Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Man Picked Up at Sea.
IOr1Pinal.1

bridge strainingl his eyes at some OBJ
ject out on his port quarter, then, rails
ing his glass, brought it to bear on the
object in question. Lowering the glass,
he directed the course of the vessel TO
be changed. Ten minutes latera man
in q ships boat was seen frantfcally
waving to the steamer and the crew
and passengers we're soon watching
his lonely craft. fart from land on the
bosom of an ocean.( \ whistle was
blown to let him know that he was
seen, after which he ceased waving
and took up pair of oars to be ready
to pull for the vessel when she had
slowed down.
wonder how he came to be out
here" remarked a passenger.
Probably shipwrecked," replied his
companion.
But we've had delightful weather"
you can't count on that. 1t may
have been blowing great guns near
here. Besides. there are fires and der
elicts and all sorts of dangers besides
storms"
Meanwhile the machinery had
stopped and the steamer was drifting
Il y
He pulled for her, rope ladder was
thrown over the side and the man
climbed aboard. The captain stood at
the ,gangway waiting for him.
Captain" said the man, Il want
few minutes private conversation
with you"
81 see no reason why what you may
have to say should not be heard by
every one here. Speak out
What 1 have to say is of very great
Importance. 1t concerns the safety of
this vessel
The captain turned and led the way
to his cabin. AS soon as they were
there he shut the door and directed the
man to speak out. He had no occasion
to urge speed. for the man at once be-
gan to talk in a hurried, excited man
ner.
Captain. 1 am happy to see this
steamer ahoat. You have an Internal
machine aboard. Get 1t out at once
and get rid of it Then l will tell you
how 1 came to know about 1t and how
l came to be here. There's no time to
be lost. How long have you been out?"
"Seven days"
six hours. Hurry
what is It? Where is itT'
among the baggage of John Rams
den. a box about two feet long, foot
high and foot broad"
Without a word the captain went
with the stranger TO the hold. where the
box was found. The captain called
man sitting on q coil of rope and or
dered him to throw the box overheard.
Zone moment. captain" said the pick
up. This looks like a straight case,
but were not dead sure. To avoid any
possible mistake and the destruction of
real baggage 1 suggest that we lower
the thing into my boat and let'it drift
200 or 800 feet astern."
go ahead and do it." said the cap
tain impatiently.
The man seized the box, carried it
gingerly to the deck, tied a rope about
it and lowered it into hts boat that was
tethered to the vessels side. Then he
permitted the boat TO drift astern TO a
safe distance.
There" he said to the captain. eff
it goes off 1t won't hurt any one. And
now, captain. l will explain. I have a
brother in New York who belongs to n
gang of anarchists. They have deter
mined to destroy every large steamer
sailing from that city My brother
knew of this attempt and wrote me
about it by a previous steamer AS
soon as 1 received his letter 1 deter
mined that there was a chance Of my
saving you. 1 went to Gibraltar, took
a boat and pulled out here to meet
you.''
"Why didn't you inform the police
and have them come out in a steam
erY
'My brother, captain, how could
bring my own brother to the gallows?"
But this anarchist-why blow him
self up? He might have shipped his
machine and stayed ashore"
"Are you sure he is aboard?"
mo"
The captain at once sent to the purs-
er to know If John Ramsden was
aboard and learned that his name was
on the passenger list, but that his
room had not been occupied. This was
strong confirmation of the mans story,
and the captain grasped him by the
hand and asked him what he could do
to show his appreciation Of his brave
and hazardous effort.
Save me from testifying against
my brother. Do not inform the police
of this matter when you arrive"
''I couldn't do that" replied the cap |
tain. I'D be accessory to a crime
The next morning when the Euphe-
mia was putting into the strait of Gil
braltar the picked up man was miss
ing. His boat and the internal ma
chine were also missing. A police |
boat met the steamer. and an officer
came aboard to arrest John Ramsden, |
who was supposed to have in his pos
session 100000 in stolen bonds.
"Umphp' said the officer in great dis |
appointment. This is the neatest job /
l ever heard of. The pick up learned |
that we had been cabled to make the |
arrest and came out to warn his pal. |
They're gone together with the plum
der"