Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-04-07

chew my cud, which was bitter There
could be no doubt, however may have
saved my face, that command had
been taken from me by that rascal,
Handy Solomon. was in two minds
as to whether or not should attempt
to warn barrow or the doctor. Yet
what could say and against whom
should warn them? The men had
grumbled, as men always do grumble
in idleness, and had perhaps talked a
little wildly, but that was nothing.
The only indisputable fact I could
adduce was that had allowed my
authority to slip through my fingers.
And adequately to excuse that should
have to confess that I was a writer
and no handler of men.
abandoned the unpleasant train Of
thought with snort of disgust, but 1t
had led me to another. In the JOY and
uncertainty of living had practically
lost sight of the reason for my coming.
With me 1t had always been more the
adventure than the story. My writing
was byproduct, utilization of what
life offered me. l had set sail pos
sessed by the sole idea of ferreting
out DR.. Schermerhorn's Investigations
but the gradual development of afairs
had ended by absorbing my every fac.
ulty. Now, cast into an eddy by my
change Of fortunes, the original idea
regained Its force. was out of the
active government of affairs, with
leisure on my hands, and my thoughts
naturally turned with curiosity again
to the laboratory in the valley.
Darrow's devil fires" were again
painting the sky. l had noticed them
from time to time, always with in.
creasing wonder. The men accepted
them easily as only one Of the unex-
planned phenomena of a sailors expert.
ence, but l had not as yet hit on a
hypothesis that suited me. They were
not allied to the aurora. They differed
radically from the ordinary volcanic
emanations and scarcely resembled
any electrical displays had ever seen
The night was cool. The stars bright
i IcSOlNcu W luNeSllSdle.
Without further delay arose to my
feet and set off into the darkness. I'm
mediately one Of the group detached
himself from the fire and joined me.
Going for little walk, sir2" asked
Handy Solomon sweetly. That's quite
right and proper. NothIn' like a little
walk to get you fit and right for your
bunk"
He held close to my elbow. We got
just as far as the stockade In the bed
of the arroyo. The lights we could
make out now across the zenith, but
owing to the precipitance of the cliffs
and the rise of the arroyo bed 1t was
impossible to see more. Handy Solo
mon felt the defenses carefully.
"a man would think, sir, it was a
cannibal island" he observed. "All SC
tight and tidylike here. 1t would take
a ships guns to batter her down. A
man might dig under these here two
gate logs If no one was against him
Like to try it, sir?"
NO." answered gruf1y.
From that time on was virtually O
prisoner, yet SO carefully was my sur
yeillance accomplished that l could
place my finger on nothing definite
Some one always accompanied me or
my walks, and in the evening I was
herded as closely as any cattle.
Handy Solomon took the direction Of
affairs off my hands. You may be sure
he set no very heavy tasks. The mer
cut little wood, carried up q few
pals Of water. That was oil.
Lacking incentive to stir about, they
came to spend most of their time lying
on their backs watching the sky. This
In turn bred languor which is the
sickest, most soul and temper destroy.
ing affair invented by the devil They
could not muster up energy enough te
walk down the beach and back, and
yet they were wearied to death of the
inaction. After little they became
irritable toward one another. Each
suspected the other of doing less than
he should. You who know men will
realize what this meant.
The atmosphere of our camp became
surly. recognized the precursor of Its
becoming dangerous. One day on a
walk in the hills came on Thrackles
and Pull lying on their stomachs gaz
ing down fixedly at DR.. Schermer
horns camp. This was nothing ex
traordinary, but they started guilty
to their feet when they saw me and
made off, growing under their breaths
All this that have told you SO brief
ly took time. 1t was the eating
through Of mems spirits by that worst
Of corroslves, idleness. conceive II
unnecessary to weary you with the de
tails.
The situation was as yet uneasy
but not alarming. One evening
overheard the beginning Of an absurd
plot to gain entrance to the.-yalley
That was as far as detail went. l be
came convinced at last that should
in some way warn Percy barrow.
That seems simple enough propo
sition, does 1t not? But If you will
stop to think one moment of the diff
flculties Of my position you will see
that 1t was not as easy as at first II
appears. barrow still visited us III
the evening. The men never allowed
me even the chance of private com
munication while he was with us. One
or two took pains to stretch out be
tween us. Twice I arose when the as
sistant did, resolved to accompany hin
part way back. Both times men reso
lutely escorted us and as resolutely
separated us from the opportunity Of
single word apart. The crew never
threatened me by word or look. Blu
we understood each other.