The Springdale news., 1909-02-10

S his eyes.
 Go ahead" the quarter deck bade him, seeing him aflush with informa- ton.
 .sThe captain won't believe me-" blurted out Edwards.
 '1s it as bad as that?' asked Bar nett, smiling.
 Tt certainly is,' replied the younger man seriously '.I don't know that blame him. I'd hardly believe it my self if hadn't
 "Oh, go on. Out with iti Give us the facts Never mind your credibil- ity."
 '"The facts are that there lies the Laughing Lass a little weather worn, but sound as a dollar, and not living being aboard of her. Her boats are all there. Everything's in good condition, though none too orderly. Pitcher half full of fresh water In the rack. Sails all o. K. Ashes of the galley fire still warm. tell you, gentlemen, that ship hasn't been deserted more than cou- pie of days at the outside
 Are you sure all the boats are there?" asked Ives.
 "Dory, dingey and two surfboats. Isn't that enough P
 Plenty"
 Been over her, inside and out. No sign of collision. No leak. No any thing, except that the starboard side is blistered a bit. No evidence of fire anywhere else tell you" said Billy Edwards pathetically, tits given me headache"
 Perhaps it's one of those cases of panic that Forsythe spoke of the other night" said Ives. The crew got frightened at something and ran away, with the devil after them"
 "But crews don't just step out and run around the corner and hide when they're scared" objected Barnett
 .'Thats true, too. assented Ives. Well, perhaps that volcanic eruption jarred them so that they jumped for it"
 Pretty wild theory. that said Ed wards.
 No wilder than the facts, as you give them" was the retort.
 That's so," admitted the ensign gloomily.
 But how about pestilence?. suggest ed Barnett.
 Maybe they died fast, and the last survivor, after the bodies of the rest were overheard. got delirious and jumped after them"
 h<,< tI Dr. Trendon briefly. "No; pestilence doesn't work that way"
 Did you look at the wheel, BillyT' asked Ives.
 Did I? There's another thing. Wheels all right, but compass is no good at all It's regularly bewitched What about the log, then?''
 Couldn't find it anywhere. Hunted high, low, jack and the game; every where except in the big. brass bound chest I found in the captains cabin. Couldn't break into that"
 'Dr Schermerhorn,s chest" exclaim- ed Barnett Then he was aboard"
 "Well, he Isn't aboard now," said the ensign grimly. Not in the flesh. Anu lndl dI, le ddutd suuucbig-
 "No it isn't all" said Barnett gently There's something else. Captains or ders?'
 "Oh, no. Captain Parkinson doesn't take enough stock in my report to tell me to withhold anything" said Ed wards with trace of bitterness in his voice Its nothing that believe my self, anyhow"
 Give us q chance to believe it. said Ives.
 Well" said the ensign hesitantly there's sort of atmosphere about that schooner tn. most uncanny.'
 "Oh, you ha shudders before you were orde - to board" bantered Ives
 II know it. I'd have thought it was one of those fool presentiments If were the only one to feel it. But the men were affected too They kept to gether like frightened sheep. And heard one say to another. Hey. Boney d'you feel like some one was a-buZZin your nerves like a fiddle string? Now" demanded Edwards plaintively -what right has a jackie to have nervesr'
 That's strange enough about the compass" said Barnett slowly. Ours is all right again. The schooner mus have been so near the electric disturb ance that her instruments were perma nently deranged"
 ''That would lend weight to the vol canic theory" said Carter
 "So the captain didn't take kindly t your go-look- -see| questioned Ives O Edwards.
 "As good as told me I'd missed th, point of the thing said the ensign flushing Perhaps he can make nor, of 1t himself At any rate he's goini to try. Here he is now"
 ''Dr. Trendon," said the captain, ap bearing You ! II please to go witt me to the schooner"
 "Yes, sir said the surgeon, risin from his chair with such alacrity a to draw from Ives the sardonic con