The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-02-10
Ole Wings Of the
Morning . :, 49, ~ \; X: !,
~ Edward j. Code
Copyright. 1908. by
Edward j. Clode

couple VI clHcHoldS CduSuI MS eye. IN
one spot the underground was rank
and wildly green. The cassava.. or
tapioca plant, reared its high passion
flower leaves above the Grass, and
some sage palms thrust aloft their
thick stemmed trunks.
Here is change of menu, at any
rate" he communed.
Breaking thick branch off a pooh
tree, he Whitfield away the minor
stems. A strong stick was needful to
explore that leafy fastness thoroughly
A few cautious strides and vigorous
whacks with the stick laid bare the
cause of such prodigality in a soil COW
cred with drifted sand and Jumps of
black and white speckled coral. The
trees and bushes inclosed a well-safe-
guarded, in fact from being choked
with sand during the first gale that
blew.
Delighted with this discovery, more
precious than diamonds at the mo.
ment - for he doubted the ACCESSIBILITY
of existing on the water supply of the
pitcher plant-he knelt to peer into the
excavation. The well had been proper
ly made. Ten feet down he could see
the reflection of his face. Expert hands
had tapped the secret reservoir of the
island. BY stretching to the full ex.
tent of his arm he managed to plunge
the stick into the water. Tasting the
Irops, he found that they were quite
lweet The sand and porous rock pro-
rided the best of filter beds.
He rose, well pleased, and noted that
on the opposite side the appearance
of the shrubs and tufts of long grass
indicated the existence of grown over
path toward the cliff. He followed it,
walking carelessly, with eyes seeking
the prospect beyond, when something
Looking down, he was Mortified to find
he was trampling on skeleton.
Had venomous snake coiled it's glis-
tening folds around his leg he would
lot have been more startled. But this
man of iron nerve soon recovered. He
frowned deeply after the first involun-
tary heart throb.
With the stick he cleared away the
and revealed the skeleton
of a man. The bones were big and
strong, but oxidized by the action of
the air. jerks had injured the left
tibia by his tread but three fractured
ribs and smashed shoulder blade told
some terrible unwritten story.
Beneath the mournful relics were
of decayed cloth. 1t was
blackened objects, brass buttons mark
ed with an anchor. The dead mans
boots were in the best state of preser-
walton, but the leather had shrunk, and
the nails protruded like fangs.
A rusted pocketknife lay there, and
on the left breast of the skeleton rest
ed a round piece of tin, the top of
canister, which might have reposed in
a coat pocket, jerks picked it up.
Some curious marks and figures were
punched into it's surface. After hasty
glance he put it aside for more leisure
by examination.
No weapon was visible. He could
form no estimate as to the cause of the
death of this poor unknown nor the
time since the tragedy had occurred.
jerks must have stood many min
utes before he perceived that the skel
eton was headless. At first he mag
ined that in rummaging about with the
stick he had disturbed the skull. But
the most minute search demonstrated
that it had gone-had been taken away.
in factor the plants which so effectu-
ally screened the lighter bones would |
not permit the skull to vanish.
Then the frown on the sailors face
became threatening. thunderous. He
recollected the rusty creese. Indistinct
of strange tales of the China
sea crowded unbidden to his brain.
"Dyaksw he growled fercely. "a
ships officer an Englishman probably, |
murdered by head hunting Dyak pi-
ratesv'
If they came once they would come
again.
Five hundred yards away Iris Deane |
was sleeping. He ought not to have |
left her alone. And then, with the |
devilish ingenuity of coincidence, n |
revolver shot awoke the echoes and |
sent all manner of wild fowl hurtling |
through the trees with clamorous out |
cry.
Painting and wild eyed, jerks was at |
the girls side in an inconceivably short |
space of time. She was not beneath |
the shelter Of the grove, but on the |
sands, gazing, pallid in cheek and lip, |
at the group of rocks on the edge of the |
lagoon.
'What is the matter?' he gasped. i
"Oh, don't KNOW she walled |
brokenly. 81 had q dream, such hor-
rible dream. YouIwere struggling with
some awful thing down there" She
pointed to the rocks.
II was not near the place." he said |
1t cost him an effort to
breathe. His broad chest expanded |
inches with each respiration.
Eyes, yes, / understand. But /
awoke and ran to save you. When I
got here I saw something, q thing
with waving arms, and fired. 1t van
Ished, and then you came"
The sailor walked slowly to the
rocks. A fresh chip out of the stone