The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-12-11

mo one can go put there and live,''
said ConnOr. u can't even let go to
get across the deck without being
shot against the buIwarks and mashed
to a jelly"
ooh. yes, you can. Work your way
along the gunwale."
There was an ominous silence, at the
end of which Connor said: "Mr. Hutch
ins, I'm going to obey the order, and
it's probably the last order I'll ever
obey from any one. If l succeed, when
we get to New York and l out of the
merchant service-for I'm expecting to
be married and settle on shore-you'Il
have just one more chance to kill me,
but you'll have to take b chance of
being killed at the same time. If I
lose my life and there's u chance for
the dead to torture the living, III make
1t hot for you"
us this mutiny?" said the mate,
glart1g at his victim.
There was no reply. Conner began
to work his way along the bulwarks,
watching the seas and taking advan-
tage of any luIl. He succeeded In
reaching the bowsprit and began to
crawl out on it. There were no men
~ NbAN SANSPN Sh+ SOllA10Af
but those farther aft. seeing the ~latter's
attempt, We're frozen with horror. Con-
nor had not covered half the distance
to the sail when a great wave struck
the vessels bow and sent him into the
prime. Hutchins from the bridge saw
him swept by and the look that was on
his face. Nevertheless he was relieved
that the man had gone. There was the
,-,,, .Bor,f - ssNIo, -o,.INo rJ US o-l
a few life buoys were thrown over but
nothing of ome could be dom to
save Connor. who soon drifted out of
sight.
A week later the Osceola approached
New York bay. The cold had contin-
ued, and her icy coat was even thicker
than it had been. The vessel anchored
off Sandy Hook, waiting orders from
owners All on board were worn out,
so the captain and most of the crew
went ashore for rest and recrea ton,
leaving the vessel in charge Of the first
mate and a single watch.
At two bells in the evening Hutchins.
after seeing that the signal lights were
in position. went down into the cabin
to look over a bundle of newspapers
tina had been brought aboard. Sandy
Hook is exposed to the waves OF the
ocean and the ship vas rolling heavily
Presently the mate heard a step on
the companionway. Looking up, there
Sn the stairs stood-the ghost of Con-
nor! He was pale as a corpse. and his
eyes were faring.
'Get upl" commanded a voice.
Hutchins. who did not doubt that he
was facing the a~venging spirit of the
man he had murdered, obeyed, trem-
bling. Conner or his ghost had mean
while come down into the cabin and
passed beyond Hutchins.
Go on deck"
Hutchins backed of the cabin on
to the deck. fascinated by the glitter
Ing eye of the nan or g~host-he did not
know which.
THE main jib needs Glowing. Go
out and clew it,"
Whether the prospect of certain
death-for the conditions differed only
In degree from what they were when
Conner was ordered to make this at
tempt-or something human there was
about Conoor affected him. by this
time Hutchins was ready for defense.
Even ghost can't corner a man with
out being turned on. and b mate.
seeing hat Common was unarmed,
suddenly thrust his hand to his hip, |
a revolver and fred. His hand
was unsteady. Besides, at the moment
q wave rolled under the ship. His shot
went lid. The ghost drew a revolver
from under his shirt and before Hutch
tns could fire again shot him dead.
/