The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-17

ot'th uHLo mt 10 DenOIQ the End.
He strobe past us, stony-faced. his
gaunt form outlined against the gray
! sky without as he pushed back the
companion door. Lady Darlington
watched his disappearance with parted
! lips and eyes filled with fear.
The fellow has gone crazy over his
spiritistic theories" l endeavored to
explain. DO not permit such folly
to affect you"
"But-but, Mr.. Stephens. he means
it, he believes it. What is it he has
SEEM"
Some vision of his insanity. no
doubt-nothing that need worry us
who are sane"
Her fingers pressed tightly upon my
hand.
But if he is really insane how much
more dangerous it makes our position!
Do you really think he is?"
Only along that one line, Lady
Darlington" my voice growing firm
with conviction. "Otherwise he seems
as sane as most men. We must humor
him to that extent, but regarding all
other matters there is no occasion for
you to worry. The man is a magnif-
cent seaman, and handles the Sea
Queen with remarkable skill. He Will
bring us out safely, and you must not
permit his prophecies of disaster to
influence your mind-they are only the
rawlings OF diseased brain"
/ do not know how much of what l
said she actually believed, yet as l
talked on in apparent confidence her
expression gradually changed. and
finally l had Celeste bring her wraps,
and l escorted her forth upon deck.
he fresh, singing air soon served to
drive from her brain the last vestige
of terror, although at first she watched
futile on the bridge very closely. How
ever, the fellow had left his weird
fanCies all below, and his sharp or
ders, coupled with the able manner in
which he sailed the vessel, rapidly
brought back even my own evaporated
faith.
Lady Darlington did not appear
again after supper although Celeste
sat in the main cabin and chatted Vi
vaCiOusly with De Nova while he ate.
They appeared SO deeply engrossed in
each other that finally took my pipe
and went on deck, leaving them undis-
turbed their laughter echoing to my
ears as | slid to the companion door.
There was taste of snow in the
Wintry air-delicate, scattered. whirl.
ing flakes that cut the exposed flesh
like needles, while the wind whistled
through the frozen rigging in shrill
music. The decks were as gloomy and
dark as the surrounding sea was desc
late and gray, the endless vista of cir
cling water and sky merely merging
imperceptibly into the haze of dis
tance-everywhere the white-capped
waves frantically chasing each other,
crest following crest, the deep hollOws
between as black as death.
1t got upon my nerves at last, and
went below, striving manfully to shake
off all memory of the depressing pic
ture. Ten minutes later | was secure
ly braced in my bunk, so soundly sleep
ing | forgot to dream.
L could never tell Wlat aWOke me,
some strange noise, no doubt, for sat
straight up, staring through the black
ness toward the closed door. Almost
at the very instant | heard the smash
of glass in the main cabin. | was only
partially undressed, and with one
spring was at the latch, the fierce
pitching of the yacht making me in
stantly apprehensive of accident. At
the first glance | perceived nothing
unusual under the dim light, then |
saw a man sprawling on the floor in
midst of a litter of glass from
broken mirror. | leaped across to,
ward the fellow. twisting my hand into
the collar of his pea-jacket, and whirl-
ing him face upward to the light. 1t
was futile, and he shrank away from
ME covering like a whipped cur, his
hands thrust out, his eyes staring. 1t
was an appalling face. CHASTITY, terror
stricken.
What is it, Mr.. Tuttle?"
"Oh, Christi Christi" he shrieked,
apparently never seeing me at all, his
teeth gnashing, foam on his lips. Il