Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-25

OF the man showed in his crouching, catlik<
step as he glided along the edge Of the
table and into the space between it and The
foot of the ladder. Madness, murder, and
every evil famed from his eyes, and knew
that now he or I must die, though would
have mighty small qualms in killing him
and had still smaller doubts as to which was
to be killed.
Though was armed with naught but be.
laying pin, while he possessed a sword, the
chances were more in my favor than in his.
In the narrow passage of the companion, to
which he must come to attack me, his
weapon would be of no avail save in the
thrust, while the short and fairly heavy
club gripped would be untrammeled by
want OF space, and my position above him
gave me an advantage I had seen from the
beginning.
AS the fellow reached the foot of the
steps, his manner suddenly changed. Pull.
ing himself upright, he let out yell that
| was blood-curdling, and clapping bis left
hand over his eyes as though to shut out
the sight of me, he thrust his sword at arm g
length before him and rushed blindly up
the ladder as though to impale the uncanny
spirit he had seen at its top.
| AS the steel came near me I beat it down
with blow of the Delaying pin, and, reach.
ing forward, struck him fairly on the head.
lie threw up both hands, balanced for an
instant, and then pitched backward, strik-
ing the floor head first, the weight of his
body doubling and breaking his neck as
though it had been an icicle.
Before followed him by leap that car
ried me the length of the companion, knew
my enemy had come to anchor forever. It
was not to him turned my notice as |
CT rrpIy hat 1,,,k4 ~ Liz
surgeon who was fumbing beneath his pill
low, from under which he drew pistol lust
as l reached him. Grasping him by the
throat, l threw him on to his back on the
locker, and, with my knee on his thin chest,
twisted the yet knocked firearm from his
hand and sent it spinning across the cabin.
1t was done. Once again was master of
the Phantom.
Hurriedly searching the PROSTATE man
and his immediate surroundings for more
weapons, and finding none, without further
attempt to conceal my voice or purpose, l
commanded him to lie where he was on pain
of instant death, and, as saw the cowardly
noncombatant shrink away from me and
knew had nothing to fear from him, left
his side and crossed the cabin to where Law
my wounded friend To my establishment
his eyes were open and he was regarding me
curiously enough. though the greeting he
gave me was but movement of the lips, for
from them there came no sound. grasped
his hand. There was but the faintest trace
OF fever in it, and slight answering pres
sure was returned. Again his lips moved,
and, by bending to them, made out the
word "Ghost?"
NAY, my lad" answered heartily. 1--WE
are once more to the good. had small
hopes OF ever again seeing you alive, but
God has willed differently. Are you badly
hurt?"
The only answer was tremor of the lids,
and might have known that weakness
would hold him dumb. "Where was the boy
hit?" | demanded, turning to the lank red
coat who had not shifted his position but lay
| looking at me with intense interest. The
royalist raised himself on his elbow, and,
instead of answering, asked:
Who are ye, man, and where from?"
know we not Donald Thorndyke re-
| turned from hell for substituted" thun-
| dered. striding up to him. answer my
| question, We sot! Where was the boy hit?"
"In the right lung; the ball passed clear
through him." he answered as he shranli
back, and then, as his curiosity struggled for
mastery, he continued: "They told me that
overheard We had gone"
They told We the truth" l returned,
STOPPING for the pistol had wrenched from
him, and cooking it. "Put me aside and tell
me, will the lad live?"
"Ay, like as not if he has the pluck" he
snapped back, cycling and lodging the muz.
zle of the firearm. Faith, I'll do my best
if We will honor my calling and play that
damn thing to some other point. Have We
murdered all but MYSELF"
'sNoy ,pe,roroJ ,I,,,.,k
amused by his fear and amazed at the way
it had overcome the fumes of the liquor in
him. Il but gave the crew a rest from duty;
it is their watch below, and if We dare call
me murderer for taking and defending my
own, I'll act the part in truth"
by me sowl, We are the devil himself"
he CALCULATED, but cut him short
"Whateer am, We are my prisoner. Now
take your choice betwixt irons and parole;
the hold or this cabin. Speak fast! l have
business on hand.''
IA prisoner only, is it?' he exclaimed
quickly, sitting bolt upright and raising his
hand aloft. "Then, on the honor Of an
Irish gentleman, take oath not to sneak
from We or bear arms" he answered, as
though relieved by the terms 1 offered
"And bide in the cabin until allowed the
deck?" added.
mat same, he answered.
and care for the wounded lad?''
ooh, ay! oh, ay! an now"
"Then It's ten to one that before long We
will be back among your fellows by ex-
change" I interrupted, being in hurry.
Bring the boy to his feet, and twill be
money in your pocket; but no more liquor"
So saying, picked up the bottle and took
long draught of what proved to be good
whisky. Twas well-earned and sorely
needed dram, but mighty uncivil way of
taking it, inasmuch as had just cut him off
his own grog. The act may have been the
means of tanning the spark of malice held in
his nature-a spark that glowed, smoldered,
and burst into flame when least expected.
The cunning in his brain made up for the
lack of sinews in his body, for when turned
from locking up the bottle and sliding the
key into my pocket, noticed malevolence
in his face; but he shifted his eye from me,