Willmar tribune., 1899-10-04

hnally struck upon my md den goiid !, ~ wlii.h
now las rs plain TO III eye as to his. For
this, and probably for this alone, he had
once attempted 70 betray me, threatened my
life, and well-nign .ost his own. He lad
guarded the seclet as well as 7, and now,
after months Of waiting, hard fare, and
harder blows, ne doubtless felt d full meas
ure of sordid pleasure as my little hoard lay
uncovered before him: And not so little,
either. Five hundred pounds would make
him passing rich among his fellows.
Though his face was from me, it's exulta-
tion seemed to strike through him and shine
from his back. could almost see the dry,
greedy grin and close set of his ragged teeth
as he laid his hand on the bag to Judge it's
worth by lifting. With the inboru sus.
picion of theseverfearful thief or miser, he
threw cautious look over his shoulder, and
as he did so his eyes met mine.
once saw laughing man shot clean
through the heart, and the sudden change of
his expression as death seized him, was ap-
palhng; but it was nothing to the swift al.
teration that came over the face of Louns.
bury as that villain recognized me. Crouched
low at the top of the companion way, with
one foot on the steps and the other ON deck,
l remained immovable as witnessed the
effect of my sudden appearance. Without
shifting his position, the wretch held his
head craned over his left shoulder, his jaw
dropped, and his small, piglike eyes opened
to their farthest extent, glaring at me as
though their owner was in trance. His
face was too blackened and weather-beaten
to allow of change of color, but pallor and
fright were plain in his very attitude. Not a
sound or movement was made by either Of
us as we thus faced each other, and the
surgeon, marking nothing amiss, still made
desperate though ludicrous bobs toward the
liquor on the floor.
position, and then with slow, snakelike
motion, his EYES still fixed on mine, he
twisted till his back was to the bulkhead,
where, extending his arms against the wood.
work, he 1attened himself as though try
ing to shrink through the partition, horror
and dread written over his swollen and re-
pulsive features.
1t had never been in my mind to play a
part, but it was plain that to this ignorant
and superstitious man I was nothing less
than veritable spirit of the dead Indeed,
the glistening of my dripping clothes, the
plastered hair on my head, unshaven, and
with the paleness of long immersion on my
face, these, with the probable glitter of ex-
citement in my eyes, all tended to make me
uncanny in appearance, especially as my
figure was backed by the absolute blackness
of the night. Lounsbury had seen me in ap-
parent desperation plunge overheard, and
doubtless thought I had been drifting faith
oms deep below the Phantom's keel, yet in
the hour of his success had come to tor
ment him. Like Banquo's ghost-and ghost
l was to him-I would not down.
The agony working in his mind would
soon find an outlet in some fashion, but it
stirred him in way hardly expected. Still
piercing ME with his glance, his broad chest
heaved spasmodically and his right hand
gradually moved to the hilt of the cutlass
hanging on his left hip. Slowly, like man
asleep, he drew the blade, and with SLAYER
now running from the corners of his mouth,
he left the bullhead and crept toward me-
Fascination ruled him. The pent-up energy