Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-05-17

and the haste with which he advanced
to Kakoga's country would have been
impossible il the men under him had
not themselves Eeen SO anxious to get
into action, and introduce little
chance into the monotony Of life on
gunboat.
However, e,change was less than
the majority of the blue Jackets hoped
| for, the miserable little tribe did not
show fight, and our business was ac-
complished. In five days from the
time we left the Dragon-fy we were
back again, none the worse for our
trip, except that we were oil wore out
by Gilby's forced marches.
"The Lieutenant seemed more ex-
hausted than any of us, and as soon as
he had received the congratulations OF
the Commander, he retired at once to
his berth. What surprised mo was
that his spirits did not show any i'm
provement after the chance of fighting
was at IN end. It seemed to me as if
he were still expecting some calamity
to happen to him, and I began to
wonder whether there might not be
something seriously wrong with his
health to account for all that had sur
prised me in his manner. This ex-
planation, which had not occurred to
me while there was any real danger,
struck me forcibly, now that we were
safe on the gunboat, and, as soon as I
had enjoyed the luxury of bath after
my five days Of discomfort, I strolled
down to the Lieutenant's cabin to
have q look at him in the new light Of
patient.
"The door of my friends cabin was
ajar as I approached it, and when I
glanced into the room before knock
ing, was surprised to catch sight of
Engineer Lashton standing by the
side of the Lieutenant's bunk.
"The fact of Lashton's enmity for
my friend was so undisputed that at the
sight of his figure IN his enemy's cabin
l felt quito justified in watching what
was going on before making my pres
ence known. Gilby was lying across
his bunk, half undressed and appar-
emily fast asleep. The engineer was
standing over him with bottle of
some black fluid in bis hand. While
l watched, he made five small marks
with it on the sleeping mans arm. The
operation seemed such a mysterious
and inexplicable one that watched
him till he put the cork back into the
bottle, without moving a step to inter-
fere with the man, but pounced upon
him as he turned to leave the cabin.
"What on earth have you been do.
ing?' l asked, unceremoniously, and
the fellow seemed rather taken aback.
"'It is only practical joke, he
said, with feeble attempt to smile
unconcernedly.
"'Joke or no joke, demand to see
what is in that bottle I said author
itatively, my mind full OF mysterious
poisons, and the engineer handed it
over tamely.
"The bottle contained nothing but
ink"
"Ink |" exclaimed, when the great
brain specialist reached this point in
his narrative, and Macpherson smiled
in the peculiarly quiet way he has
when he has perfectly mystified a
hearer.
eyes, ordinary ink" he went on.
"The discovery naturally made me
feel rather foolish, but not so much as
it would have done if had not been
conviced still that his action was in
some way n malicious one. What his
idea could be, however, it was impos
sible for me to divine, and I felt 80
serious about it that l should have
reused my friend at once to enquire
how five black marks on his arm could
possibly affect his happiness, if he had
not looked SO thoroughly worn out
and in need of sleep. As soon as
Lashton was gone, left the cabin at
once for fear of disturbing the sleeper,
without stopping even to try and re-
move the ink-stains, piece of stu
pidity at which / have not ceased to
wonder. You see, it was impossible
for me to guess how desperately seri-
Gus the plot was that the engineer had
formed against the man whom he con-
sidered his rival. retired to my own
cabin opposite Gilby's, keeping the
door open to make sure that Lashton
did not return to do more mischief,
but 1 made poor sentry. I was tired
out, like the young Lieutenant,
through not having my proper amount
of rest for four nights, and l fell
asleep still wondering about the five
black marks.
"When woke, do not know how
long after, it was to find Gilby stand
ing in my room, half undressed as I
had seen him in his bunk, but with
his SHIRT sleeve buttoned up over the
ink-stains or his arm. l was too full
of sleep, however, to notice the fact at
the time, or even to remember for the
moment anything about what had
seen. Sleepy as I was, I could not
help noticing the look of complete
misery and despair on my friends
face. He was standing at the side of
my bunk, holding an envelope, and
when l started up, rubbing my eyes.
he put it into my hand.
Il am glad you are awake, Mac
pherson,' he said, in n strangely con-
strained tone. Il wanted SO ask you
to do me a favor Will you give this
letter to Miss Callan personally when
you see her? 1 do not want to take
the risk of sending it by the mail.
"'But you will see her yourself as
soon as SHALL 1 said. in surprise at
the request, and Gilby did not reply.
Instead, he turned and walked out of