The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-17

uihh, ottihb hiih ohNSh VIM iHhN' III"
ton.
The captain won't believe me-"
blurted out Edwards.
as Il as bad as that?" asked Bar
nett, smiling.
at certainly is replied the younger
man seriously. Il don't know that l
blame him I'd hardly believe it my
self II | hadn't
"Oh. go on! Out with 1t! Give us
the facts. Never mind your cre1ibll
lty."
THE facts are that there lies the
Laughing Lass a little weather worn.
but sound as dollar, and not a living
being aboard of her. Her boats are all
there. Everythlng's in good condition,
though none too orderly. Pitcher half
full of fresh water in the rack. Sails
all o. X. Ashes of the galley fire still
warm. ! tell you, gentlemen. that ship
hasn't been deserted more than a cou-
pie Of days at the outside"
Are you sure all the boats are
thereT" asked Ives.
"Dory, dingey and two, surfboats
Isn't that enough?"
Plenty"
Been over her. inside and out No
sign of collision. No leak No any
thing. except that the starboard side
is blstered a bit No evidence of fire
anywhere else tell you" said Billy
Edwards pathetically, its given me
headache"
Perhaps It's one Of those cases of
panic that Forsythe spoke of the other
night" said Ives. THE crew got
frightened at something and ran away.
with the devil after them"
But crews don't just step out and
run around the corner and hide when
they're scared" objected Barnett.
That's true. too" assented Ives.
well. perhaps that volcanic eruption
Jared them so that they jumped for
It,"
pretty wild theory, that" said Ed
wards.
mo wilder than the facts. as you
give Them" was the retort.
That's So" admitted the ensign
gloomlly.
But how about pestilence?" suggest
ed Barnett.
"Maybe they died fast. and the last
survivor. after the bodies of the rest
were overheard, got delirious and
jumped after them"
mot IL tho galley fire. was hot" said
DR. Trendon briefly. NO; pestilence
doesn't work that way"
did you look at the wheel, BillyF'
asked Ives.
"Did |? There's another thing.
Wheels all right. but compass is no
good at ALL It's regularly bewhched."
what about the log, thenT'
Couldn't find it anywhere. Hunted
high, low, jack and the game; every
where except in the big. brass bound
chest / found in the captains cabin.
Couldn't break into that"
"Dr Schermerhorn's chest" exclaim-
ed Barnett. Then he was aboard"
"Well he isn't aboard now" said
the ensign grimly. Not in the flesh.
And that's all he added suddenly.
mo. 1t isn't all" said Barnett gently.
There's something else. Captains or
dersT'
"Oh, no. Captain Parkinson doesn't
take enough stock in my report TO tell
me TO withhold anything" said Ed
wards, with a trace of bitterness In his
voice. Its nothing that believe my
self, anyhow"
"Give us a chance to believe it."
said Ives.
We'll" said the ensign hesitantly.
"there's q sort of atmosphere about
that schooner that's almost uncanny."
"Oh, you had the shudders before
you were ordered to board" bantered
Ives.
IL know 1t. I'd have thought 1t was
one of those fool presentiments II |
were the only one TO feel 1t. But the
men were affected too. They kept to
gether. like frightened sheep. And
heard one say TO another, Hey. Boney.
d'you feel like some one was a-buzzin'
your nerves like fiddle stringF
Now" demanded Edwards plaintively.
''what right has a jackie TO have
nerves."
That's strange enough about the
compass" said Barnett slowly. ours
is all right again. The schooner must
have been so near the electric disturb
ance that her instruments were perma-
nently deranged."
f''That would lend weight to the vol
| canic theory" said Carter.
80 the captain didn't take kindly to
your go-look- seer questioned Ives OF
Edwards.
"As good as told me I'd missed the
point OF the thing" said the ensign.
flushing. Perhaps he can make more
Of 1t himself. At any rate he's going
| to try. Here he Is now"
"Dr. Trendon," said the captain. ap-
pearing. You will please to go with
| me TO the schooner"
Eyes. sir" said the surgeon, rising
from his chair with such alacrity as
TO draw from Ives the sardonic com
ment:
"Why, actually believe old Tren-
don is excited"
For two hours after the departure OF
| the captain and Trendon there were
dull times on the quarter deck of the
Wolverine. Then the surgeon came
back TO them.