The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-04-13

go VI sSA1 cHStA DIv-tA- VI IICtlO44l6i4
4 Ger. He had d red robe, reaching to hi
! feet, covered with a mysterious characf
ers and a belt Of black cloth worked wit
gold.
/ On his head he Wore a tail red hat, run
ming up TO a peak, with serpents and liz
/ ards worked on it, and with signs of tn
/ zodiac on the wide rim He had a wi.
of white hair, and beard, covering hi
1 breast, of the same. Then he got a g.ea
| red-cOvered book, with silver clasps. ful
/ Of strange characters.
Thus equipped we set off, and wer,
lucky enough to find Cap'n Lunker il
/ the cafe, where he usually stopped. H,
WAS slttin' at Il colner-table alone, Will
| d bottle Of wine and glass before him
Jack, looking the most like a wizard OF
anything you can possibly imagine, Went
and sat down directly at the other side
| of the table, while Tom and | got neal
enough 10 see ana hear.
Cap u Lunker looked up, and il was
plain TO be seen that the strange presence
startled him. The wizard opened his
book, and seemed very busy over it,
pages BY and by he said as if readin'
What Is this-an Americana
Ana then he read off Il lot of gibberish
that was tit to make your hair stand on
end His voice was simply awful 1t
was like the roar Of breakers III the dis
tance.
Thou art an Americana" he finally
said. point-Dlank
y es sir, said Lunker. with culver
in hIs voice
''Ihe stars told me | should meet Il
stranger nom over the sea, said Jack.
IN me deepest OF tones. Fortunate is
ne who knoweJh aIl tongues, and whose
leeu have pressed all lands. Know, my
SON. that / nave travelled Oh foot through
the tOWery realm OF the Mongol; / have
DrIyed the Ice OF the nCrth. and have
Dared my head to the scOrching rays OF
the equator. All quarters of the terres-
JrlA! globe are known To me, and every
star III the celestial vault hath opened its
meaning to me
Cap.n Lunker was plainly wonder
stricken. And well he might be: for the
astrolOSers manner thrilled even me,
who knew the cheat
My son, went on Jack, Il have nov
er prostituted my noble science to the
greed OF gain. L would like to speak
with thee plainly"
lie paused Il little while, and then
Went on and told Lunker all about his
past life, from his boyhood up. You can
H. - t:e spen-6ai1n59t - So. ,,.'i ne
stranger had told him truly i'll every
thing.
'.Wouldst look into the future? the
asked.
Lunker said yes.
Jack opened his book and pretended
to read. BY and by he shut it up with Il
groan and then opened it again.
This Is dark" he said Il hear
wall and cry, as of pain and agony;
and it Is the shadow Of But, my son,
let Us close the book Seek to know no
more
Now, You see, this was just where
Cap'n Lunker couldn't stop. He was
bound to know more He trembled from
head TO foot, and was afraid; but the fit
OF curiosity WAS upon him. He begged
The astrologer to 90 on. Jack opened
his book again and presently said:
4 heard the sound of heavy blows
not upon you, my son; but yet very near
to you and this is the shadow that
comes upon the verge Of your own death.
There shall be wailing and tears, and
agony and blood. beneath cruel blows,
Such shall be the note of your mortal
dissolution. When you see and hear,
know that your end is at hand
But, gasped Lunker, pale Us death,
is 1t near or far
The mystic hand doth not tell me. |
can only see that thou art connected
with the doom i'll more ways than one.
| tind il here set down Cum signum
aristophagus momentum adagrandumr
which signifieth His hand shall invite
the doom forshadowed,-B BY which it
would seem. my son. that some volun-
tary act Of Your own is to bring the fatal
shadow Could this be averted. the rest
Is prosperous.
But, said Lunker. gasping like Il
fainting man. suppose there should be
no pain. and no agony no lashing or
wailng which | could prevent"
Il have spoken, my son. If thou canst
avert that fatal shadow, | find prosperi-
ty beyond. But, beware the dark hour.
And with this Jack closed his book.
and arose. and shortly afterward Tom
and l followed him from the cafe. At
the costumer's we took our own clothes.
and having paid our bill, Went to the
opera.
C2pn Lunker didn't come on board
until the next mornin, and one of his
first orders after he got over the side,
was for setting Bill Warren at liberty
and sendin' him about his work.
Are You goin' to fog him.? asked the
first mate.
No. said the eapn. quakin' all over
And after a little time he added: I've
thought better of it. won't have a man
struck on board this ship while COM
mand her. Mind, that is r.Iy order. Not
a blow
And l can tell you, boys, he was as
good as his word SO much for our nee
romantic ruse. And | don t think Capn
Lunker ever suspected the trick we play
ed. Halo, There's the call for the
watch Heave up!
D.