Milford chronicle., 1905-02-03

Of vestibule. From the vestibuie
door opened directly into the mann
cabin. They entered.
The cabin was some twenty feet long
and unusually spacious. Fresh rom
his recollection Of the CRIME and reek
Of the schooner, it struck Wilbur as
partlcularly dainty. 1t was painted
white. with stripes of blue. gold ana
pea green. On either side three doors
opened of into staterooms and private
cabins. and with each roll Of the dere-
lict these doors banged like an irregu-
lar discharge Of revOlvers. In the CEN
ter was the dining table, covered with
a red cloth very much awry. On each
side of the table were four armehairs
screwed to the deck. one somewhat
larger at the head. Overhead in swing
ing racks were glasses and decanters
Of whisky and some kind of white
wine. But for one feature the sight OF
the Letty's cabin was charming. How
ever. on the floor by the sliding door in
the forward bulkhead lay a body, race
upward.
The body was that Of a middle aged.
fine looking man. his head covered
with the fur, ear Tapped cap that Nor
wegians AFFECT even in the tropics. The
ewes were wide open, the face discol-
ored. In the last gasp Of sufocation
the set of false teeth had been forced
halfway out Of his mouth, distortlng
the eountenance with hideOus simian
grin. Instantly KitchelPs eye was
caught by the CLINT Of the goid IN
which these teeth were set.
"Here's about 500 to begin with"
he exclaimed, and, picking up the
teeth, dropped them into his pocket
with a wink at Wilbur. The body OF
the dead captain was passed up
through the skylight and laid out on
the deck, and Wilbur and kitchell
turned their attention to what had
been his stateroom.
The captains room was the largest
one of the six staterOoms opening from
the main cabin.
Here we arew exclaimed Kitchell
as he and Wilbur entered. 'The old
mans room, and no mistake"
Besides the bunk, the staterOom was
fitted up with a lounge Of red plush
screwed to the bulkhead. A roll OF
charts leaned in one corner; an alarm
clock. stopped at 1:15, stood on shell
in the company of some dozen paper
covered novels and drinking glass
fnll of cigars. over the lounge, how
ever was the rack of instruments
sextant barometer, chrOnometer, glass
and the like, securely screwed down
while against the wall, in front OF 9
swivel leather chair that was ironed
TO the deck, was the locked secretary.
"Iook at 'em; just look at 'em, vii
you" said Kitchell, running his fingers
lovingly over the polished brass OF th'
instruments. There's a thousand dol
lars of stuff right here. The chronom
eter's worth five hundred alone. Ben
nett &. Sons own make" He turned
to the secretary.
"Nowv' he exclaimed, with Ions
breath. ~
What followed thrilled Wilbur Will
: alternate excitement, curiosity and
vivid sense of desecration and sac
+, &ileqe For the life of him he coul'
not make the thing seem right or lega
in his eyes. and yet he had neither u
e wish nor the power to stay his hand o
S interfere with what Kitchell was d'
ing.
5 The captain put the blade of the a
y in the chink of the secretary's door an
e wrenched it free. 1t opened down
r form sort of desk and disclosed a
array of cubbyholes and two sma
e doors. both locked. These latter hltcl
: ell smashed in with the ak head. Inc
t he seated himself in the swivel cha
e and began to rifle their contents sy
r tematically, Wilbur leaning over n
{ shoulder.
e The heat from the coal below the
S was almost unbearable. In the eabl
d the six doors kept up continuous e'
y shocking fusillade. as though haiI
dozen men were fighting with reyol
/ ers. From without, down the op'
h slzylight came the singsong talk
e the Cinnamon and the wash and II