The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1905-11-23

was seized with wild desire to flee
the vessel with Sam, but his charge
was nowhere in sight and the sailors,
the stranger having pulled off, were
weighing the anchor. When he grew
calm he set himself to plan way to
Illustrate the rascally scheme, but al
though he spent many an hour in
thinking over the situation, the only
determination he arrived at was that
when the "Salmouth Siren" reached
Blimley Cove he would stick to Sam
like a leech.
The boat was within a days sail Of
Blimley Cove when a severe storm
arose. In the evening, as e~eat wind
driven sheets of rain beat the deck
and vivid flashes of lightning lit up
the Dlunging bark weirdly the captain
sought his mates company for the first
time during the trip. Silas, occupied
by his troubles, seeing that the cap
tain had been drinking, paid little heed
to his maudlin talk. But as the cap
tain, growing superstitious under the
combined influences of the liquor aud
the storm, unfolded his pet belief that
the destinies of ships were controlled
by strange sea folk, Silas grew in
terested and then agreed heartily with
the captain. When they separated ST.
las was deep in thought.
About midnight, sobered by the
storm, the captain had taken the
wheel. Suddenly, above the noise of
the gale, ne heard a strange voice call
ing him, BY the faint light from the
cabin a,r-ports he made out, forward
of the wheel, a PROSTATE figure. As
he peecod a continued fash of light
ming disclosed a mermaid. A mass of
long yellow hair half yelled her face
and streamed over her shoulders and
from her neck to the end of her long,
fsh-like tail, PHOSPHORUS radiated.
The captain shivered. who air
your he gasped
"The mermaid what looks after this
here crafts fortune!" the creature
hoarsely answered Il hev' come to
warn ye. Peter Blowsy, that destruc-
ton waits the siren" at Blimley
Cove It air a punishment fer yore
evil doings!"
81 jest meant to hev leetle joke,
good mermaid" bawled the captain,
in his excitement, letting the mer-
maids peculiar pronunciation escape
him. No answer came. The mermaid
was vanishing. The skipper remained
transtixed with terror Until the CLEANS
of phosphorous shone no longer. Then
he staggered to the companionway and
bawled for the mate. When, after an
exasperating delay, Silas appeared the
skipper with an oath instructed him
to set straight course for Salmcath
and went below.
Two evenings later, shortly after his
mate had gone ashore, Captain Blowsy
entered his cabin, intending 10 don
his shore clothes. He found upon the
cabin table a huge bundle. Opening
It curiously, he discovered mass OF
unraveled hemp, fashioned into the
shape of woman's wig; huge fish
tail, made from two pieces of old can
vas cut to the required shape and
basted together. with an opening at
i.s largest end large enough to admit
a mans body, and a box of wet sui
phur matches, labeled The fosforous
you seed!" With these articles was
enclosed a note stating that the re
mainder of the mermaid what looked
after the Sirens fortunes" could be
found that evening at the Mariners
Rest" where a full account Of why
and how she appeared could ho heard
Silas lad conquered; mis- discomit
ed rival sought liquid solace that even
ing in a strange tavern.
S.las, when Sam had been sent tc