The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-29
Me
MYSTERY
By Stewart Edward White
And Samuel Hopkins Adams
Copyright. 1907. by Mcclure, Phillips q Co.
(Continued from last Issue.)

CONTINUED from last Issue.)
Perdosa. with a grin, leaned over the
cover from behind and began to picl
away at the lock with "A long crooked
wire. The others drew close about.
slipped nearer the door imagining that
IN their tlveted interest saw my on
portunity. TO niy surprise caught
glimpse of legs disappearing up the
companion, | took stock Pull had
gone on deck.
This surprised me, for should have
thought every man interested enough
In the supposed treasure TO wish to be-
present at its uncovering. and II an
noyed me stlll more. The success of
my plan demanded clear deck. How.
ever, there was nothing for It now but
to trust that Pulz had wished TO visit
the forecastle and that might find the
nfterworks empty.
paused at the foot OF the companion
and looked back, A breathessuess OF
excitement held the pirates IN n wise.
From above the hanging lamp threw
strong shadows across their faces,
bringing out the deep lines, accentuat-
Ing the dominant passions. With their
rags and blood, their unshaven faces,
their firearms, their filth, they showed
In violent antithesis 10 the immaculate
white of Old Scrubs cabin. Its glitter
ing brass and Its shining leather. !
darted up the steps.
The contrast of the starry night with
the glare of the cabin lamp dazzled my
eyes. ! stood stock still for q moment.
during which the only sounds audible
were the singing of the winds through
The rigging. the wash of the sea and
the small. sharp click Of Per1osa's in
Strument as he worked at the chest.
Presently | could see better. look
cd forward and aft for Pull, but could
see nothing of him and had just about
concluded that he had gone forward
when | happened 10 glnnce aloft.
There to my astonishment, made
him out huddled I'm silhouette against
What he was doing there could not
imagine. However, ! did not have
time 10 bother my head about him
further than to rejoice that he could
not obstruct me.
should very much have liked TO get
hold Of n rifle and ammunition or at
least 10 lay In biscuit and water, but
for this there was no time. 1t was
not absolutely essential. The dun glow
of the island was still visible. | had
my pillar OF fire aud smoke TO guide
me. Without further delay jerked
loose the pointer and drew the extra
dory alongside.
had proceeded just so far In my
movements when the most eXtraOrdi-
nary thing happened. | shall try TO
tell you of it as accurately as possible
and In the exact order of its occur
renee. First a long. straight shaft OF
white light shot straight up through
the cabin roof TO great height. 1t
shone through the wooden planks as
an ordinary light shines through glass.
BY contrast the surrounding blackness
was thrown into deeper shade. and
yet the shaft itself was SO brilliant as
almost to scotch the sight. Curiously
enough, It was defined accurately. be-
ing exactly in shape like one Of the
rectangular tin air shafts you see so
often In city hotels At the instant OF
its appearance the wind fell quite
calm.
Almost Immediately the rectangle on
the roof through which the light made
its passage began 10 splay out like
lighted oil. although the column retain
ed still the integrity of its outline.
The fire, II such il could be called. ran
with incredible rapidity along the
seams between the planks forward and
aft until the entire deck was sketched
lie n pyro;echnic display in thin, Wv
ID lines OF incandeScence. From each
OF these lines then the fire began again
to spread. as though soaking through
the planks.
All took place practically in an In
slant OF time. had no opportunity
10 move or 10 cry out. Indeed, my
perceptions We're inadequate TO the
task of mere observation. Up 10 now
there had been no sound. The wind
had fallen. The waters passed unno-
tlced. A stiffness Of death seemed 10