Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-25

DldlA " lily SCll llOl even uCSCIlDC. i
was mystery, a portent, a Fremont
ton such as overtakes man some
times In the dark passageways of life.
cannot tell you of it nor make you
belieye-let 1t pass.
Then by slow process Of successive
perceptions l became aware that was
watched by other eyes, other wax fig
ures, other human beings with I'M
wavering gaze. They seemed to the
sense of mystic apprehension that for
the moment held possession of me to
be everywhere-in the hunks, on the
floor, back in the shadows, watching,
watching, watching from the advan-
tage of another world.
/ don't know why tell you this; why
lay SO much stress on the first weird
impression 1 got of the forecastle. 1t
means something to me now-in view
of all that happened subsequently.
Almost can / look back and see in that
moment Of occultism warning, an en-
lightenment- But the point Is, 1t
meant something to me then. stood
there fascinated. unable to move, I'M
able to speak.
Then the grotesque figure in the cor.
ner stirred.
"Well, mates" said the man, ''be-
lieye or not believe, It's In the book,
and It stands to reason too. We have
gold mines here in Californy and Ne
vada and all them states aud we hear
OF gold mines in Mexico and Australia,
too, but did you ever hear tell of gold
mines in Europe? Tell me that! And
where did the gold come from, then.
before they discovered America? Tell
me that! Why, they made 1t, Just MS
the man that wrote this here says, and
you can kiss the book on that"
How about that place, Ophir, read
about?" asked voice from the hunks.
The man shot keen glance thither
from beneath his brows.
know last years output from the
mines Of Ophir, Thrackles?" he In
quired in silky tones.
why, no." stammered the man adj
dressed as Thrackles.
'Well, d." pursued the man with
the steel hook, "and It's Just the whole
OF nothing. and you can kiss the book
on that too, There amt any gold out
put because there amt any mines. and
there never have been. They made their
gold"
He tossed aside book he had been
holding in his left hand. Recognized the
tat little paper duodecimo with amuse.
ment and some wonder. The only other
copy I had ever laid my eyes on Is in
the Astor library. 1t is somewhat Of a
rarity, called "The Secret of Alchemy;
or. The Grand Doctrine Of Transmuta-
ton Fully Explained" and was written
by DR.. Edward Duvall, most ex-
traordinary volume to have fallen into
the hands Of seamen.
stepped forward, greeting and be-
Ing greeted. Besides the man ! have
mentioned there were four. The cook
was bullet headed squat negro with a
broken nose, ! believe he had q name.
Robinson or something OF that sort. He
was to all of us simply the niger. IN
like most of his race. he was gloomy
and taciturn.
OF the other two, little white faced.
thin chested youth named Pull and a
villainous looking Mexican called Per-
dosa. shall have more to say later.
Ny arrival broke the talk on al
! chemy. 1t resumed it's course in the
direction Of our voyage. Each dis
covered that the others knew nothing,
and each Numbered against the as
| founding fact Of double wages. ae =
"Alls1 know is the pays good, and
that's enough. eaAclpasd Thrackles
from bunk.
1.-THE pays too good" growled Handy
Solomon. 'sThis ain't no job to go
look at the 'clipse Of the moon or the
devils preacher!"
wat you maik heem, den?' queried
| Perdosa.
Solomon shortly.
"He, he, he! laughed the negro
without mirth,
.Whats the matter with you, doc
tori" demanded Thrackles.
Treasure" repeated the niger.
"You see dat box he done carry SO
cairful? You see dat2"
A pause ensued. Somebody scratch
ed match and lit pipe.
"No, don't see thatv' broke out
i Thrackles finally, with some .impa.
thence. II sabe how man goes after
treasure With bex, MT Why SHOULD
be ta4s treasure away in a box
| What do you think, Bucket" he sud
denly appealed to NE.
I locked up from my investigation
of the empty berths.
II don't think much about it." I re-
piled, except that by the lock OF the
stores n.re due for more than Homo
lulu. and from the look of the light
we'd better turn to on deck"
An embarrassed pause fell.
"Who are YOU, anyway" hluntly de
mahded the man with the steel hook.
L'ssiy name is Eagen,.s' replied; .I've
the berth Of mate Witch of these
hunks are empty"
They indicated what desired Will
\ Just a trace Of sullenness. under
stood well enough their resentment al
having ships officer quartered on
them-the foc'sle they considered as
their only liberty when at sea and
my presence as curtailment 70 the
freedom Of speech. I subsequently die
/ my best to aNsroOme this feeling, but
never quite succeeded.
At my command the niger went t.
his galley. | assembled to the deck
Dusk was falling In the swift Galiflor
plan fashion. Already the outlines o.
4 the wharf houses We're growing indis