Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-23

| self compliment grin. Il heard voice
in his cabin list night. 1t was Burns
| Jolly, silly voice--a beery babble.''
| If that's so, he must Shift said
Captain Trollope rapidly, frowning as
he again sent a glance at Burn.
Lets so below and see if it can be
managed.
Meanwhile Barn, turning hot and
! grinninS ccumtenance upon the passed.
gers as he walked, stepped up to old
| Benson and said, well, captain, what
| do you think of that for stow:''
"Sir," answered the captain, with
! some blood Of confusion and perhaps of
| temper deepening with new shade the
heavy weather stains upon his face, ''it
is a very COED stow, have no doubt.
but aboard my ship it is not customary
| for tie passengers To do the work Of the
sailors.
| Net the dirty work, naturally, 8" said
| Burn, half closing one eye as he turned
his gaze upon the man at the wheel,
but little clean. healthful gymnas-
| tics, you know. Besides, you're sho.t
handed. I believer
I'VE shall be able to manage, sir"
replied the captain, bridling.
| 1t was aquiet dinner party that even
ing. The suicide that day, the shock Of
| it-for Murray lad Lecn well known to
several-wOrked Oh the ladies. The cap
| tain talked III quiet tones 10 Mr.. Dent
| and MIR. Stcrr. He seemed not to desire
| the conversation Of tie others or to
evade it. He was civil, but his behav-
| Tor was that CT a man who doesn't
know his company. Some must have
| noticed this, tut they allowed it to
make TO visible impression They found
| the mate at the ioot disposed to be chat
| ~, and their talk was principally occI-
pied with such texts as he provided CT
they suggested.
| Miss Mansel, Who sat opposite the
| great figure CT Marx Davenire, said that
she wondered he had had courage to
climb the mast. Was he ever sailor?
| why. yes" he answered, rolling in
ms chair as he clCtcled at the swing
tray for decanter of marsha. "Whon
a boy, was sailor. All good boy $ 10
20 sea-
And you remember Low to stow n
sail after all these years, SIR" says the
mate.
TN tell you what, Mr.. Matthews, 4"
exclaimed Dayenire, posing a full glass
Il believe you could put NE to 10 job
aboard this ship which you wouldn't
find he superior to-
| "One would think, gentlemen" said
the mate. lying back il his chair and
talking sofily-hc did net choose that
the captain should think hi,a too fluent
THAT some CT you had shipped III an
| ticipation Of finding tie vessel short
handed.
This was awkward,y put and meant
1t was taken i'll iii part, ard the men
IeiI 70 talking one to another across the
table i'll light, cffhand speeches about
the wind and the weather, giving no
heed TO the mate, who presently rose
with something CT look of chagrin
| and marched on deci, to watch the ship.
Seven bells had been struck when q
tall rauish OF iigCre came out CT che
OF the cabins. and, going round the foot
of the table, entered, without ceremony,
a bersh that Immediately faced it. Two
| gentlemen occupied this berth. The tall
| figure was Mr.. Isaac Cavendish. lie laid
his band upon the man il the upper
bed, who violently started up with a
| most significant, swift motion of his
arm to his pillow. The light of tie
moon was upon the sea, AID the sheen
| Of it filed the berth with q delicate
! mist.
''T1ollope, l want you to come and
hear Burn talking in his sleep" slys
4 80
hear him here
Troilope and Cavendish closed the
door and listened. Their motive was 10
| discover if Burn words penetrated the
| bulkhead. Cavendish insisted that he
had caught somo syllables They now
stood with straiuing ears. They had to
wait ten minute before Burn was again
disturbed by dream. He then an
| Eounced his intention TO begin By an
| odd, parrotiike laugh.
"Hush!" whispered Trollope. Even
that noise is enough TO bring the cap
tain out upon him.
''No use in attempting Othollo here"
spoke the dreamer, with a distinctnes IS
of uttarance that WAS highly alarming
to those whose ears We're in waiting.
what do you say? - wish you
wouldn't be 80 internally impertinent.
| What's that again." Here cane
| a long pause, as though he gave his
phantom opponent plenty Of time to ex-
| plain himself. He then began to NUT
ter. The tone was derisive; the words
were iBaudible.
1--WE had better make him under
stand at once that this won't do wh:s-
pered Trollope. and they passed into Mr..
| Burns berth.
1t was the smallest berth in Ike shin,
a nere hole, with a bullseye FOX a win
dow. 1t contained but enc bu8k, and in
it the two men dimly distinguished the
lumpish figure Of Mr.. Burn. with ore
les, over the edge of his bed IN posture
| of conviviality. his right arm was mad
| with pantomime, and he mutiered in a
low tragedy note il blank verse. Cap
| tain Trollope watched hi;i, then let his
hand fail upon his shoulder. Burn in
stantly started up with horrid, ring
| ing scream. 1t is told of n certain Scotch
! man that be delivered "a veil liz. a wolf