The record-union., 1897-08-27

ana their mouths moved like they was
talking, but they didn't make no sound,
though they understood what each
other was saying. All at onct the
tallest mamie was old, with gray
hair-reached across the table and
struck the other on the cheek and the
blue scar opened and bled like it was
a fresh cut though there wasn't any
knife that 1 could see. The woman
slipped behind the old man, and she
put her hands round his throat so that
her thumbs passed deep into the flesh
He tried to get free, but she pressed
his throat till her fingers locked round
it, When she let go he fell with his
face on the table; then she and the man
with the cut cheek dragged him up
stairs and could hear the thump of his
boot-heels as they hit. / was hid be-
hind the mizzing mast but l peeked
out and saw them heave him overheard,
and then I heard the splash. The
woman laughed out loud-it was the
first sound that had come from their
lips-and her laugh was worse than her
face 1t was tinkly and clear, like the
high notes Of a pianner, and she Wlpeo
the mans bloody cheek with her hair
and her eyes shone green like star
board light on a clear night.
Just then I could hear the click OF
the oars in the rowlocks-it was the
cook coming back. I can tell you II
was music to my ears. The man and
woman started toward the side ana
follered 'em. I caught the woman py
her hair, whipped out my knife and cut
off a strand-juet in time, too, for they
were over the ship side like flash
when the cook had raised his boat
and hung it from the davits, he came aft
and found me holding the bit of hair in
nv hand and staring at it like l was
crazy. We went below and l had nip
of something. then l told him Whatd
happened. He gave me sharp look and
.slxed me if I hadn't never heard the
yarn. said that was dragging with
out anchorage, and if he knew what it
all meant to tell me-he was an old Teller
that had cooked in half the galleys on
the lakes and knew every craft from
Duluth to Buffalo.
He said he guessed I hadn't never
heard the early history Of the Calisty Nj.
Jones. and 1 had to admit chat l dldn
know anything except that she'd been
built about eight years when the Hlies
Brothers bought her and made me mas
ter He said two or three PARTIES had
owned her before, and that her first cap
tain was an old Teller that ust TO take
his daughter with him in the summer
His mate was young, and he and the girl
took a liking to each other, but the old
man wouldn't hear TO their marrying
and was going to discharge him as soon
as they got back to the home port Be
fore that, though, they were CANNED
right there in Eagle harbOr and in the
evening the crew all went ashore just
as mine done. The old man and the
mate had a quarrel, and the Captain
cut the mate with a long knife; then
the girl crept up behind her father and
choked him to death and she and the
mate dragged him up the stairs ana
chucked him overheard. They saw
the cabinboy a peeping at EN- from De
hind a maSt-he'd been asleep when the
others went ashore and had seen the
whole killing He run from 'em and
hid in the hold, and they put off in the
second vawlboat so'se to be gone when
the crew came back. Thev was never
seen again. for in the night a white
scuall come up and they was thought to
have got their just deserts by being
drowned. The cook said it wasn't no
uncommon thing for dead folks to re-
turn 10 the places where they'd did deeds
of wrong. so that when the Calisty NJ.
Jones put into the harbor where they'd
done murder they was just drawn to
her like iron filings is drawn to mag
net. I might a believed that it was all
a dream if 1 hadn't had that lock of hair
in my hand. but that was evidence,
wasn't it2"
answered that it was most convinc-
ing evidence, but l was unprepared for
the next move of the ancient Captain.
I've got it right here in my wesklt
pocket and I'll snow it to you he said
drawing out a small battered locket
which he opened and handed to me.
It was an old-fashioned locket such as
used to be exchanged by sWeethearts;
under the round glass was a wisp of pale
coarse hair, tied in a sailors knot. Its
a very interesting relic 1 said feebly,
as I handed it back.
Yes it is the Captain replied, snap
ping the lid shut, land a queer thing
about it is that it is the same identical
color as my first wife's hair-thats one
of the aueerest things about the whole
business. and the good old man care
fully deposited his relic in his waistcoat
pocket.-Chicago News.