Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-11-07
GHOST OF THE PENGUIN"
by WILL LIsENBEE.

nj Bastln. She was Il small schooner, y
weather-beaten, lubberly craft, with
her yards splintered and one OF her
masts broken, yet she looked strongly
picturesque, standing with bare poles
against the flaming sunset sky, as
allowed my little boat TO drift before
the gentle breeze.
Aboard the craft there were no signs
of life visible. and / knew that Mug
gins must be ashore, filling himself
with rum, us was his custom when
Capt. Darke was absent.
My old friend, the captain, had bee1
beating about the Mediterranean with
his lubberly schooner for half score
of years, and so he might still have been
engaged, but for the arrival OF letter
mt Bastia telling him Of newly-in-
herlted fortune left him by an uncle
who had been living in Florence.
But upon receipt OF the goods new he
was off Mt once, leaving his disabled
schooner in charge Of Muggins, an old
sailor who was more honest than sober.
AS my boat driftcd alongside the
Penguin ! perceived rope trailing
over the port side, and, making my lit
tie craft fast, drew myself upon deck.
1 looked about me, but no one was
visible. 1t was evident that l was the
only soul aboard the Penguin.
threw myself on camp-stool in the
shadow OF the sail and fell to regard
ing the range of dark hills that rose
back of the romantic little city. Pres
emily was interrupted by the sound OF
oars, and few moments later Mug
gins tnwny head appeared over the rail
He started when he saw me, and was
about TO beat hasty retreat when my
voice stopped him.
"}less me, thought You were n
ghost, I did, by the powers!" he said
seeming well pleased that his fears had
not been realized.
SWELL, now, what the deuce is there
nbout me, Muggins, to make you think
me ghost?" asked.
"Oh, it isn't that you look like n
ghost, Mr.. Raymond" he returned,
opologetically. 'But, you see, when n
cove is looking to see ghost. he's pref
ty certain to take the first live thing his
eyes fall on for what he's looking for"
"Then you were expecting to sec
something Of the supernatural kind?'
"That's fact, Mr.. Raymond, though
faint often cove is believed when he
tells such u story. There's a ghost on
this old hulk, or else I'm losing my eye
sight"
"And you really believe in such nor-
sense?"
II believe what sees, that's ALL"
"What did you seq"
swell, since you ask, don't mind
telling you. You see, since Capt.
Darke went away and the crew was dis
charged, the Penguin has been under
my care, and l have been sleeping
aboard the vessel and spending most
of my time here. Last night about two
O'Clock l woke, thinking heard some
thing moving near me. Twas sleeping
in my cot on the deck, and MS looks
about me sees woman, all in white
moving like n specter right by the
hatchway. While / was watching, II
seemed to sink into the deck and disap-
pear. I'm not the man 10 run from q
single night-prowlcr, but felt queer
like at this, and can't see how woman
could be on the Penguin. Thinking she
might have descended the companion
ladder, I goes down with lantern, but
finds nothing. Then / looks nll over
the ship with the same result. slept
no more that night, and though / look
after the ship during the day, l shan''
sleep here again II | know myself. call
il ghost or what you will"
With this he picked up lantern and
descended to his boat that lay along
side.
"Then / shall spend the night here
and lay your ghost for you," said.
"You'll greatly oblige me II you will, ''
he returned, though I'll be blowed il
/ think you succeed. Good evening,
mfr. Raymond. I'll drop alongside early
in the morning and zee how you have
Jared. There's the key TO my cabin,
he added, tossing the key upon the
deck. "You'll find pipes and plenty OF
tobacco, and n sip Of rum in decanter.
IL you look close. Now again good
night to you"
His oars dipped into the water, and
he was gone.
Dusk was already settling over the
water. took a seat on the deck and lit
a cigar, and began running over in my
mind some OF the events that had be-
fallen me since my arrival in Corsica.
For more than three months ] had
been staying in the romantic little
island, finding q restful charm In It's
quiet seclusion that was pleasing con-
trast to the life had been spending
for the past two years in the gay capital
of the restless and pleasure-loving
French.
One Is not likely to expect to meet
with adventures of the thrilling kind
in the peaceful precincts Of Bastia, yet
something bordering upon this had
come to my lot less than month be-
fore.
For the amateur artist the quaint lit
lie city will furnish many subjects for
the pencil and brush, and l had made
good my opportunities since my ar
rival.
The most prized among my collec-
ton was the portrait Of veda, the little
corsican fruit-seller. There was some
thing fascinating in her very pose, and
the dark beauty Of her face had drawn
me 70 her as II by some subtle witchery.
One evening, as / was stroiling
through the streets. ] heard cry Of
mortal terror come tom the court o. .