Rock Island Argus., 1897-01-02

j
tain's duty TO turn the ships "'prow"
at once for Sydney, as everything was
going wrong, and she for one was GER
tain they'd never sight England.
= 'When did you last see Miss Man.
eel?" said the captain to the steward
LAST evening. SIR"
cat what hour:''
''At about half past 9, I think it va,
sir. Size came ont Of her cabin and
passed oL 10 the quarter deck. Twas On
some job. sir. end took no particular
notice.
Ibid you call her. d'you say. this
morning.
knocked ON her door at . quarter to
8 this morning, as usual, sir; thought
the young lady was in q sound sleep, a.
I got no answer.
The surgeon. at the captain D side, was
gazing round him with . very grave
face. Everything seemed in its place.
Dresses swrns from pegs upon the bulk
head. The hat the young lady had been
in the habit Of wearing was in the up
per bunk, alocg with a bandbox or two,
q parasol. an umbrella and the like.
The apparel she had removed on the
previous night lay neatly folded on q
chair. Tire surgeons solemn eye wan
dered to it and fastened itself there. He
exclaimed:
Would Mrs. Storr step in?"
Mrs. Storr. said the captain.
That lady hurriedly left Mrs. Pea
cock.
"Mrs. Storr." said the surgeon, ''do
you think yon will be able to tell us by
looking round you if the young lady
was dressed when she left her cabin?"
Mrs. Storr very carefully viewed the
interior. She examined the dresses and
said, pointing to one. that it was q
light summer gorxn-the girl had worn
it since the stormy weather. That be-
ing so. she considered that Miss Mansel
would have put on that particular dress
again this dGv then. after looking about
her bit farther, ut the hat in the upper
bunk and the clothes folded upon the
chair, she gavo it as her opinion that
the girl had not left her cabin dressed
for the deck, although, she added, II
don't sec her dressing gown, and miss
flannel pettiooat from those clothes
there"
A short silence followed this. The
lady's statement seemed toconvince the
captain.
''She must be in the ship" said he.
and he gave Trickle and John, the un.
dersteward, certain directions, whisper.
ing them.
"Until we know" exclaimed the
| doctor in q low tone, that his words
might rot reach tho people in the cud.
dy, "that the yo1ng lady is not in the
ship speculation is hopeless. Yet it il
worth your while observing, Captain
Benson, that Miss Mansel must have
Quilted the cabin Of her own free will.
The appearance of the place warrants
| tie idea.
II should hope she did, SIR" grum.
b!ed the little skipper, thunderstrucl
| by the subtle, dark significance Of the
doctors words.
| "A third chair was empty this morn
ing" said tho doctor. ''Mr. Mark Dav
cnirc evidently docs not require my
services. 1t is nevertheless my duty,
acting on your commands. captain, thai
1 should look in upon him to see how
nc docs
go, sir. quickly, if you please. y
gasped Captain Benson. perhaps hi!
cabins empty"
The skipper remained in Miss Man
| sells cabin in conversation with Mrs
Storr. her husband. and the Dents. A
group Of fellows wese lighting thei
pipes on the quarter deck under the re
cess Already the news that the youn,
lady passenger with the fine eyes hat
mysteriously disappeared was got for
ward, and by putting your head out O
Miss Mansel's cabin door you nigh
have seen through the cuddy window
the whole strength of the ships com
pary gathered in a heap about tn
windlass end. Indeed Mr.. Poole on tn
poop convers;ng with Captain Trollop
and Mr. Caldwell was too much aston
ished and frightened by the report from
below to give heed just then to the dis
cipline Of the vessel
The captain went slowly up the com
panion steps, and when he had game
the top Of the hatch he stood with hi
| tpOh thC AsCoA, AoOOA AAS cOAuCWhd
with his breath The mate came up tn
lee ladder and approached slowly. H
saluted with q flourish Of his thumb
paid he had searched in all directions
but saw no signs of the young lady.
''You had the first watch, SIR" sal
Benson. with tinge of gray sitting int
his complexion and speaking somewha
brokenly. "When did you last observ
ker:''
''I can't say tha. took any notice Q
her at all last night, sir. don't re
member seeing her in the cuddy, nor d
recall her as having been up here"
where have you looked:'
!, Mr.. Matthews named the severs
parts of the ship he had explored.
The captain called Poole to him. Dii
may was fixed upon this young man
face.
; "You have the middle watch, eir?'
says Benson.
"Yes, sir. answers Poole.
did yen see anything Of Miss Mar
sci in your watch?"
"No, SIR"