The Washington times., 1909-09-17

" " the night he disappeared
he became so engrossed in
communicating with the Sebastian that
he lost all interest in his surroundings
and forgot everything in his work until
suddenly the light in front of him
seemed TO be shut of and he was aware
Of a sitting sensation.
Throwing up his arms he found that a
Cloth had been thrown over hts face
and wrapped quickly around his head.
He was about TO cry out for assist
ence when hand was clapped over his
mouth outside the cloth and ne was
unable TO utter word
Then a voice that he recognized as
Picketzo's hissed,i in his ear:
Struggle and wen throw your over
In spite Of the Iarnin, E,be, Lto,,oa
out with all his strength and tried TO
tear The hand away from his mouth
But II was all useless. He was seized
Dy both hands and arms and quickly
Where, he knew not. until suddenly
nc felt the sensation Of being hurled
through space.
For a moment he thought that Pick
etzo had carried out his threat. He
knew the voice was Picketzo's, al
lnough the Italian had made an evil
cent effort 10 disguise IL
Suddenly ne landed with crash
he had been thrown into a llfeboatl
Inen there was a rapid lowering SEN
sauon, and finally he heard the splash
o. WaIer; Ihere was a rocking OF the
boat ana ne gradually came out Of his
oazed condition and began struggling
with the thing that had been thrown
about his head.
After a few minutes struggle he had
u on. But the night was black and
he could see nothing on account Of the
For some time he sat partially dazed
trying TO figure out what had happened
he was almost sure that Hicke and
FlcketzO were the men who had put
him adrift But what vas their pur-
pose?
The boat was drifting along at a rap-
ID pa.e. He was aware Of the speed.
and dimly, through the fog. ne made
bow OF the boat
In crossing the seats to inspect Il. he
stumbled on keg OF water and a pair
Kind Of them 10 leave me these. env-
way he said, moving on slowly to-
ward the object that had attracted his
attention.
he stopped before il and STONED TO
feel Of the shapeless mass.
A sudden recoil OF his fingers came.
and Eben dropped back limp against
one Of the seats.
flesh.
He lay stunned for some minutes. not
daring 70 20 nearer the thing in the
49, eatAAAAAH ~ 4llDae LuILner
away
Was the man dead2
Ebeh's fingers went cold again at the
thought. Yes, the habby flesh had been
repulsive Beyond a doubt the thing
IN I've end Of the boat was the body
0f a dead man.
II is no pleasant experience to be
tossing about az dead Of night in a
small boat on the great ocean. with
a dead man for ones sole companion.
and absolutely no way to get away
from the corpse.
Eben sat shudderIne and staring at
the misshapen thing He dared not
move. He hardly dared breathe.
There the thing lay. motionless. The
moon peeping from behind a cloud at
that moment disclosed 20 Eben the
most hideous sight he had ever seen.
II was the things head. upturned The
face was livid and the eyes glazed by
death.
Across the forehead was deep cash,
with the blood clOtted around Il so that
the wound resembled a rusty iron bar
set IN the dead face.
Eben sat fascinated. The sight grad
usly gained a hold upon him, and at
. length he found IL Impossible 20 remove
his eyes from fl.
The ghastiy orbs were upturned 20
heaven and On the face was a look Of
pain such as Nash had never seen be-
fore.