The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-10-23
CHAPTER VII.
LOUIS PATTERSON s DOUBLE.

veyed on board vessel about to sail
for the East Indies. For several days
he had been in a daZed condition as
though partially under the influence
of spirits. His ambition had deserted
him. He took everything as a 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 a pleasure voyage.
and his kidnappers were doing him a
service by giving him an opportunity
to travel and see the world.
! On the Iorrow all was changed. The
vessel was far out at sea. Louis awoE:o
as from i long sleep. He began 1c t.
call the scenes and events which led
up to his being put on board the shin.
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 aim on board. that be was
wild and ungoyernable. having q dis
position to commit crime, and to keep
him from evil com panv that was lead
ing him to the gaIlows. his parents had
decuied it best to send him on long
SCI: voyage.
The mystery grew.
| He could not even con ure 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 a line to his mother or to
Mary, he would have been moro 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 ncighbOrhoOd would
never know. except us 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
ne returned no more to his home.
Such reflections must be abandoned.
| The right to hope for freedom was at
gloomy fOrebodings. 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 i'll = tempered or i'll natured as
those who were knowing Of the alleged
reasons for his being pat on board ship
| expected, they found him courteous.
| pleasant, and agreeable. He soon be
came the favorite of all on board not
only the officers and the few pasSen-
| gers but of the whole crew. The
captain at once conceived Il liking for
the lad. and one day. calling him into
| his office. asked him ii he would like
to keep the ships record. 1t 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 thoughtfuiness, and
| close attention, and SO we'll did he look
after the duties assigned to him that
| the captain soon became much at
t:ched to him. So that long before
the voyage ended the captain not only
licvcd 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
I 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 ha,>-
pened to him.
The letters were never received.
| 1t may be that the gold Slipped
! into the hand of one the sailors
! by one OF the kidnappers. as he vessel
! was unfurllng its sails in the harhor OF
; New York. had much to do with these
| letters going astray. or not going at
! all.
! While in Calcutta. faniliari2ing
! himself with the sights of that wonder
! full city. he was hailed by an American
and asked how il happened he had re-
! turned 80 soon from Daricrlinr. The
lad could not conceal his surprise al
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.
wv hat. is not Your name Charles
Manning? and was you not NY mess
mate on the voyage here. and did
no. leave you y week since at Da"i1r
ling. anu did You not make an enga re-
, m mt TO meet me here naXt Nonday-
Why are you SO silent: What does it
mean; 1t is not possible for me TO be
! Mistaken
Il assure you. replied Louis. having
i'll mind his strange adventures III
America, Il never SAW you before in
all my life. Months ago sailed sroGl
New York on the good ship Lucky
Star Captain Bodiish. Master. and l
landed here only yesterday. Am | TO
infer that this is a case of mist:. ken
identity. ar to what am | to attribute
this manner of accosting me 10y an en-
tire stranger"