Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-14
NORMAN'S WOE.

One windy afternoon Ill August |
two years ago, an ObServant paSsen-
ger on the steamer from Boston to
Gloucester, who was scanning Briar
island with n tieldglass. became in
terCsted i'll two young men ashore.
One carried the other on his back.
No other figures could be seen on
Briarisland. A smallfcut was pitched
on the islands summit.
The head of the carried youth
hung on his own right shoulder.
From his legs limpness he seemed
dead or paralyZed. His arms were
grasprd III front of the burden bear
crs chest. The backs of both were
toward the steamer.
That the carried youth had fallen
from some pinnacle of the little is
lands rough eastern shore was the
first surmise of my informant, the
obserVant passenger. He did not
readily suspect that the conqueror in
fight was carrying his victims
body up hill III the broad light of day.
Clearly the burden bearer was
strong, for he assembled the declivity
with steady strides, bore his load
into the tent and was lost to sight.
1t then struck my informant as
strange that the young man did not
hasten out 10 signal the steamer for
aid
My informant is typical Boston
man, deliberate, retiCent. averse to
committing himself, disliking fuss, y
unwilling TO appear conspicuous.
He thought of asking the captain to
send II boat ashore. but he seldom
speaks to any one without an intro
duction. Yet he began to fear that
he might become excited enough to
do SO when he SAW the strong youth
come out of the tent, gaze straight
at the steamer and still wave no
handkerchief nor make any such APP
peal.
My friend was sure he would, in
such a case, commit himself SO far as
to hail the nearest craft. But what
if that craft We're Il mile distant and
rapidly moving away
My informant began to wonder if
n crime had been committed on that
rock, and the more he watched it
fade away the more he feared this
was the one reasonable explanation.
The youth, momentaIlly growing
DINNER to my friends view, went
back to the tent. peered in, stood
half minute, as if held by what he
saw, turned, Strengthened up an
looked round over Massachusetts bay
White caps lifted in all directions
except under the islands lee. The
wind was rising. The steamer rolled
considerably running across seas
Nearly all small sail ilf sight were
making for the nearest ports. Large
craft stood far out, with little can
vas. Some dOrieS of fisherman were
tossing wildly 1T anchor, but more
We're seeking shelter.
The ODs"rVant passenger saw the
youth stoop suddenly, pick some
thing up md run, apparently with
an oar III hand, down the steep of
the islands lee. There he disap-
peared.
Two minutes later some tiny yell
low craft shot forth from that lee
shore toward the open bay. The lit
tie vessel was scarcely visible from
the receding steamer. 1t pointed al
most straight against the wind. Ny
informant recognized it as a canoe.
for he could Sc" the CLEAN of the
double paddle. Who, except one
afraid of his fellow men ashore,
I,t i,,f
such weather i'll q canoe, as if to got
out to sea beyond Cape Ann. whore
be might chance to be picked up by
some outgoing vessel, beyond reach
by telegram or detcctivesl
The Boston passenger then con
fided his suspicious to the Boston
captain, VINO looked impressive and
stopped over III vain. the Boston
passenger went below to II secluded
nook. avoiding the eye of man. But
when he reached Gloucester he r..
ported all. cousrlcntloUaly To the
chief of police, who said he guessed
he'd see bout il if IT wash all ri nt.
The wind rose TO gale that aftgr
noon. Next morning, when my in
formant returned 10y the same steam
or, the sea was like Il mill pond cX-
cept for the PROPOSES trying 10 stand
on their heads. On Brlar island the
tent still stood. My informant Yves
convinced that murdered body lay
within it and now disclosed himself
TO the captain as stakeholder in the
line. SO boat was sent ashore with
the captain and his passenger.
In the tent they found some cook
ing utensils, gun case lettered 'G.
B., a jointed fishing rod some tao
kle, an air mattress and two blan-
kets soaked with blood.
Ny informant was beginning to
take full notes when the captain in
sisted on hurIYing away. 1t was
none of his business anyhow, he
said. He couldn't lose time to mix
himself up with any case in court.
So the obscrvant passenger was com
PEELED to hasten aboard, cOnsoling
himself that his saKaCity had been
indicated
The adventure gave him a keen,
unusual sense of being alive. What
he did on reaching Boston need not
be recorded, because the meaning Of
what he had seen may be best learned
from the narrative of Skipper Min
cheever of Beverly.
Almost any day in summer you