain and your
compass.
The captain himself held the wheel
and took q sailors grim delight in
watching how nobly his vessel with
stood the buffeting of the storm.
A single passenger, for whom the con-
tention of the elements seemed to have
no terror, stood little within the shelter
Of the pilothouse. When the lightning
played, the man at the wheel looked
down and observed him curiously.
''My friend, you seem to like this sort
Of thing" he said.
eyes, 1t is a diversion" the other an
swered briefly.
The storm had awakened the social
element that usually lay dormant be-
meath the captains gruf exterior. He
seemed disposed toward conversation.
"Come, like that" he said, then add
ed questioningly, 'you are not seafar-
ing manf'
'tNo."
The wind was driving the ship so
fercely that the wheel for time demand
ed the captains whole attention.
When the lightning revealed the pas
senger again, he stood with head bent
down, like one who listens.
In an instant all was black again, but
out from the darkness the captain heard
the strangers voice asking quietly:
''Are you sure of your course, sirl2'
''Sure,'' said the officer firmly; "I have
been over it too often to make any mis-
take. can read this sea like book in
blacker night than this"
Nevertheless, replied the other quite
as firmly, ''I have just heard whisthng
buoy, and that would be impossible upon
your true course"
''Tutl You are crazyp said the cap
tain sharply. "There is no whistling buoy
nearer than Captiva island inlet, and
that is a good 90 miles away. You must
have sharp ears"
cit was the Captiva buoy that
heard"
The captain muttered an oath.
"Who are your" he cried.
''They call me the king of Captiva,"
said the other. Even as he spoke there
came to both, distinctly in the pauses of
the storm, the melancholy soughing note
of the whistling buoy so close and SO
distinct that there was no chance for
question even had there been time. But
simultaneously there came shock that
made the ship tremble from stem to
stern.
The captain signaled to reverse the
engines, but before the order could be
obeyed the waves had lifted the ship,
carried it forward and let it fall again
with an awful crash and breaking and
straining of timbers.
1--WE are on the reefr' cried the cap
tain, and moment later:
1--WE are breaking in twoi To the
boatsl To the boatsp'