The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-01

ing a menacing heel. But more humane
feeling prevailed. and once more l
stopped to assist the pertinacious crusta-
cean to his native deep. A nip from his
fore claws was all got for my pains.
every we'll, said. IF you will
have it. you will. "
Down came the heel, there was
sickening crunch and what had been "A
crab was noisome mess.
Then l heard an exclamation of dis
gust behind me, and looking guilty
round saw that Mullen, who had hith-
erto been too absorbed in watching the
shipping TO interest himself in my fish.
ing, had heard the crunch OF the crabs
shell under my heel and had turned to
ascertain the cause.
"You bru;er' he said. "Why couldn't
YOU throw the wretched thing back into
the water?"
at amt none of your business"
answered sulkily.
ut is my business, and every decent
PERSONS business. The thing never did
You any harm. Besides. look at the
CHASTITY mess you've made. -
"Ain't you never killed nothing wot
done you no 'arm?" l asked, perhaps in
discreetly.
eyes, if had any reason to do so,
just as I'd gladly put my heel OH your
ugly brute's head and crush the life out
of you as you've crushed it out of that
wretched crab, but not from wanton de-
structiveness.
did not think il wise to prolong All
argument which touched upon such del.
icate and personal ground, so l contin-
ued my fishing in silence, and after an
other exclamation Of disgust Mullen
turned away to devote himself once
more to the shipping.
Not a vessel went by that he did not
scrutinize carefully, and noticed that
when any small steamer hove in sight
he fidgeted restlessly until she was near
enough to allow inspection. That he
was Oh the lookout either for ship or
for signal from ship felt sure, and
| was inclined to think tina. the irrita-
bility he had just displayed was due
more to nerve tension and to his disap-
pointment at not seeing the vessel for
which he was watching than to any
other cause.
One thing seemed certain, however
Mullen was breaking down under the
strain and was no longer the man he
had been. This was very manifest later
ON in the day when large steam yacht
made her appearance at the mouth of
the Thames. All his attention was at
once riveted upon her. and as she crept
up the river toward us could see that
he was becoming feverishly anxious.
"There's pair of fieldglasses in the
hold where l am sleeping" he said.
Would you mind getting them for me
like good fellowi Some one might see
me if went myself. want to have a
look at yonder big liner going down the
river. I fancy sailed in her once"
did as he requested, and he made a
pretense Of examining the liner. eyes,
it is she. / can read her name quite eas'
ily," he said, turning the glasses from
the big ship to the steam yacht. His
hand trembled so that he seemed unable
at first to get the focus, and distinctly
saw the quick huttering of his pulse in
the veins of his wrist.
"What is her name?" / asked.
"Fiona," he said ahsently, and then
pulling himself up sharp: "What am l
thinking about? mean the Walmer
Castle, of course. sailed in her when l
went to Peru.
! had all along expected that it was
for his sisters boat Fiona that Mullen
was watching, but hardly that he would
| tell me so himself, and that such man
"a man who had carried cut his devil
ish plots as if his heart had been of cold
stone and his nerves of iron-should SC
give himself away, as the phrase goes.
was proof positive Of his complete break.
down.
He watched the steam yacht until she
was in front Of us-though, of course, Q
considerable distance off-and then,
having apparently satisfied himself OF
her identity, he laid the glasses down
with sigh of relief and went below.
As soon as he was out of sight l picked
them up, leveled them at the now re-
ceding vessel and saw, as had expected
the word Fiona ON her bow.
The plot was thickening indeed, fol
it was no doubt by Mullen's directions
that she had come to England Che hat
probably given instruction that she wa
to enter the Thames by daylight so tina
he might not miss herr, and he woult
scarcely have sent for her until the fit
ting moment to make his escape hat
arrived. l had scarcely time to satisf.
myself of the steam yachts identity ant
to lay down the glasses before Muller
reappeared with a plentiful supply o
bread and cheese-of which he mus
have been sorely in need, for he ha'
had no food since early morning. Ever.
shadow of his nervousness was nov
gone and he was in the best of spirits.
"Hughes, my boy" he said, slappin
ine on the shoulder boisterously, for
was sitting with my feet in the cockpit
"how are you getting on? And wha
are you going to do with all the fish 20
have caught, eh?'
was in no humor to enter into cor
variation and aa I had Cau0ht M fish