Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-22


look. ran down the companion steps
He was instantly followed by the super.
intendent and his assistant.
Captain Benson remained on deck.
The passengers talked in whispers. The
sensation was profound. Mr.. Mark Dav.
enire and another went stealthily to
the skylight and peered down. Their
ears seemed to enlarge as they strained
them. 1t was about II o'clock in the
morning. The sun was shining with
. strong heat, and there was q sense as
OF being in harbor with that ting lying
close alongside painting in her heart.
The blue water stopped noisily between
the two vessels as they rolled at each
other. and Mr.. Burn. leaning over the
rail. seemed able to forget what was
going forward in the ship in laughing
at the tugs helmsman, whose thin shape
shot ont Of q pair of compasses into a
mere pellet of head, q mere rope of
onions. the least on top
"This state of suspense is dreadful"
whispered Miss Mansel to Mr.. Shannon.
! "What will they do to the wretched
man,
"Put him in chains" answered the
| ships surgeon. who stood near.
1.-THE brutality of itr' exclaimed Mr.
Shannon with face that was suddenly
dark with passion. did you ever see o
chain gang?'
The girl with q shudder answered
that she had seen men on railway plat.
forms in England linked together and
Il hat 1o1 sCl- ;ol-
| Mr.. Shannon was about to speak when
he caught look from Captain Trollope.
1t was a look Of menace, almost of fury
1t had but the life of an instant. Next
breath the tall, soldierly looking man
seemed to DO listening ut the compan-
ionway at what was passing below.
All of a ST. iden up rushed Poole, the
| second mate.
Where's the doctor:" he shouted.
| Here. answered the ships surgeon.
"You re wanted, sir!''
The surgeon ran after the mate into
the cuddy. The captains teak colorcd
face betwixt its fringe of white hairs
| took q resolved, hard weather Look He
walked apart from the passengers, and
strobe in short excursions beside the
wheel. guessing fatality and awaiting
its report.
What was the doctor wanted for? the
passengers wondered. Had Murray stab.
bed himself-shot himself? No; they d
have heard the report Of pistol il that
scene Ct deck subdued by alarm and ex-
pectation. while Oh high all was still
but for now and again the gull.like cry
of suddenly jerked block.
Mr.. Storr. standing beside the com.
panion hatch, family cried Good heav-
ens!" and made quick step out of the
way. In fact, the companion ladder was
then full of figures rising clumsily with
the dead weight of q man body. There
was a general recoil and most of the
ladies went hurriedly forward.
| "By Jove. he's killed himselfr' said
Mr.. Davenire.
The lifeless body of Mr. James Muir.
ray was passed through the companion
hatch in the triple clutch of the hideous
rogue of the black teeth, the superin.
tendent and the second mate. They put
1t fiat down upon the deck, right in the
way Of q ray of sunshine that flooded
the convulsed face, which looked alive
with the movemer. of the muscles The
surgeon dropped large silk handker.
chief over the dreadful couEtenance.
rs it q fit. sir?' exclaimed Captain
Benson. coming along smartiy on hi:
rounded shanEs from his sacred walk
near the wheel. both his loose arms
jerking with agitation and temper.
| Poison, sir, said the surgeon
HE was too quick for us, said the
superintendent. with surly look ut the
corpse.
did he poison himself:" cried the
captain, who unconscious!y formed the
center Of a crescent of passengers with
one very white face under Mr.. Storr't
straw hat
The superintendent whispered to hi.
ugly mate, who rolled below and re-
turned with the dead mans portman
teau.
"He had come prepared" said tins
surgeon to the captain.
But with what?' demanded the
skipper.
"Prussic acid"
"A surer trick than the bullet" wills
pered Hankey to Masters.
cit makes no mess certainly" said
Masters. looking az coolly at the body
as if it had been 4 FISH nowly landed.
do you carry it back with you:'
said the captain.
"Aye, sir; yes, along with that" re
piled the superintendent, pointing to III,
portmanteau.
"Then for Gods sake" cried tn,
old skipper with an angry toss Of boil
his fins. take 'em both out Of tho shi,
at once, sir-take EN- both out of tn,
ship at cnce and leave us to proceed. Il
that sight for ladics?"
81 should be obliged if sailor Of
two would help u.s." said the superin
tendent.
They contrived it by placing the bod,
on grating covered with a piece O
sailcloth that the ladies who incere,
OH deck might not continue to be shock
Cd. They passed the dead wretcl
though the gangway, and wa;chir,
their chance cleverly launched .ra,ir.
and figure to the paddle box ci til.