Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-02-11

voice rose-"close aboard; less'n two
4 ships lengths away"
AS for prearranged scene, the fog
curtain parted. There loonsd silently
and swiftly the Laughing Lass. Down
she bore upon the greater vessel until
1t seemed as IL she must ram, but all
the time she was yeering to windward,
and now she ran into the wind with a
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 blanketing 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 astern. 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-
ton Of the heeling schooner.
Been deserted since early last
night" said Trendon hoarsely.
How can you tell that?" asked Bar
nett.
Both sails reefed down, ready for
that squall. Been no weather since to
call for reefs. Must have quit her
during the squall,''
"Then they jumped" cried Carter,
| "for saw her boats, 1t isn't believa-
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 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
log in the ensign's handwriting,
which Ives had found with high ex-
element and read with bitter disap-
| pointment
Had squall from northeast" It ran.
Double reefed her, and she took it
nicely. Seems a seaworthy, quick ship.
| Further search for log. No result.
Have ordered pne Of the crew who is
2 bit Of MECHANIC to work at the
brass bound chest till be gets 1t open.
He reports marks on the lock as il
somebody had been trying to pick 1t
before him."
There was no further entry,
"pr. Trendon is right" said Barnett.
aWhateyer happened God only
| knows what it could have been-it
happened just after the squall.''
| "Just about the time Of the strange
glow" cried Ives.
1t was decided that two men and a
| petty officer should be sent aboard the
Laughing Lass to make her fast with
q 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 to
the captain.
Cease 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 pstty officers.
:He's my cockswaln." said CAPTAIN
Parkinson. "a first class man. can
hardly believe that he is afraid, Well
see,"
Congdon was sent for.
you're ordered aboard the schooner
for the night, Congdon," saidsthe cap
tain.
Eyes, SIR"
us there any reason why you do not
wish to go!''
The man hesitated, looking misera-
bic. Finally he blurted out, not with
out certain dignity:
II obey orders; SIR,
u; sG S;,, out my Man. man u|F HISS the cap
~, ~ 91f. tHHaTus, tueu.
You couldn't scare him on q shin, sir,
unless It was something-aomet
He stepped, failing Of the word
You know what Mr., Edwards was.
sir, for pluck" he concluded.
"Wasv' cried the captain sharply.
eWhat do you mean?"
'The schooner got him, sir. You don't
make no doubt of that, do you, sir7"
The man spoke in hushed voice,
with shrinking glance back Of him.
"Will you go aboard under Mr.
Ives?'
Anywhere my officer goes I'll 90
and gladly, SIR
Ives was sent aboard In charge. For
thht night, in a light breeze, the two
ships lay close together. the schooner
riding jauntily astern. But not until
morning illumined the world Of wa
tiers did the Wolverines people feel
confident that the Laughing Lass would
not vanish away from their ken like
shape of the mist. 49,.
CHAPTER v.
(Ta1lHEN Barnett came on deck very
IM early! on the morning of'JHHe +
lV he found DR.. Trendon already
81 up and staring modify out at
tho r to,I,k