The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-12-01
A DUEL IN
A STORM

] LAAt f'hh HtAAAilS sup hNANAi AHN"
was lowed out Of New YWS h.rhl-
The only passenger, maE a. '....d
some, though sensual. feat .es and ,
bad eye. stood watching the diGeren
/ points of interest. The crew were set
ting things to rights on deck, the cap
tain on the poop keeping an eye O,
them. for so long as his vessel was be
ing lowed he had no responsibility o
7 navigation.
whats that baggage down thcreT
he asked. pointing TO a trunk. Vaiis'
and a bag standing against the mi1zc,
mast.
1t BELONGS TO a passenger that didul
come aboIrd." replied tie purser
We'll take il down 10 the stateroor
eng gcI The room's been paid fot
surposcY
The baggage was carried below. As
It passed dc only passenger and D..
caught sight of tie owners Initials
4. {. b.. on tie end OF the trunk Al
star,ed. and tie captain. noticing tiai
De was vcry paio. remarked:
what. Sick alreadyf WHY, 49,,
haven't reached TIE lower bay yet"
The passenger walked away, and thu
captain wondered.
As the land line was sinking below
the horizon supper WAS clAeA and oui
of the staierOom where the mis- in
passengers baggage had been take
walked its owner Entering the cab.f
where the other passenger WAS seate
on the captains right. he took I'll,
seat ON the captains left
Upon my word" exclaimed the as
t0nlshod captain. where lid you como
fromT
"Dida't feel WELL" was the reply
"and went directly 10 my stateroonf J
was in the upper berth with the eur
tains drawn wien the men brought IN
my luggage"
HIN. singular. This Is Alr. Gath
any. who we supposed was our only
passenger. Mr. Gathany. MIR. Brooks.
The two men bowed formally. The
captain strove TO Introduce converse.
ton at the table, but. failing. ate his
supper in silence aud went ON deck"
How is il, Mr.. Sweetscr." he asked
Of the mate. that this passenger
Brooks came aboard without being no.
ticedy'
Don't know, sir stood at the
Gangway all the while and l didn't see
him."
At first there was fear among the
crew that the stranger was something
uncanny and would hoodoo the ship.
but he appeared so unobtrusive. spoke
In such a gentle voice and with all
seemed so kindly disposed that this
feeling soon died away. or. rather. was
transferred to the other passenger.
Gathany. At any rate. a prejudice
sprang up against the man. aud, when
one day the barometer suddenly fell
nearly an inch within half an hour and
a terrible black cloud came out OF ths
west. growing in a few minutes from
the size Of a ships sail TO cover tn,
whole heavens. one Of the men re
marked; "The devils aboard this shil
In some fashion. and think he's that
black looking passenger"
The hurricane struck the vessel be
fore sufficient sail for safety could be
got in and a jlb burst with a report
Ike a cannon. Then the fore topmasl
was carried away with its canvas
Next the mlzzen mast went by the
board ands had 90 be cut loose. After
this there was nothing TO do except L.
mas the pumps. but despite the crews
best EFFORTS the leaking ship took wa.
ter faster than It could be pumped out
"Where are the passengersT' roarel
the captain. "Do they think we're go
ing to let them skulk at such time
Go find them. Mr.. Sweetser."
The mate went up into the cabir
and there an astonishing sight met his
gaze. The two passengers, manned
with cutlasses. were in a life and dealt
struggle as terrible as that of the crew
at the pumps. In vain the mate callet
on them 10 desist; that the ship wa.
sinking; that they were needed at the
pumps. They saw him. but for III,
roar of the hurricane could not heal
him. But neither for a moment tool
his gaze OF the other. Presently th'
mate went back and reported tn
strange scene. The captain spran.
away 10 keep the two men who were
needed 20 save the ship and the crew
from killing each other When be can't
to the cabin lie saw Brooks bending
over Gathany. looking into a dyln.
face, with an expression Of fierce bate