The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-09
Ole
MYSTERY
BY Stewart Edward White
And Samuel Hopkins Adams
Copyright. 1907, by Mcclure. Phillips & @


| devils, imps and haunters OF Avltcnl
| from all the teachings of history, sa
cred and profane, Hindoo, Egyptian
| Greek, medieval. Swedenborg. Rosi-
crucian, theosophy. theology, with ev-
cry last ounce of horror. mystery, shiv-
ers and creeps squeezed out Of them.
They were gorgeous ghost stories, for
they were told by man fully Inform
| ed as to all the legendary and grew
| some details. At first l used TO think
he might have communicated 1t more
effectively. Then saw that the cool,
drawing manner. the level voice, were
In reality the highest art.
He told his stories In half amused.
detached manner. which imposed con.
fidence more readily than any amount
of earnest asseveration. The mere
fact of his own belief In what he said
came to matter little. He was the
vehicle by which was brought ac-
curate knowledge. He had read ali
these things and now reported them
as he had read. Each man could de
eide for himself as to their credibility.
At last the donkey engine was clear
ed and relnstalled a.~p the cliff. The
niger built under her fire of blacl.
walnut. Captain Selover handed out
grog all around, and we started her IN
with alchecr just to see the wheels re
volve
Next I'VE half buried some long
ha;ches. end up. to serve as bits for
he lines. hltched our cables to them
ana joyfully commenced the task of
pulling the Golden Horn piece, by
piece up the side OF the cliff.
The stores We're badly damaged by
the wet. and there was no liquor. for
which was sincerely grateful. We
broke into the boxes and arrayed our
selves in various which
speedily fell TO pieces-and appropri-
Iated gimcracks of all sorts. There
were some arms, but the ammunition
had gone bad. Perdosa out of forty
Tor fifty misfrcs got one feeble sputter
land tremendous bang which blew
up his piece. leaving only the stock
In his hand A few timed goods We're
edible. but all the rest was destroyed.
LOT OF hard woods. thousand feet
of chain cable ana Il fairly good an
Choir might be considered ms prizes.
AS for the rest. II was foolishness. but
we hauled 1t up just the same until
nothing Mt all remained. Then we
shut off the donkey engine and put on
dry clothes. We had been quite hap
by for the eight months.
1t was now well along toward spring
The winter had been like summer, and
with the exception Of few rains of
n week or 50 we had enjoyed beauti
full skies. The seals had thinned out
considerably. but were now returning
In vast numbers ready for their an
nual domestic arrangements.
Our Sundays we had mostly spent
In resting or I'm fishing. There were
many deep sea fish to be had. OF great
palatability. but small gameness. They
came like so many lcaden weights. A
few of us had climbed some of the
hills In a half hearted curiosity, but
from their SUBMITS saw nothing TO
tempt WEAKNESS. Practically we knew
nothing beyond the mile or so of beach
on which we lived
Captain Selover had made a habit of
coming ashore at least once during the
day He had contented himself with
seem TO confer with him. so that the
men might suppose that |. as mate.
was engaged IN carrying out his di-
rections. The dread of him was my
most potent Influence over them.
During the last few days of our
wrecking Captain Selover had omitted
his daily visit. The fact made me I'M
easy. so that at my first opportunity
| sculled myself out to the schooner.
| found him. moist eyed as usual, lean
| Ing against the malnmast doing moth
ing.
We've flushed, SIR" said I.
He looked at me.
'Will you come ashore and have a
look. sir?" I inquired
II amt going ashore again." he NUT
tered thickly.
"Whatw 1 cried.
~ amt going ashore again." he re-
peated obstipately, land that's all there
Is to 1t. It's too much of a strain on
any man. Suit yourself. You run
them. I shipped as captain Of ves-
sci. I'm no dock walloper l won't do
it-for no man.
| gasped with dismay at the mans
complete moral collapse. 1t seemed
incredible. l caught myself wonder
ing whether he would recover tone
were he again 10 put to sea.
MAN, you mustw / cried at last.
81 won't, and that's fiat" said he
and turned deliberately on his heel and
disappeared In the cabin.
I went ashore thoughtful and a little
scared. But on reflection | rcgained
great part of my ease OF mind. You
see, had been with these men now
eight months, during which they had
been as orderly as so many primary
schoolboys. They had worked hard.
without grumbling, and had even APP
preached sort of friendlness about
the campfire. My first impression was
oyerlaid. As | looked back on the
voyage with what | took to be "A clear
er vision l could not but admit that