The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-05-13

mistook me for another ghost, but ]
took the initiative.
Il have ueen investigating the ar
rangement Of things below, Anderson"
| said, in explanation; rather odd
way in which the yacht is cut up. Did
you know there was a passage leading
all the way aft?"
The boatswain shook his head, too
surly naturally to answer.
well, possibly o know whether
or not a similar passage leads forward
into the ~forecastle?"
There's a bulkhead door over
there" he returned, indicating by
a gesture a spot concealed by the
donkey pump, but | don't know
where it goes, only it's dark as hell"
1T comes out under the forecastle,
sir" broke in a coal HEAVIER named
Davis. 'Leastwise there's a trap in
the deck there, with a ladder leadin'
down."
I'll finish the trip through, then,
for / like to know what is under my
lScJ WuCu L COIIlIldllu q NSSSSl. w lSlC
is the engineer, Anderson"
He waved his big hairy hand in the
direction of the boilers.
Went to his bunk to lie down for
an hour; he vas about all in"
Are you capable of standing watch
alone in an engine room?"
The fellow grinned, his bulldog jaw
protruding.
We'll, I've had to do it on this trip
whether I'm capable o. not. That
fellow can't stand it in here night an
day without no rest. l know 10Y to
start an stop her, an watch the wa
ter gauge. If anything else goes
wrong he's easy enough called"
So it was Mcknight who was play
ing the antics of a ghost on board;
Mcknight who had discovered that
unusual passageway through the bulk
heads; Mcknight who had conceived
the idea that in this manner he could
brighten us into turning back. Well,
truly, | did not altogether blame the
man, and, now that my own fear of
the supernatural was allayed, did not
feel any desire to punish him severely.
Still, his masquerade must stop be-
fore he thoroughly demoralized the
crew, frightening them beyond all
my power of control.
l discovered the door concealed be.
hind the donkey engine, left it slightly
ajar behind me, and stepped forward
into the black passage. l had CROPPED
along to the very foot of the ladder,
feeling nothing but bare walls, and
hearing no sound except the slush OF
bilge water, when suddenly an mar
ticulate cry sounded almost directly
above; something, a hatch cover pos
sibly, seemed to settle into place, and
the ladder shook under my hand. !
drew back a step, permitting the fel-
low to come down until he reached
the floor. My eyes,, accustomed to the
gloom, enabled me to dimly perceive
his shape. It was no more than a
formless smudge he made, but l
struck straight for what seemed to be
the head, and landed with a force that
dropped him like a log. In an instant
l was on top, clasping the canvas
sheet he ore tightly about his arms,
and throttling him against the deck,
He fought like a wild bull for a mo.
ment, thoroughly frightened and
whimpering, dazed by the s%uddenness
of attack, yet following the animal
instinct of a struggle for life.
Damn you, Mcknight, lie still" !
painted. 1--WE got you. and you might
just as well take your medicine, my
man. Yes. that's a gun you feel, and
l know how to use It.. So you're the
ghost Of the Sea Queen, are you? !
guess you know what this means II ]
turn you over to those fellows, don't
your"
He groaned, and l ventured to re-
! lease my grip on his throat. flingine
back the canvas from his head.
"Sit up. Well, I'll tell you. Mcknight
You would probably go overheard to
feed the fishes. Do you recognize
me?"
YES, sir" managing to find his
voice for the first time. You're Mr.
Stephens"
Right you are, and you car bless
your lucky stars that l am the one
who caught you. What started you at
this trick?"
1T was the Chilean, sir, Sanchez;
he said we could scare the whole out
ft,"
did he do any Of the ghost play
ing?"
mo, sir; he didn't have the nerve,
but-but he rugged me up, and found
out about these passageways."
What was l to do with the man? In
truth there was little | dared to do
under the circumstances.
Nov see here, Mcknight" l said.
soberly, you quit this thing for good
and all; IL there is any more ghost
walking done on the Sea Queen I'll
turn you and Sanchez over to the
men. Besides. there's no use resort
/ - ~~~Sn - thnt covk - <v{cl~ to~