Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-04

| WiuufaWiuS the Key tsCm @1tn1n, tne0
locking the door.
I'm afraid Davenire's Killed the
second mate" said Masters rs Weston
briskly approached him. There's too
much Of the beast in his strength. He
flung the poor devil headlong down"
Where is he!" interrupted Weston.
Masters nodded at Caldweli's cabin.
rs he locked in apyhowi" said Yves.
ton.
aye"
"A plague on all pity" cried IVES.
ton. where's Burnt"
The fat man stepped out Of berth as
this question was asked. and the sound
Of woman screaming in Mysteries fol.
lowed him.
us this part ended!' said Weston.
"Oh." said Burn. Its only o lock-
ing mp joke" and he jinsled the cabin
keys in his coat pocket
How longs Trollope going to bes''
said Masters.
II wish that bag would choke her
self" said Weston. with o mad look
"Who is it?''
Mother Peacock" answered Burn.
I'm sorry for the Holroyds-doocid
awkward work; found every jody stark.
staring wide awake" said Masters
And he exclaimed with an oath. while
he wiped his forehead, IF it's over, it 8
well over. and I wouldn't have it over
again.
Weston glanced a. him with Tn ex.
preston Of disgust and suspicion.
AT this instant Davenire's hurricane
voice was heard at the wheel
Jump for it, Burni See what he
wants." said Weston. And as the fat
man ran with kcadlong hurry up the
companion steps. Captain Trollope came
slowly out Of the commanders cabin.
A lamp always swung. burning dim
", all night long in the cuddy OF the
Queen. As Trollope emerged Masters
sprang up OH chair and turned on q
full flame.
What of the cap;ain?' said Weston.
I'm afraid" answered Trollopc.
with n cool drawing room air. that
he's dead"
by your band?" exclaimed Weston,
looking just n shade scared as his sight
went to the clumsy butt end pro,ruding
\
The massive shape Of Davcnire, with
its inevitable twinkle Of silver chain.
filed the companion hatch rs he de.
scended.
well, how goes it hcre." he ex.
claimed, looking round.
1.-The mates snug enough. answered
Weston. THE others need not be thought
Of. The captains dead. DO you sayy'
said he. turning 10 Trollope.
Come and look"
He returned to this commanders cab.
in and was followed by Davenire. Yves.
ton and Masters. Here. too. burned q
small lamp. rs in tho mates berth. II
was a large, roo,ny cabin, the best in
the ship. A table Ehone with marine
brass instruments. In fact. old Benson
was q bachelor. He owned a house
ashore, but his ship was his home. and
lently illustrated By TIE fine cot be
swung in, the mahogany chest Of draw.
) ers, the very convenient washing sppa.
ratus over against the beautiful marine
barometer. the books. the three or fouI
pictures, the soft carpet.
!, Upon that carpet he lay now, pool
old man. stiff upon his back, clearly
dead-a short. erotesque. startling Gg
ure OF corpse to come upon, so absurd
ly clad, as il was. His hat had gone
round the world with him, and with
the devotion of the limpet to the rock
it was on his head now, though crush.
ed. as If it had resolved TO 20 out Of the
world with him. He lay upon the deck
in a pair Of bed drawers. and q coat
which he was half in and half out Of
, Davenire and Masters drew close and
looked ut the old face. 1t was swelled
like drunkard The eyes were turned
up God knows where. Every familiar
expression was eclipscd or caricatured
BY distortion.
Il never hurt him." answered Troll.
lope. answering the tragic question be
heard in that silence.
This Is epoplexy." said Davepire.
He felt Benson's pulse. dead as dog q
meat. " said he. standing erect.
Masters pulled of the old mans hat
Here. Davenire. said he. give rs q
hand to help him into his cot -
Between them they raised the body.
as though it had been . pillow. and
when 1t was abed IL was out of Sight.
IN tell you jus. how it happened, I"
said Troliope. II made n dash for hi,
cabin, not knowing whether he had
arms or not. Whipped open the dooI
and found him with his legs over the
edge Of the cot dare say he'd beer
aroused by the cry On deck and was get
ting up. When he saw me. he .oarcc
out: What do you mean by thiss whal
do you want here7 Get out Of my cab
! IN, you scoundreli Where's Mr.. Mat
thews: What-what'- And, half cbok
ing. he dropped from his cot and ran 70,
his hat, which he put on. and then h
began 70 struggle into his coat while ID.
made mouths nc me. Such q nightmare
OF face! I never heard so hollow and
frightened n voice; never saw the colo
OF the acsh change NJ his We've
seized this ship said ]. letting him -
that was armed, thouRh. poor b;;l'
chap" he went On. speaking slowly
with n melancholy gIancc nj the cot