The Wichita tribune., 1898-09-03

"Nonsense!" said l. *tSurely you
can't believe what you are saying. It's
only a fancy"
But for all that, there was something
in the mans look that gave me kind
OF creepy" feeling.
Say what you WILL" he replied, "but
Just come to my cabin with me as soon
as you are relieved from your post,
and you can see for yourself"
With this. he walked forward and
stood leaning on the rail, gazing into
! the sea. Although it is no uncommon
thing to see sailors who firmly be-
lieve in such superstitious stories am
not one of them. Still, couldn't get
the mans words and looks out of my
mind, and when l was relieved | went
to him, and, in a light tone, said:
Come, now, and we'll go down and
take look at Bentley's ghost"
Without a word, he led the way to
MS cabin. 1t was quite dark in there,
for there was no light save what came
been covered with a tarpaulin. l was
about to strike a light, when he caught
me by the arm and turned my face
toward the bunk where he had been
sleeping.
Look" he cried, In a frightened
whisper, his hold tightening on my
arm. Il saw it again, but it faded
away There-there it is!'
| turned my face toward the bunk,
and as I did so | saw kind Of shim-
mering light lowering over the pillow.
1t seemed to move back and forth with
| the swaying Of the vessel. Then of
| sudden 1t grew brighter and, as l am
| living, there was the face of Mark
Bentley as plain as l see yours this mo-
ment. Well, sir, you might have
knocked me down with feather. l
stood there looking at it till kind OF
cry came from Magsby.
'You see it?" he asked. just as II
| they were the last words he would ever
| speak.
"Yes," says I, II saw some
, thing"
He uttered a groan, and l think he
would have fallen had l not caught
him. Wnen looked again, the strange
vision had disappeared.
Magsby and l went from the cabin
together, and from that moment he
| never entered the place again.
He slept with me in my bunk that
night; that is, he turned in with me,
| night OF course the story that Bent
ley's ghost had been seen in Magsby's
cabin was soon known to every sailor
on board, and there was no end Of talk
over the strange incident. | was called
upon to tell all | knew of the affair,
and my story was listened to with
mingled expressions of doubt and
credulity
The next night a crowd of sailors
visited the cabin where the vision had
appeared, but nothing was seen of the
ghostly visitant. Magsby, however,
kept aloof from the place, and could
not be induced to enter. He seemed
to be terribly downcast, and in a few
days a great change had come over
him. His cheeks were hollow, his face
haggard, and he was forever glancing
about him, as if he expected any mo-
ment. to see something dreadful
One night he came to my cabin, and
throwing himself on the edge of the
bunk, said in a husky voice:
"'Tain't no use in trying-I can't
stand this; it's worrying the life out
of me-"
"Why-what is?" I asked, though I
well knew what he meant.
"Bentley's ghost" was the reply.
Its going to drive me into the sea
yet, to follow poor Bentley"
That's all foolish talk" | said. "It
is a little strange what we saw in the
cabin that night, but what's the harm
of it? Didn't l see it as we'll as your
self? Still, l don't see as that's any
reason that l should go talking of
jumping into the sea over It,"
But you don't know ALL" he went
on, in a strange, hesitating way Then,
letting his voice sink to whisper he
said, with a sort of gasp, as if the
words were forced from him: 'Sprig-
gins, I've got to tell it to some one
l murdered Mark Bentley
AS you may we'll believe, the fell
lows words completely upset me. /
hardly knew whether to believe his
words or not for I had about come
to the conclusion that poor Magsby had
gone clean daft over the ghost busi-
ness.
What! Do you mean to tell me that
you killed Bentley" I gasped, as soon
as was able to find my voice.
"It is the truth, as | live and as God
is my witnessr' he replied.
l could only stare at him in blank
amazement.
YES" he went on, Il pushed him
overheard the night you thought some
one had fallen over. Why did | COM
nit the dreadful deed? Well, l can
soon tell you, though | reckon the
word drink would explain it, for
though I had reasons to want him out
of the way, l would never have taken
human life except when under the
influence of strong drink. My name is
not Magsby, but Silas Green, and | am
a first cousin of Bentley's, though he
did not know me when l came aboard,
for we had not met before for many
years. You see had some notion that
| might inherit the most of Nicholas
Barton's fortune if Mark was out Of
the way, but as my life had been
wild one, | knew that my uncle would
leave me nothing once Mark should
reach Rio. l did not know that my
cousin was on board till after we had
set sail and then | was so filled with
rage and disappointment that | began