Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-30

place Of the modern siren. The quest
has been 80 interesting that it has
taken entire possession of me. Last
night went out in my small boat TO
scan the rocks in the darkness. once
thought I heard the SIRENS call, but
could not be sure. Later, however, l
think discovered her in the unroman-
tic act of striking matches. This SOUNDS
extremely prosaic, but when you take
into consideration the intense darkness
OF the night, her perilous perch on the
face of beetling cliff, and the strange
ness of the whole affair you will find 1T
ia not without Its touch of mystery
The matches flared for moment, and
went out, or perhaps she had lantern
with which she was signalling.
she is much farther west than had
supposed from her song. but how she
reaches her eyrie and how she main
tains herself there Is beyond my COM
prehension. There must be shallow
cave up aloft which gives some sort OF
footing. but the ledge is SO lofty that 1T
ia invisible from the sea.
Rave had an adventure which even now
makes me shudder to think of. hope
1T will not be repeated.
Il got down over the cliff with my
rope, at about the spot where l sup
POSED the light to have shown. All at
once noticed culver IN the rope as
il some unseen person above me were
trying to saw it asunder. I got my feet
OIL a shelf not more than six inches
wide, and just in time, for the severed:
rope came down in coils around me.
found myself entirely cut off from the
cliff top, plastered against the rock,
hardly daring to breathe. Ishouted for
help, hoping some boatman below
might hear me, but at last realized that
/. was to be saved it must be thru my
own exertions.
"My Swiss rock climbing experiences
now stood my friend. Face against the
wall, with outspread arms, ] worked my
way cautiously along the precipice,
hoping the shelf would last my turn.
which was making for. a shallow val
ley in the cliff top. Once, thru exhaus-
ton, I-feared my stamina was not going
to stand the strain, for ] had q sort OF
momentary vision, which showed me
my mind was not so entirely under my
control at 1t should have been in such a
crisis. #
II thought saw human face peer
at me from an impossible point in the
cliff above me. 1t was distorted witt,
rage and hate, or 80 regarded 1t az
the time, for it was gone in a moment
. girls face-the mirage of the siren
that has been haunting my brain, and
yet it was face had seen somewhere
before, but I can not remember where.
For an instant persuaded myself that
she, and not protrduding rock, had cut
the rope. j pulled myself together, and
determined to see no more such dis
quieting illusions until was safe on
more level ground. / reached the VAL
Icy thoroughly done up, and lay there
for long time, painting and unable to
believe that the danger was past.
II am as resolute as ever to solve
this puzzle. Doubtless the answer wilt
be commonplace enough. once have
reached it. : But / shall go no more
alone in this affair. shall engage q
stalwart islander or two. who will look
after the rope above while am de-
scending, and be ready to throw me
another line should the one that sup
ports me show signs of giving way.
You shall hear news of me tomorrow,
for 1 feel certain am going to unravel
the great mystery"
These were the last words written by
Professor Wallis Dent. paid a visit to
Capri, and talked with the two men
who had been with Professor Dent on
the day Of the disaster. They were
rather stupid persons who plainly took
1t for granted that the rope had parted
because Of abrasion on sharp rock. On
this occasion the professor had tied the
rope round him, and the two men had
lowered him slowly. He evidently knew
something was going wrong, altho they
had no suspicion of 1t, for he signallei
them to pull him up again.
They were about to obey when they
suddenly found the line loose in their
hands, which caused them to fall back
words to the ground. am convinced
that Professor Dent had unluckily be-
come involved in the operations of to-
bacco smugglers, who were running
their illicit cargoes into a cove at the
foot of the cliff, bringing 1t from Capri
to Naples and the mainland.
The girl was doubtless perched in
some slight cavern, with an extended
outlook to signal by voice or light that
the coast was clear. Dents actions
must have convinced the snugglers and
their watch woman that he sought and
Ierhaps had obtained evidence against
them. see no reason to disbelieve that
she cut the rope on each occasion, and
suspect that she shared the fate she
had so ruthlessly dealt out to the
doomed man, for the fishers say that
one night an appalling and prolonged
scream was heard down the face of the
cliff, followed by crash and silence.
These devout fishers crossed them
selves and thought this the ghostly re-
enactment OF the former tragedy. How
ever, the men who were with him say
that Professor Dent did not cry out as
he fell, but that statement does not
shake the belief of the fishers in their
ghost story.
The End.l
MARRIEs a REDsKlN.
White Woman Secures Divorce TO Wed
an Indian.
Chicago, Sept. 30.-Mrs. Mary Young,
of Chicago, member OF a prominent En-
Elish family, obtained divorce from