Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-06-16


had carried when he had run MP the
DOCK. ~ ~ ssss
Now. gentlemen. am going 10 show
you an almost priceless jewel. 1t has
been In the same family fer several
hundred years. and four generations
back u cUrse Was placed u.,o.i il. ..,..
may laugh. gentlemen. but three times
in the last fifty years men have been
found lying ON the floor dead with the
jewel case open beside them Two or
the men were thieves. and the otha-
was my client that told you about.
and he died only last week"
Hey. captain shouted the petty
officer. who was on the bridge. Cap
tain. the bo'sw'n's fell down 'atch
and busted his leg T.
The two mates rushed out to the as
sistance Of the unfortunate sailor. The
| captain paused an instant to snatch
up his portable medicine chest and
then numbered after them. The law
yer was the only one that remained
behind The three officers ran down
the ladder to the hold. where they
found the boatswain lying unconscious
with the blood streaming from a cut
on his head. In few minutes the
captain arose from his side and ex-
claimed in a disguised voice:
| Nothing broken; only a little cut on
his head. Hes drunk. Put him to
bed for couple Of days, and he will
be all right"
I'VE had better hurry back. want
to see that diamond" said the first
mate
| When they were walking along the
passageway near the mess room they
| heard loud exclamation and a thud.
They rushed in. There lay Hagerton
on the floor The captain knelt beside
him and put his head to his heart.
| "Deadr' he announced solemnly.
| 'sWell, I'll be hangedp' exclaimed the
hrst mate hoarsely.
"Lookr' CALCULATED Henry, pointing
to the table.
On the edge, nearly ready to fall of,
was the jewel box, open. On the Gov
er were the words, There is a curse"
The captain closed it with a snap.
After thorough examination Of the
body Of Hagerton the captain arose
slowly from the floor. His face was
very pale as he spoke:
There is not sign Of violence on
his body. The only thing that it can
be is heart failure. This is the fourth
man that has died beside that box"
That is the strangest thing I have
seen in a long time" said Henry
isn't there cut or bruise CD him?'
"Only few little cuts on his 6u
ger" said Mathews. land they would
not kill him"
And so it was entered In the log. IN
der date of March 2. that Hagerton
passenger. had died Of heart disease
The captain put the jewel box on the
locker In the mess room.
Captain Mathews had the bridge tn,
first watch that night. and as he stoot
there he grew thoughtful. 1t was lone
~ and still, and the exciting events O
the day caused him much worry.
II must have some money" he ar
gued. Ito pay on that beastly mort
gage. Hagerton said that / shout,
take the diamond if anything happene'
to him. But it won't do me any good
as it will be claimed when we get t
England"
In the meanwhile Second Mate Hen
~ had been going through the dea'
lawyers papers in order to ind wher
to send his belongings.
THAT certainly was a strange occu,
renee" be thought. Hello. what
this?' And he unfolded a small blu
paper.
please give this to Captain Matt
ews if anything happens to me- h
read. IF should be killed before W
reach England the diamond will be
come the property of the captain. II
must sell it as quickly as possible /
order to lose the curse. Hagerton.''
That will fix the captains NOR
gage all right" said Henry as b
started toward the bridge to give tn
letter to Mathews. AS he passed til
mess room he heard cry behind hin
and he saw the first mate sraggerin
backward. Henry sprang toward hin
thinking that he had tainted. As b
caught him something dropped. an
Henry gasped. 1t was the jewel DO,
He laid Jenkins on the hoor and rust
ed to the bridge.
Captain" he cried-''captain. tn
mate has tried to steal the diamond -