The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-18

| starDOaru quarter.
'What do you make 1t out to bel"
came the query from below.
| Green lights all / can see, sir"
There was pause.
There's her port light now. Looks
TO be turning and bearing down on us.
sir Coming dead for us"-the mans
voice rose-"close aboard; less'n two
ships lengths away!"
As for a prearranged scene, the fog
curtain parted. There loomed silently
and swiftly the Laughing Lass. Down
she bore upon the greater vessel until
II seemed as II she must RAM but all
the time she was veering TO windward.
and now she ran into the wind with
castanet rattle OF sails. So close
aboard was she that the eager eyes of
Uncle Sans men peered down upon
her empty decks, for she was void OF
| life.
Behind the cruisers blanketlng she
paid off very slowly, but presently
caught the breeze full and again whit
ened the water at her prov. Forget
ting regulations, Ives hailed loudly:
"Ahoy, Laughing Lass! Alloy. Billy
Edwards
No sound, no animate motion, came
from aboard that apparition as she
fell asteru. A shudder of horror ran
across the Wolverines quarter deck.
A wrath ship. peopled with skeletons.
would have been less dreadful to their
sight than the brisk and active desola-
| %
Been deserted since early last
night" said Trendon hoarsely.
How can you tell thatY asked Bar
nett.
Both sails reefed down, ready for
that squat. Been no weather since to
call for reefs. Must have quit her
during the squall."
Then they Jumped" cried Carter,
'for saw her boats. II isn't belieya-
ble."
Neither was the other" said Tren
don grimly.
A hurried succession OF orders stop
ped further discussion for the time.
Ives was sent aboard the schooner TO
| lower sail and report. He came back
with a staggering dearth Of informa-
ton. The boats were all there; the
ship was intact--as intact as when
| Billy Edwards had taken charge-but
| the CHEEKY. lovable ensign and his
men had vanished without trace or.
clew As to the how or the wherefore
they might rack their brains without
guessing. There was the beginning Of
a log in the ensigns handwriting,
which Ives had found with high eX-
element and read with bitter disap-
pointment.
Had squall from northeast" II ran.
Double reefed her. and she took 10
nicely. Seems a seawOrthy, quick ship.
Further search for log. No result.
Have ordered one of the crew who is
bit of mechanic TO work at the
brass bound chest till he gets ii open.
He reports marks on the lock as II
somebody had been trying to pick 1t
before him"
There was no further entry.
"Dr. Trendon is right" said Barnett.
whatever happened-and God only
knows what It could have been-it
happened just after the squail."
Just about the time of the strange
glow" cried Ives.
II was decided that two men and
petty officer should be sent aboard the
Laughing Lass TO make her fast with
cable and remain on board over
night But when the order was given
the men hung back. one of them pro-
tested brokenly that he was sick.
Trendon after examination reported 10
the captain
Case OF blue funk, sir. Might as
well be sick Good for nothing. 9th
ers aren't much better"
"Who was TO be in charger"
"Congdon," replied the doctor, nam
ing one of the petty officers.
Hes my cockswaln." said Captain
Parkinson. "a first class man. l can
hardly believe that he is afraid. Wen
see"
Congdon was sent for
"You're ordered aboard the schooner
for the night. Congdon," said the cap
tain.
eyes. SIR"
as there any reason why you do not
wish TO goT
The man besitated. looking misern-
BILE. Finally he blurted out, not with
out a certain dignity:
81 obey orders. sir"
'Speak out, my man." urged the cap
tain kindly.
"Well. sir, it's Mr.. Edwards. then
You couldn't scare him off ship. sir,
unless IT was something-something'-
He stopped, failing Of the word.
"You know what Mr. Edwards was
sir, for pluck he concluded.
"Was.' cried the captain sharply.
what do you meani"
THE schooner got him. sir. You don't
make no doubt Of that. do you, sir?"
The man spoke in n hushed voice
with a shrinking glance back Of him.
''Will you go aboard under Mr.
Ives?"
Anywhere my officer goes I'll 60
AMI gladly. sir"
Ives was sent aboard in charge. For