Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-14
TEsREPUB1lcA, AfARsHA1LrowN, IOWA, AUGUST a. 1909

somethin' 3 gone wrong in Mr.. Tut
ties stateroom. SIR" i
Wrong! what do you meant"
well. sir gun went OH in there
Just now. an"
was already upon my feet, pulling
on my clothes.
run up on deck and ask De Nova
to come down here ct once. Lively
aow, my lad" y
The two had already reached tho
ut OF the companion stairs when
~ and Dade had evidently
made the situation clear to the mind
Of the creole.
Have you been in care, monsieux"
he asked, anxiously.
mo. not yet, but fear the worst,
and thought 1t would be better for us
to go together. Stand by, Dade. for
We may need you
The ex-whaleman was lying on the
floor in curled-up heap, revolver
resting beside him, perhaps foot
from his hand The pungent odor Of
powder was still in the room. We
turned him over, revealing bullet
wound just in front of the ear. Be-
yond all doubt he had shot himself
while sitting upon the edge of the
bunk. and had tumbled forward, dead
before he struck the deck. glanced
toward De Nova, who stood staring
silently down at the dead man, and at
Dade, almost yellow with terror, peer
ing cautiously in through the open
door.
lie is beyond further trouble" I
said, solemnly. 1.-THE poor devil. Help
me lift him back into his berth"
Dade held aloof, but De Nova took
hold with me, and together we
Strengthened out the body, covering it
decently with sheet. Then we passed
out into the main cabin and closed the
door.
What sort of weather have we out-
side. Mr.. De Nova?" questioned, en-
deavoring to quell the beating Of my
heart.
CLEAR an coli. monsieur. 70 win
nor'west."
Then we are holding our course?"
"Oui, oui," gesticulating, 'but wat
we do now? wat we do now?"
well, that depends entirely upon
you and the crew." returned, shortly.
MIR. futile is dead, beyond recall.
am the only competent navigator left
on board. For the sake of my own
life, as we'll as the safety of those
women in our care, propose assum-
ing command. Have you anything to
say?"
The creole stood motionless, grasp.
ing the edge of the table, his black
eyes still fastened on Tuttles closed
door.
well, you had better decide" went
on, stoutly, land anyway the only
thing for us to do is to put this matter
straight before the crew. Keep quiet
about what has happened until after
breakfast-you, too, Dade-and then
have the whole crew piped aft. Go
on about your work until then, and
keep your tongues still"
sat down on the divan. watching
Dade as he hustled about from the
table to the pantry, ever casting fur
tive glances toward the silent state
room in which the dead man lay.
Finally l got up, and, to Dade's horror,
| re-entered the mates room, returning
with the chart upon which our course
had been pricked up until noon of the
previous day, and spread it out across
my knees. I was still engaged in
studying 1t when Lady Darlington,
fully dressed. emerged from her cab
In. She touched me before was even
aware of her presence.
rs Mr.. futile still ill?" she cues
toned, anxiously, "and have you been
on duty all night?"
"The first officer is dead" / an.
swered, and made her sit down beside
me. Il will tell you all the facts"
She listened silently, her breath
quickened from excitement, her face
colorless. l dwelt upon the mans
mental condition, his ghostly hallu-
cinations, my discovery Of him in the
main cabin, and his final mad act of
self-destruction. The very relating Of
the tragic story served to clear my
own mind and strengthen my resolve.
"What-what will this mean to us ?"
she questioned, her lips trembling.
will it release us from our bondage?
Will it result in abandoning this crazy
search after treasurer"
Honestly do not know. Lady Oar.
dngton," acknowledged with reluc.
lance. THE present attitude of the
crew remains to be discovered. Prac-
tically we are as helpless as before.
My one advantage lies in the fact that
am the only navigator on board. Yet
they have power to compel me to do
| their will. cannot battle against
them alone"
But you no longer believe in Tut.
ties story?"
Il never have really believed It.
But this is not question of what /
believe; it all hangs upon the faith of
the men forward"
But If they realize he was insane,
surely they must also decide that his
treasure ship was likewise a dc.
lusion." .
shook my head, gravely doubling
her conclusion.
Il regret to say 1 possess no such
expectation. The average sailor, Lady
Darlington, e nat given tn reasoning.
ne is more a creature Of impulse. /
fear we are already too close to our
goal to now be turned back by the
mates death. The men will insist on
completing the voyage. 1 intend to