The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-01

loathsome end" he concluded. with a shud-
der.
Nay. the end lies beyond. Ii another
world said Morrison. hoping to rekindle
the conjunction that seem<d to have spent
itself in the revealment of the crime. You
will. of course, make all the reparation that
lies in your power and afix your signature
when 1 have taken down the main points OF
your statement2Y
The other nodded in logged silence.
That fellow, Fairfield. will be reveling in
life. and love. and happiness. while 1 am
rotting here!' he said. with a bitter empha-
sis, as, ten minutes later, having signed his
name. he flung down the pen. But, per-
haps, after al" he added. as though on the
spur of the hope, mo eye but yours will
ever read it. Failing your escape. it may
lie here for ages"
"Babble babble, babble, and never a word
of where he has hidden that cursed state
meDt Of mine!"
The impatient words &roke from Anthony
luke, who sat looking modify down on his
delirious companion. Five weeks had
passed, bringing about a strange transposi-
tion in the condition of the two men. On
the day following Tuke's confession, Morri-
SOhb Willie SclllHS mS tIdpS " Wilu-AOWl,
had found a patch of curry grass. The
good fellow made all haste to prepare it for
luke. who after partaking of this ~invalua-
bic remedy had rallied surprisingly. Re-
CARELESS of his frost-bitten toes, Morrison
had covered dreary miles in search of a
further supply OF the grass. meeting. how
ever, with but small success. But what he
did obtain worked wonders, the amendment
steadily continuing, until recovery was in
sured.
But the disease had only loosened its hold
on the one, to seize on the other.
AS he felt himself becoming weaker and
weaker, and knew that he would soon be at
the mercy of a fellow without honor or
scruple, Morrison was more and more
tempted to concede to his persistent de-
mands for. the restoration of the notebook
containing his confession. But the elder
mans deep-rooted honesty and love of fair
play ever checked this cowardly impulse;
and finally, he decided to secrete the note
book, while he yet had the strength. Ac-
cordingly. under pretext of making a look
out, he had dragged his aching limbs over
the snowy ground, to the rocky promon
tory on whose lofty signal waved their sig
nal of distress.
At last the icy steep was climbed, and he
stood painting on the wind-swept eminence.
Too exhausted to proceed at once TO exc
cute his purpose, he leant on his icepole
and looked away over the wide shore ice to
the leaden-looking sea beyond. But no
glimpse of a vessel met his straining gaze.
With a heavy sigh, he turned his eyes land
ward; but the great white plains, hum
mocky with frozen snowdrifts, looked equal
ly lifeless and desolate-no signs to encour-
age the forlorn hope in his breast that some
of his party might be returning.
Setting himself to the task. he laboriously
buried the notebook-which he had already
inclosed in his cigar case-close at the foot
of the firmly planted icepole that served as
a Flagstaff. He had reasoned that in the
case Of the party returning to the place.
they would, before leaving it. in all prob
ability, remove the distress signal and
doubtlessly discover the confession.
Il can hardly hope to ever unearth it my
self-to say the least. that fellow won't try
to keep life in me- he thought with a
heavy heart, as, his object accomplished,
he again looked dejectedly round on the
vast regions of ice and snow-but his view
was now INSTRUCTED by the snowstorm that
had set in during his employment.
As he descended, the blast drove the
snow and icy missiles full in his face, WELL
nigh binding him; so that 1t was with great
difficulty he succeeded in regaining the hut.
The conviction that his only companion
would fain see his lips sealed in death
preyed on his mind necessarily and great
ly accelerated the disease. And before
many days had passed he lay in the ex-
tremity he had dreaded. helpless and utter
ly at the mercy of an migrate and a muir
derer. But luke was of opinion that he
had no need to further stain his soul, that
the scurvy would soon fulfill the malig-
nant wishes that surged in his heart when
Morrison persistently refused to say where
the confession lay hidden. When delirium
set in, ~he-Tuke-had given the keenest at
tention to the others wild words; but so
far nc inkling of a clew had he cleaned.
ITO think of my making a cursed fool Of
myself-putting a moose about my neck in
this fashion. But his hand shall never
tighten it," he swore between his teeth,
as he sat listening to the poor fellow
"babblihg o. green fields and all the sim
pie pleasures of life. But say, what mean
these words, Yes, yes, / tell you it is
there-it must be there! Pull up the pole
there, 1 told you sou And with a deep
drawn breath he sank back and fell into a
profound sleep. even while the other quickly
pulled on his deerskins and seized his ice
pole, all eagerness to follow up the cue
those rambling words had given him.
Little thinking he would never enter it
again, he passed from the close, little hut
into a wind whose icy keeness cut through
his thick garments like a knife.
AS quickly as he could he made his way
over the ~hummocky ground towards the
rocky headland. where futtered the wealth
er-beaten signal. On his rounding the bleak
%point-the summit being more accessible on
the farther side-he met the full force OF
the wind; but its iciness was unfelt now
for there. within a hundred yards of him,
stood half a dozen men. They were com-
ing in his direction and at sight of him a
hearty cheer broke from them. For the first
minute he thought they were his late fell
low-explorers returned at last; but as they
drew nearer he saw by their garb that they
must belong to some whaling or sealing YES
sci, and on looking beyond he deserted
what was undoubtedly the masts of their
ship.
well met, stranger! We sighted that
bit o. buntin' as we was threadin' the pack
and hev made tracks to larn the out o.
itr' greeted a CHEEKY, well-fed looking man
as he wrung Tuke's hand. How many dc
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