Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1910-10-27

to go to his bunk anu enueavor &c
sleep of the effects of the bad beer
imbibed earlier IN the day
Now. on this second night of the
voyage, while the ship was ploddiug
steadily southwark with that fifteen
point inclination TO the west tnal
would take her far into the Atlanti,'
soon after daybreak. PhnIp rpmem
bered Mr.. Veritys niece anu telt sorry
that when she paid former visits to
the Andromeda fate had decreed thar
he should be serving his time on an.
other vessel. 1t gave him thrill
when he heard that this charming girl
knew his name. and it seemed TO him
for an instant that she was looking
into his very soul, analyzing him.
searching for some sigu that he was
not as Others. which meant that there
were some whom she had bitter cause
to diStruSt.
at any rate, she had left a memento
of her too brief appearance on board
in the shape of the bag. He would
contrive TO take on his own shoulders
its mission in Montevideo. Then on
returning to Liverpool he would have
an excuse for calling on her. He did
not know her name yet. Possibly
Captain Coke would mention that in
teresting fact when his temper lost
its raw edge.
1t was strange that he should be
thinking of Iris. far stranger than he
could guess, but his thoughts were
subconscious, and he was in nowise
neglecting the safety of the ship.
Hozier heard Coke reading the riot
act to the shellbacks who were sup
posed to keep sharp lookout ahead.
But the captain did not monopolize the
conversation. His deep notes rumbled
only at intervals. The men had some.
thing to say. He returned to the
bridge.
lone of them scallywags sez e 'as
seen ghost" he announced with the
calm air of man who states that the
moon will rise during the next hour.
"Oh. is he the man who reported a
ghost outside the lazarette last night p
81 s'pose so. Did 'e tell you about
1t? That's where she walks"
"Sher'
That's his yarn-a female ghost,
black 'un. black clo'es anyhow. I'll
take the forenoon watch, an you
might overhaul the ship for stow
aways after breakfast"
Yes, sir" said Eozier. And that is
how 1t fell to his lot to discover Iris
Yorke, looking very white and misera-
bic, when the hatch of the lazarette
was broken open at half past 8 on
Thursday morning!
a tramp steamer is not a complex
organism. She is made up of holds.
bunkers, boilers and engines. with
scanty accommodation for officers and
crew grouped round the funnel or
stuck in the bows. When the boats
were stripped of their tarpaulins and
few lockers and storerooms exam
ined the only available hiding places
were the shaft tunnel. the holds and
the lazarette, small space between
decks. situated directly above the pro-
peller. where u reserve supply OF pro-
visions is generally carried.
But the door of the iazarette was
locked and the key missing. There
was nothing for it but to force the
lock.
IL was dark In there, and Hozier
was undeniably startled by the spec
tacle of slim figure, wrapped IN a
long ulster, standing among the cases
and packages.
Now, out you Gomez he cried, with
a gruffness that was intended only to
cover his own amaZement, but Iris.
despite the horrors of seasickness and
in the dark was not mind
ed to suffer what she considered to be
impertinence on the part of a second
officer.
Il am Miss Yorke," she said coming
forward into the half light of the low
er deck. ANY explanation of my
here will be given to the cap
tain and to no other person"
That innocent word "person" is capa-
Bile 'of many meanings. Hozier felt
that its application TO himself was dis !
.inctly unfavorable. And Iris was
luite dignitied and self possessed. She
lad given few deft touches to her
lair.
"Of course I did not know to whom
was speaking" he managed to say.
or be now recognized the ghost" and |
vas more surprised than he had ever
,een in his life before.
That is matteress." said Iris frlgid-
y. Where is Captain CokeT
"On the bridge" said Philip.
IL will go to him. Please don't come
With me. ! tried to tell you that 1 |
would unlock the door. but you refused
o listen. VIII you let me passg
He obeyed in silence.
Iris hurried to the deck. The light |
eemed TO dazzle her. and her steps
we're so uncertain that Hozier sprang
Onward aud caught her arm.
Won't you SIT down a moment. Miss
iorke:" he said. III You searched the !