Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-21
acter nrd quality Of the group lie form

acter ara quality ct the group lie form
ed one of.
Come, break upr' he whispered.
| and in a moment the little company
dissolved. some joining the ladies. 9TH
ers stepping the deck, others silently
overhanging the rail.
Old Captain Benson raised and let
fall the night glass TO and from his eye
with manner CT strong irpatience.
He was not used TO detention Of this
sort. He felt there was nothing distress.
ful in the matter and seemed to find
! something impudent in q signal that
| required him to stop. The night wind
was gentle, full of dew. II blew per-
haps q four knot breeze, and the old
shippers heart yearned to brace to it.
The snow white sails of the main curved
stirless to the mast, and there was not
swell enough in the ocean to flap cs
much as the noise CT hand clap from
the res. Of the cloths.
| The Queen lay like . beacon Of light
upon that sea for the stranger to steer
for. and within 20 minutes Of the ship
having been hove to there came floating
to the vessel. shining like q fabric
wrought ont Of the lights Of the deep. q
large, powerful cutter shrcdding the
dark brine into CLEANS and froth.
Down came her great mainsail with q
roar of hoops. and while n strong voice
was shouting for an end of rope the
clever little sruft glided close in under
the counter. where she lay with three or
four men in her, all looking mp. The
moonlight flashed her white plaBks into
ivory and painted in clear coiors the
figure Of man standing near the mast.
with pcrtmanteal beside him. A fel.
low. letting go the ,illcr. ran a few
steps and shouted, locking aloft at the
crowd Of faces upon the ships quarter:
us Captain Benson there:"
AYE" said the captain slowly.
"Wbat do yon wart?"
"we've brought on . gent who
wishes to tc put aboard"
Where is hep said the captain.
Here" ssid the man who stood be-
sic, the portuanteau. advancing to the
rail of the cutter. II beg yol will al.
Low mo to come ON board
But what do you want, sir:'' shout
ed old Benson, glaring suspiciously
down at the figure that was dressed in
a black coat and light trousers ard n
soft, dark hat. lie was clearly no official.
"Yo1 will no. ask me 20 call out nv
business from this low elevation, sir?''
After pause.
Throw n ladder over the side,"
sung cut Captain Benson.
The man seemed to shake hands with
the fellow who had run from the tiller.
Some thought .le gesture looked as
though he gave him money. He gained
the deck swiftly. clawing up the steps
with che hand, while he held his port.
manteau with the other. Captain Troll.
lope passed bin close. humming. A few
others brushed by him also in silence
All The Will he stood for few minutes
On the deck fetching his breath.
But even il that time, while the cap
tain, mates and passengers were wait
ing for the stranger to approach, fell
low IN the bows Of the cutter let 90 the
ropes end. You heard hallooing Of some
sailor 8 song rs the gaff Of the cutters
mainsail mounted, and, to the astonish-
ment Of Captain Benson, she was of,
leaning from the breeze, fretting the
silver under the counter into a wake,
with the fellow at the helm bawling
out. "a good voyage to you'll
The mate stood a moment looking
J idly on, then sent bull-like roar to the
cutter to return and stand by the ship
till it was seen what the passenger
wanted. A growing mo, no." rolled
back through the Camp night breeze,
and the cutter grew dim in tho silver
haze of the night.
BY this time the new arrival, grasp
} ing his portmanteau, had walked aft to
Captain Benson, vigilantly and distrust-
fully eyed by several Of the male pas
} sengers as he went. Indeed they fol-
lowed him and hung close to catch
what passed. You could almost read by
the light OF the moon. The stranger s
figure and face were as determinable as
daylight He was rather short and
rather slim and wore long whiskers of
pale yellow. He was very white, and
his dark eyes glis'cned in their settings
as he rolled them round upon the people
Il do believe" whispered Mr.. Dent
to his wife while no bobbed his head
with intent eyes at The man, THAT he g
! James Murray"
do you mean the manager Of the
such and such bank?'' said she, civ.
, ing it its naae.
b. this time Captain Benson appear.
ed 10 have recognized him.
why. You re Mr. Murray. amt you.''
That's my name, captain. And il
you will step apart I'll give you my
reason for desiring to sail in this shin
to England and my excuse for becom.
: ing passenger in an irregular way"
} What docs he want to say?'' mutt.
tered Captain Trollopc to Mr. Davenire.
, us one small por,manteau all his
, luggage for England?' answered the
t other.
Il think I recognize an acquaint.
ancc," exclaimed Mr.. Murray, and he
extended his hand to Mr.. Dent, lifting
his hat at the same time to the colonial
merchants wife
Get way upon the ship. Mr.. Mat.
thews," said Captain Benson. And with
little courtesy or ceremony he said