The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1909-12-15
An Innocent
Criminal

The captain and l Were sitting
alone under the awning under the
bridge dosing away the hot afternoon
over our coffee and cigars.
The captain was cranky and tired
of the whole business. He longed
to get away from the port with its
malaria and mosquitoes and yellow
! fever. We were lying at New Or
cans loading cotton and they were
working feyerishly at the dock 10 get
is away that night.
Say, doctor" the captain at last
broke the silence. 'can YOU tell me
what is the matter with the mate
hese days? For I'll be hanged If
here is not something wrong Now
ae has come to me to draw his mon
ey in advance and quite bit of
money every time, too. What does
ae spend his money on here at New
0rleans?"
And then he has begun to walk
IN his sleep" he continued, pacing
Up and down the bridge, ut was
about 2 o'clock this morning when
woke up by hearing someone NOV.
ng about my stateroom. ! quickly
threw off the mosquito netting and
here standing in the middle OF the
.oom was the mate staring at me
iazed and holding long knife in
his hand AS | called him he drop
ped the knife and fell TO the floor
ike a log carried him into his
own stateroom and put him on his
bed, but when | spoke to him about
t this morning he did not remem'
Der q thing. | am sure it is a good
hing for him that We leave tomor.
low morning! What do yon think,
Door,
was just about to answer when
he mates tanned face and curly
hair appeared up the stairs. He
went over to the captain and could
aear he asked for money.
A moment after they both went
below. the captain growing and an.
cry, while the mate smiled all over
ais handsome face.
Half an hour later / saw the mate
lressed in his best clothes go ashore
md walk toward the city. The cap
aims words about him had made me
curious and | suddenly made up my
mind to follow him TO find out what
ie spent his money on. Hurrying,
ioon caught up with him. but was
,areful to keep short distance
away from him
On Canal street he jumped on the
'ront platform of trolley car and |
succeeded in getting on the rear plat.
orm without being seen by him. We
ode through the whole length of
Canal street TO the outskirts of the
:ity Here the mate jumped off and
vent down one OF the narrow streets
eading to the cottages along the
AXE. l kept on following him at a
distance, which was quite easy now,
Is it was almost dark. He walked
'riskly and after awhile stopped at
he gate OF a large old garden, open.
ID it and went up to the house where
lie disappeared.
From my place of eoncealment /
.ould plainly hear the mates fresh
roung voice, as we'll as the voice of
! woman who spoke English with a
oreign accent. The veranda was
Elegantly and tastefully furnished
With Japanese bamboo furniture and
oriental rings
Iii the corner of sofa the mate
vas sitting and next to him the most
beautiful young girl | have ever seen.
II an easy chair close by was a man
'ather short, very dark and with a
1ery unpleasant face covered with
)ockmarks
It was easy TO see that Hoist was
lead in love with the young girl She
aughed and chatted and frequently
illed the glasses which the mate
milling emptied
About Is minutes later the man
stood up aud went into the house,
eaving Hoist and the young girl
alone, and as he disappeared / saw
Hoist make sign to the girl
was beginning to feel rather
of the part | was playing
and was just about to withdraw when
happened which startled
ne. The young girl took the mates
head between her two hands, and,
irawing his face close to her own,
She looked him straight in the eyes
md suddenly his smile disappeared,
his eyes closed and he fell back in.
% the sofa while the girl stroked |
his forehead several times.
| Immediately understood what had |
lappened-the mate had been hypno-
lied and | began to have my own
about the couple into
whose hands he had fallen. For a |
| thought of rushing to his |
assistance, but before had made up |
my mind the man returned. He look. |
ID at the unconscious mate and then
-urned towards the young girl who
vas still bending over him
Nov, be quick, Mamelia before |
he wakes up again. but there must |
be no mistake about it this time or |
we shall fail again
saw the young girl place her |