The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-03-30

Some vision of his insanity. nc
| 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 magnifi-
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 a diseased brain"
do not know how much of what
said she actually believed. yet as I
talked on in apparent confidence her
expression gradually changed. and
finally had Celeste bring her wraps.
and 1 escorted her forth upon deck.
The fresh. singing air soon served TO
drive from her brain the last vestigc
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 lie 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 W.
vaciously with De Nova while he ate.
They appeared so deeply engrossed in
each other that finally took my pipe
turbed, their laughter echoins TO my
ears as l slid to the companion door.
There was a taste of snow in the
wintry air-delicate. scattered. whirl-
ing fakes 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.
Ii got upon my nerves at last. and l
went below, striving manfully to shake
off all memory of the depressing pic
ture. Ten minutes later l was secure
ly braced in my bunk. SO soundly sleep
ing l forgot to dream.
/ could never tell what awoke me;
some strange noise. no doubt. for l 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 appsehensive of accident. At
the first glance l perceived nothing
unusual under the dim light, then /
saw a man sprawling on the floor in
midst of litter of glass from a
broken mirror. I leaped across to-
ward the fellow. twisting my hand into
the collar Of his a-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. It
was an appalling face. CHASTITY, terror
stricken.
What Is 1t. Mr.. Tuttle?"
"Oh. Christ! Christi" he shrieked.
apparently never seeing me at all. his
teeth gnashing. a foam on his lips. Il
saw It again-right over there! But
l killed that one! I killed that one!
1t will 90 back to hell ahead of me!
Oh, God! there's another! Another,
but I'll kill that one. too"
Straight toward me he came with
the fierce. unexpected leap OF . wild