Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-07

house LOT USlu OIL pOSUy tSklo Lue VOICE IT0h
the deck.
May" came the answer from boat;
Eye do me good turn by giving me this
leave; fear me not. I'll meier betray you or
fail to be back in time for you to get ashore.
rise! Tell him will fetch the rum"
Fetch it, then, but not in yer skin" was
the return. eff they speak o me, say We
heard was going on quest to Kingsbridge,
to be back on the morrow. Ye had better
Delay yer lip, for We are off post, an hold
We in my hand"
"Ay, ay! Never fear! Good night" was
the answer, and the boat moved off with
steady strokes of the oar, while the first
speaker evidently entered the cabin, as l
heard the companion door open and close.
Then all was again silent.
Here was an unexpected situation made
more mysterious from the fact that there
was something familiar in the voice of the
man who had just gone below. 1 could not
place it, only noticing that both men spoke
with the SAVIOR Of sea brine in their words,
and though one was totally strange to me,
the voice of the other hung in my ear as a
misty dream hangs in the mind after wax
ing, naught but its effect remaining.
Getting to the deck again, moved slow
ly aft, stopping as noticed a slight luminos-
ity at the side of the cabin, but on further
cautious approach found the cause. The
cabin was lighted. To prevent the light
from going beyond the vessel tarpaulin
had been stretched over the cabin house
from rail to rail, thus leaving an open space
betwixt the rails and the headlights, where
by was served the double end of obtaining
air and guarding the outward. show of light.
Here was deviltry for sure. Dropping on
to my stomach, snaked myself beneath the
tarpaulin, brought my eye to the swung
back port, and nearly betrayed myself by
the start made.
A lighted lantern hung from carline, the
remains of meal were spread on the table,
and there, half reclining in bunk and with
his head in bandage, was Capt. Scammell,
haggard from fever and somewhat the
worse from liquor while on the transom
end by his side sat my whilom mate, John
Lounsbury, of Rye, late risen from the dead.
Here, then, were my two arch-enemies;
probably the only living souls whose animos-
ity toward me was both of personal and
political nature, saving perhaps that of
Clinton himself. Possibly my gorge would
have risen sooner against Scammell than at
the man by his side, though the latter was
none the less villain, and it seemed as
though fate, having given me friends when
mettle to extremity.
Giving no thoughts to those in the boat, l
settled myself to hear the opening dialogue
that Lounsbury had but Just arrived.
my God! 1 thought you would never
come!" were the first words by Scammell.
GWhnt newc dn Won hrp19D
None to warrant grin" was the an
swer. 81 can give we no end O. advice,
though, an it's to get from this an have it
out VII Clinton while there's yet chance"
Damn your advice! What's your news?"
"Well, Belden goes scot free, an is back
in favor an on the Sprite. He lays the
fault O. palming off that devil Thorndyke to
We. He says We called Thorndyke by my
name in the tavern yard, and that he is in
nocent of all fraud"
Course the stunted coward! And is not
Thorndyke caught? or-or-the girl or her
brother?"
Nay, but peg worse. Thorndyke has
Drained Lowney, whom We must know, and
then escaped, God knows how, being mixed
up with a Quaker at Stryker's tavern on the
road. Stryker was arrested, but afterward
let go, for he was not thought to have had q
finger in the pie. As for the boy an girl,
naught has been seen O. them-not smell
and there We have all know. They say
the girl is in the woods to the north, but
she may ha' gone to Heaven by this!"
"What? what?" said Scanned, starting
up, but sinking back with curse as he
placed his hand on his bandaged head. I'm
the woods! Known to be there and not
taken! Are We all cursed babies on the
trail? Fore God, you are right! was a
fool to fly at a shadow! I'll back to Clin-
ton and plead fever to explain my absence.
III back with you this night. The first tale
told is the best! Is it not known whose
name she mentioned to Clinton?"
Nay, man, she gave no name that l can
find. Clinton but suspicioned we. Go to
him, an yer not fool, while bide here
the while. What made We pick this spot to
hide I'M" he continued, carelessly passing
his hand over the smooth woodwork of the
bulkhead
Because twas right beneath their noses,
and the guard was in my pay. In faith,
Lounsbury," he went on, with something
like relief in the easing away of his body and
the long breath he took while he laid his
hand on the brace of pistols sticking in his
belt, there was another reason, one with
money"
"Ah! what" interrupted the other, sud-
denly withdrawing his wandering hand and
bending eagerly forward.
Gay, the reward, you know; I'm nigh
done up for cash. That and revenge, for,
mind you, / thought that Thorndyke might
tlks u ints his AHA6 b esths Aboard ~ eMA