Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-28

/ SNAaNu ouis w UO are YOU But
| hadn the presence of mind to do any
| thing but Just cry out The moment
| spoke the man let me go, and was
out of the cabin as quickly as he had
! come into it. There, what do you
| think Of that"
I think you ought to have .png the
| bell for the steward, | replied prompt
| ly.
Why, so | did. OF course" said Net
| ley, impatiently and | told him what
had happened; and all the satisfaction
| got was that the fellow looked as
II he didn't believe me. He said he
had passed the door himself only a few
moments before. and had seen nobody
about
confess | felt very much of the
same opinion as the steward that Net
ley had been the victim of his own i'm
aglngs, especiall as, although he de-
clared himself actually seized by this
mysterious individual he could give no
account whatever OF the intruder's
height, breadth or dress. All that he
could say was that the hands which
had seized him must have been very
cold for they struck chill into him
through the sleeves of his pajamas.
So ! reasoned with him. II any per-
son mad come to the cabin in the way
he described it could only be through
one of two things--either that he had
mistaken ii for another or that he
was thief who had come for the pur-
pose Of robbery. In the former case of
an accidental visit, the intruder would
have apologized and explained; while
IN the latter case, n would-be thief
would either not have entered at all
when he found the occupant on the
alert, or else on Selling Netley he would
have stifled his cries and made at least
an attempt to carry off something. 1t
was absurd to suppose that he would
have allowed himself TO be let in, and
even seized the occupant of the cabin,
and then suddenly have made of at
the first sound of his voice
Netley's face assumed a puzzled eX-
preston.
. 1t does seem odd, he admitted, but
ii is as | tell you swear it,
And not all the chaff he received that
day would alter his opinion or his de-
termination not to sleep in my cabin
again.
Very we'll" said | with shrug of
the shoulders, when | had done my
best to prove to him that he must be
all right as long as he kept his door
bolted. II shall be very glad to get
back to my own cabin, for | like it
better than yours.
Perhaps the man came to me in
mistake for you, suggested Netley sud-
denly.
Breakfast was over, and pretty big
group OF us had collected round Net
ley on deck, delighted to get something
fresh to talk about. though nobody put
much faith in what was already going
by the name of "Netley's phantom"
| laughed.
Well, If he comes again, ! shall be
ready for him. I've got revolver with
me- and II you see ghost walking
about on the following day with a
couple OF bullet holes in him you'll
know how they came there"
A deep voice, speaking in peremp-
tory tone, struck into the conversation.
1t was Dick millions.
You couldn't do that" said he, brief
ly.
,:Why couldn't II" retorted I.
Because, IL you killed the man, it
wcald be murder none the less IL he
were attempting to rob you.
Now, nothing in this world had been
further from my thought than to con-
meet Young Mullion with Netleys alb
surd story. But when | saw how des-
earnest his tone was, and that
his dark complexion had changed to a
Ifxtt1 nn1, m hn,, a 81
into my head that made me feel quite
sick 1t was few moments before |
could answer him. Then | said, with
out looking HIM in face.
Il think the modern idea of the sane
tity OF human life in all circumstances
is bosn. And don't think n fellow
who's a nuisance to society deserves
to live
"Bnt you would be the nuisance to
society II you took it upon yourself To
shoot a man you found in your cabin
without waiting to ask why he came
there said Dick, with so much rough
defiance in his tone that everybody in
stinctively turned to look at him
Anyhow ! should chance it"
answered steadily.
And then everybody turned to look
at me. and J became aware that there
must be something In my voice or In
my face that attracted attention.
A girls voice, In the pause which fol
lowed. made us all start
Mr.. Mullion." she said. will you
please come and move my chair for
me- want II put under the awning, and
near papa.
Half-a-do2en OF us were ready to do
her bidding, but she would only give
10 her chair to Dick | knew as well
as possible that pretty Jennie, who
chose To play a sort Of Providence -
the black browed young man, had cley-
srly devised this errand 10 extircate him |
from a situation In which she instinc- |
lively felt that he was not appearing 10 |
advantage And | was angry with girl, |
while ! liked her for II.
Nv anger caused me to make what |
was rather an injudicious speech to a |
American, who was stand |
Ing near me. Mr.. Coates wGs a long, |
thin sallow New Englander. who said |
little. tEt looked shrewdly on the world /
through long eyes that looked Ike 4
Sits in his face.
a. /.