Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-03-29

| didn't mean Z wreck her herel'
""rom,' says I. was you goin' {
wreck that shipf'
AYE says he. I was soin' {
wreck that ship. But not here. says
he. oh, God! not here!'
"'Nick.' says Tom Galloway. twas
the owner tempted me. She was In
sursd. was that Will o. the Wisp; an
twas to be share an share alike. That
man. says he, will get pot o. money
out o. this here wreck. Therell be
one Z claim poor Tom Callaway's
half. I Amt goin' Z live through this
Nick says he.
TON Galway says I. what wa'
you goin' to wreck this ship for? En-
says I. What was your
"T got q son to home. q motherless
son. says he; an I wanted { make
Ia gentleman out o. that lad
Gentleman says I. Sure the
money wouldn't make parson.'
"'Come, now, Nick says he. I amt
goin' { live through this. But you
will. Nick. I knows you will. Won't
you look after that lad. Nick?
"'Tom.' says I. did the owner O.
the VIII o. the Wisp give You more n
word O. MOUTH
"'He did, says Tom. I'd have
nothin' Z do with the Job till he give
me q paper
"'Tom,' says I. has you got that
paperr
"'Aye. Nick says he, takin' little
Bible from his breast-pocket. IT'S In
there
Tom says I, you give me that
paper. II I lives. I'll make q gentle
man out o. that lad
"'Will you swear Z thatf' says he.
"T will,' says I; an I did.
Tom says I, 'what'd you 60 an
say you'd wreck that schooner for?'
"T loved my son. says he.
"'You loved him too much says I.
".Aye.' says he. But I'll pay for all
hs GETS says he. in HE'LL
"'Twas the next sea that carried
him fair OF the rock and drowned him
with the rest o. the crew e leeward.
Hist" he said. Of sudden. Lift
me up: Lift me up. I'm not breathin'
Tree. Come close. sir-come closer yet.
Histi I've done an evil thing sine,
thsn-a rascally thing. Mr.. Cath
or, for the sake o. Tom Callaway's son
an the oath I took. Week In an
week out, from years end t years
end, I've been blackmailin' the owner
o. that ship! Hist! Bend your ear.
Mr.. Gather. I'll whisper his name.
Hist"
He whispered the name Of the man.
what" I cried. 1T was not the
Honorable Mr."
"Histi" he interrupted. "'Twas Re.
Twas that same honorable gentleman.
He'vc growed into big bug since the
days o. the Will o. the Wisp. Feel un-
der the pillow, Mr.. Gather. Have you
got Tom Callaway's Bible? Aye? The
papers within. Take the oath, Mr..
Gather, that you'll make Q gentleman
o. Tom Callaway's SON."
I did % without hesitation.
twill be easy t get the money,
Nicholas went on. "He've wonderful
fear O. exposure. has that honorable gen.
tleman. Tell him that old Nicholas
TOP left that paper L you. He'll find
q way to put the money in your hand.
Give the lad what's due him. Give
him clothes, an grub, an music, an
dancin', an joolery. Make gentleman
Of him, Mr.. Cather-just like DONE"
was silent.
TITS paid for" Nicholas gasped.
pointing downward. TITS all paid for
by Tom Galloway"
Hc said no more for long time.
"Shall I call Nathaniel?" asked.
I'm goin' somewheres soon," said
Nicholas. IT don't know whether I'll
report & Tom Galloway or t the good
God Hisself. But I done my
best. You'll bear me witness, Mr..
Gather, that I didn't touch a penny o.
that blood money. You'll bear me
witness, sir" he cried, excitedly. that
I Jared hard. You'll bear me witness
that never went above junk an cab
bage, an that I died in q room as
rough as O forecastle. You'll bear me
witness that the money all went t
Nathaniel. Twas his by rights, Mr..
Gather, an he got It."
When Nicholas Top died, sought
out the owner of the Will O. the Wisr;
put In his hand the damning EVIL
dence by means of which the mis-
guided old sailor-man had 30 long ex-
torted money to lavish on Nathaniel.
But exacted q promise that the lad
should never be appraised Of Nicholas
Tops dealings In blackmail; which. as
you may be sure. was readily given.
That night I talked long with Ma
thaniel-long and intimately Of his fu-
ture, and mine; but Of nothing else.
"You must trust me. lad" con-
ciuded. 81 have nothing more to tell
yol."
ne locked mp quickly.
There II nothing more | wish 70
know. sir" he said. II trust you to
keep and to give a. you think best"
Nathaniel was . gentleman.