The Springdale news., 1909-02-27

men ana tidSteFSs
 We stared at each other l fascinated by something. some spell of the ship. which l have never been able te ex- plain to myself nor even describe. IL was a mystery. q portent, premoni ton such IS overtakes q man some times in the dark passageways of life I cannot tell you of it nor make you believe-let 1t pass.
 Then by slow process of successive perceptions became aware that l was watched by other eyes. other wax fig ures. other human beings with un- wavering gaze. They seemed to the sense of mystic apprehension that for the moment held possession of me to be eyeryw herein the hunks. on the floor. back in the shadows, watching. watching watching from the adyan- tage of another world.
 don't know why I tell you this; why lay so much stress on the first weird impression I got of the forecastle. IL means something to me now-in view of all that happened subsequently. Almost can look back and see i'll that uiOftltul LII oCtNltINIn n W al ltiiiS- ui th- lightenment- But the point is 1t meant something to me then. l stood there fascinated. unable to move. un= able to speak.
 Then the grotesque figure in the cor her stirred.
 Well, mates.' said the man. be lieve or not believe. it's in the book {. do ta ba a gold mines here in CnIforny and Ne yada and all them states, and We hear of gold mines in Mexico and Australia too, but did you ever hear tell of gold mines in Europe? Tell me that And where did the gold come from. then. before they discovered America Tell me that, Why. they made it. just IS the man that wrote this here says and you can kiss the book on that
 How about that place. Ophir, I read 2" asked voice from the hunks
 The man shot keen glance thither from beneath his brows.
 "Kn.w last years output from the mines of Ophir, Thrackless" lie in quired in silky tones.
 
 dressed as Thraekles.
 Well, l do.' pursued the man with the steel hook. and it's Just the whole of nothing and yen can kiss the book on that toe There ain't any gold out put because there ain't any mines and there never have been They made their gold.
 I H., Ix. l,a baI t, holding in his left hand recognized the fat little paper duodecimo with amuse- ment and some wonder The only other copy 1 had ever laid my eyes on is in the Astor library IL is somewhat of a 1 rarity. called The Secret of Alchemy. | or, The Grand Doctrine of Transmuta- ton Fully Explained. and was written by Dr. Edward Duvall most ex- traordinary volume to have fallen into the hands of seamen. stepped forward, greeting and be ing greeted Besides the man I have mentioned there were four The cook was a bnilet headed squat negro with q 1 broken nose l believe he had name, Robinson or something of thai sort. He W as t' bti Pl NN SiihliN iIt' AAA--'A+ ' II 1 like most of his race. he Mas gloomy and taciturn
 Of the other two, a little white faced, 1 thin ehested youth named Pnlz and q villainous looking Mexican called Per l dosa shall have more to say la fer My arrival broke the talk on al 1 ehemy It resumed its course in the T covered that the others knew nothing and each blundered against the as 1 founding fact of double wages.
 All I know is the pays good, and that's enough" concluded Thfackles from a bunk
 'The pays too good. growled Handy i Solomon. This ain't no job to go 1 look at the 'clipse of the moon or the 1 devils preacher
 w at you maik heem dens" queried Perdosa.
 Its treasure, of course" said Handy Solomon shortly.
 He. he, he" laughed the negro without mirth.
 What's the matter with you, doe 1 torfs demanded Thrackles
 Treasurer repeated the nigger "You see dat box he done carry so cairtul? You see dat:'
 A pause ensued. Some body scratch ed match and lit q pipe. "No, I don't see that" broke out Thrackles finally. with some impa- tience "l sabe how man goes after | ht.f sla l he take treasure away In a boxf What do you think, BuckoY he sud 1 denly appealed to me. I I looked up from my investigation of the empty berths.
 T don't think much about it.. re- piled, except that by the look of the stores we're due for more than Hono- lulu, and from the look of the light we'd better turn to on deck" l An embarrassed pause fell.
 "who are you, anyway" bluntly de manded the man with the steel hook.
 My name is Eagen,' I replied; I've 1 the berth of mate. Which of these i hunks are empty:'
 They indicated what l desired with just trace of suIlenness. I under stood well enough their resentment at having ships officer quartered on l them the foe.sle they considered as their only liberty when at sea and my presence as curtailment to the l freedom of speech l subsequently, did l my best to overcome this feeling, but never quite succeeded. ! At my command the nigger went to his galley. l ascended to the deck. 1 DuSk was falling In the swift (salifor-