Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-06

lady.
man Captain Trollope as being in com.
mand, and Mr.. Weston said he was sick
Of waiting and wondered why the ship
was not to be seized that night"
Commander Boldock whistled softly,
keeping time to the brief futing of his
lips with spread Of large, square end.
ed fingers upon his round stout knees.
"What happened to me afterward. {"
said Miss Mansel, closing her eyes in a
visible straining Of her mind, "has con-
fused my memory, but what I learned
from the talk overheard was this :
That there was great treasure in gold
in the ship, and that this gang of ten
men were on board to seize her. Pres
emily one called the attention Of the
other to the shooting stars. got MP
and walked into the cuddy and stood q
moment or two ut the table to consider
what l should do. was very frighten-
ed. l am a great coward. / feared il
these men knew had their secret they
would murder me. asked myself, Shall
I go and tell Captain Benson at once
what I have overheard? And then I
thought if he should not believe me, or
If he should not take any step that
night, or If be should be helpless to deal
with the wretches on my evidence, still
they might get hold Of the ship and kill
me or horribly ill use me out Of malice
and revenge. So went into my cabin
without being able to form any resolu-
ton, meaning to think over what / had
heard and let the morning bring its
own Judgment. Did ! do right? Was I
reasonable, Captain Boldock? IL this
how frightened woman would act?''
"You should have gone straight to
the captain" said Boldock. ct would
have been his duty to protect you. Why
shouldn't he have accepted your evi.
dence: There was the robbery Of the
arms chest. That alone would have JUS.
titled him in acting upon what you had
overheard"
''They must have known had listen.
ed, d" exclaimed Miss Mansel.
Looks like it, certainly" exclaimed
the commander in q deep and stormy
voice.
II cannot guess what the hour was. ),
continued the young lady, growing
white with memory, when I was star.
tied by light knocking upon my cabin
door. l was wide awake-had been fe.
verlshly wide awake. The least sound
sent chill through me. All the time I
was wondering whether the ship would
be seized that night. and what / should
do with my tremendous secret. When I
heard that knocking, called out: Who
IS it? What do you want?' And q voice
answered: I am Trickle, the ship's
steward. miss. The captain wishes tn
see you Immediately in his cabin !,
Somehow I instantly connected the snm.
mons with what had overheard. new.
er rejecting that Captain Benson could
not know that had the secret of the
gang. l jumped out of bed. At that
moment l heard a strange, wailinp
noise upon the water. The portfolio was
open-the sound seemed infinitely dis.
tant. Wrapped myself up in a dressing
gown and opened the door and was
grasped by the throat and gagged. / can
recollect being gagged and the misera.
Ole sensationi Of suffocation. but NO
more until l woke to life here"
Miss Mansel ceased.
This" said Commander BoldocL
is the most astonishing thing that has
ever happened in my time at sea-"
he was proceeding when he observed
that the lady's eyes were filed with
tears. which ran down her cheeks. She
turned her face to the ships wall. Boil.
docks feeling heart Immediately saw
what was wanted. and. going to his
own cabin, he returned with a large
clean pocket handkerchief, which he
placed upon the bolster,