Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-28


| AO-,
"HhoE did you make TITS discovery. sir-'
fire blunderbusses, four horse pistols,
FIVE other pistols and a dozen os cut
lasscs.' They must be in the ship" he
exclaimed. 81 don't like the look Of
this, sir. I'll net believe" he went On,
softenine his voice. with q glance at
the buikhead of the adjacent cabin,
THAT the crew have had hand in IL.
Yet the fo-ecas,le must be searched.
This was done when ill hands were ON
deck watching the whaler on Ere. Who
sleeps next yoc?'
| CAPTAIN Troilorc ard Mr.. Weston,
sir. don't think myself stammer-
ed the second mate with o bewildercd
look.
What, sir, what?" painted the old
skipper.
II doubt if they are in the ship,
continued the unfortunate officer.
THAT window was open when came
below. eon't recollect leaving it open
when went ON deck at s O'Clock. Who.
ever did 1t has washed my berth out
for me-" and, striding to his bunk, he
graspel and held aloft a quantity Of
blanket. soaden with salt water.
The captain made no answer. He dart
ed many quick and curious locks around
| the little interior.
Tommy Poolei Your captain viewed
but poorly embellished hole; a por-
| trait of Poole mother cut out Of black
paper. the lineaments bronzcd; a small
crucifix at the head of tine bunk; a rack
containing few pipes. But man who
ON G5 a month supports an old mother
and q childless wife cannot handsomely
furnish his cabin.
go and call up both stewards, /" said
the captain.
The two men slept in the Storage.
They promptly arrived, tumbling, aston
| ished and eager, ont Of their hunks.
They were amazed to find tho COM
mander of the ship at this sepulchral
hour of one bell standing hated, his
face infiamed, his hanging arms vibrat-
ing like tho legs Of dreaming dog, in
| the cabin OF the second mate, who was
himself co!orless rs thcagh he had been
| stabbed.
"Trickle," said the captain, "some
one has plundered the arms chest" He
pointed to it.
Trickle sunk his head and opened his
mouth.
did you notice anybody hanging
about the crddy last evening when all
the people were on deck looking at the
fire?''
Trickle thought hard. So did John,
the unders,eward. They stared Mt each
other; they revolved in the anguish Of
their struggle with recollection. One
seemed to have it, then the other, each
with o jerk Of his fist, one finger up,
to no purpose. In fact, both men had
| been on tine forecastle while the sea
CHOW lasted, aud when they went aft
s3e passengers were coming IN q body
from the poop into the cuddy, talking
about the fire and looking about them
;or grog.
Captain Benson stepped into the cud.
dy and moved slowly along the floor,
glancing by the dimly burning lamp al
the cabins TO right and left Of him and
at the berths in the shadow beyond the
companion steps, up which he present.
ly stclked. He was astounded. The old
heart Of oak was terrified too. What
could the robbery Of the arms ches: sig.
nifty but q conspiracy? Certain people
had armed themselves ct the ships ex.
pense. For what purpose? His soul
croaked a conjecture that made him
reel ON his sturdy bowlegs as he step.
ped cut Of the hatch into the rush of
the black, wet wind and the gloom of
the night. wild with flying cloud and
dipping stars The mate came NJ 70
him.
THE chest is plundered. sir" painted
the captain.
Where's the ammunition, sir?" in.
quired the mate.
Hal" cried Old Benson, pulling his
hat down to his ears. II had forgotten
that. Go below and tell the second
mate to place the powder and ball in
my cabin"
They found the ammunition uptouch.
ed. 1t had been slowed in the steward
pantry, and they might have hunted
for 1t ell night but for John, who. on
the yester morning. having tumbled on
his knees 20 explore q small cupboard
for an oil can. had handled the powder
and ball without knowing what they
were. They all knew that the shin chr.
ried no more ammunition than shis
Mr.. Matthews placed the stuff in the
captains cabin, rs commanded, and re.
turned ON deck TO report The old skip.
per was astocnded.
Whats the good of muskets with.
out powder and shot, sir?''
Unless the people who've stolen the
things brought powder and shos with
them" said the mate.
Il dou't believe it." nid Csptsin