San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-17


I'VE are a rich ship, and fear The inten-
lions of these men,"
the head of a gentleman to terrify the
ship forward by performing the antics
of baboon ON my flying jib boom endi
If the young lady committed suicide,
what was her reason? If murdered,
whyr'
He barked out that "why" with a
start that drove him half out of his
chair.
II agree with the doctor, sir" said
Mr.. Matthews, whose plain, homely,
weather stained face wore shocked
look, a strained expression of anxiety.
Gould she have been murdered with
out noise? How was it done? With a
knife? There are no traces of blood, sir,
By strangulation? The cabin don't sug-
gest it, sir. The bedclothes are turned
over in way that must convince us
she got out of her bunk of her own
will"
II want to match the lady's disap-
pearance with the plumber of my arms
chest, " said the captain.
"In what way?" said the doctor.
SIS she in league with the people who
stole the arms?" exclaimed the captain.
IF so, don't see of what use she
could be to 'em, for I'll kiss the crucifix
in Mr.. Poole's berth on this, that she's
not in the ship" exclaimed the mate
solemnly.
"What, sir. is your opinion as to the
cause of the young lady's disappear
ance?" asled the captain.
ut will be thickening the business
too much, +" answered the doctor
thoughtfully, ito assume that she, too,
was walking in her sleep, and so some
how fell overheard. No. We must sur
render that, though might have held
to the notion but for Mr.. Shannon. I'm
afraid it must work out as just an ordi-
nary case of suicide"
The little captain gazed sternly and
gloomily at the cabin deck. After some
silence he looked at the mate and said,
"There is mischief Matching in this
ship, sir. t"
at must be smothered, then, sir, and
the sooner the better, if you will give
me your instructions, replied the mate,
with a half glance at the doctor, which
was like questioning the commander
perfect sanity.
81 distrust every one of those ten pas
sengers, continued the captain. But
am at loss to know how to deal with
them. / can prove nothing. / can take
no steps which l might afterward justi-
fy. There are ten of them, sir-ten sew
eral suits at law. hate the law, sir
| was never in a law court in my life.
have worked hard and am advancing
in years and am not to be sold up and
professionally ruined by-by"- Here
the old fellow fairly broke down, Grim
soning till he looked throttled.
"You are IL men forward, captain, "
said the doctor. 1--WE are six men aft
nay, count Mr.. Storr and Mr.. Dent
and we are eight men aft. Nineteen to
ten-nearly double" He shrugged his
round shoulders.
"But don't you know, SIR" burst out
the captain. shrill with temper, THAT
on board ship odds are not to be reckon
ed when the plots deep and the rogues
know their business"
"What do you fear, sir?' said the
slow minded mate.
"We are a rich ship, and I fear the
intentions of these men, cried the cap
tain, bouncing off his seat and begin
ming to roll and blow over few feet OF
his carpeted plank.
"You don't mean to say, captain, "
exclaimed the doctor in rather low,
thrilling voice, that you believe these
ten men intend to rise and seize the
shipF'
"For mercy's sake, silence, sirP'
whipped out the captain in a choking
sort of whisper. Its just that, and
that job of the arms chest is piece OF
it, and that fellow ON the jib boom end
last night another. can't fit in tho
young LADY, can't fit in He stop
ped. pressing his hand to his brow.
''But not syllable of this, he went
on after a short silence, during which
his companions had eyed him, almost
breathless. "for / may be mistaken.