Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-16
The Argus Daily Short Story
Was 1t a Wraith?-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1910 by Associated Literary Press.

invited her TO remain with her In
definitely. So Kate stayed where she
would be in touch with her husband
far more than at home. That was an
exciting summer First came news OF
the fight in Manila bay, then the en-
trance of the Spanish Admiral CeTve-
ra's fleet into Cuban waters, its at
tempt to escape and. its destruction.
Peckham and Holt went through
this last fight. and when it was over
the latter officer was ordered to the
command of a small supply boat and
directed TO sail for the Brooklyn navy
yard
Can I do anything for you at
home?'' he asked Of Peckham.
Nothing. unless you will take a
letter for my wife. You can mail It
as soon as you get to Brooklyn"
with pleasure" replied Holt.
Peckham wrote a short note to his
wife and gave it to Holt
The trap I'm to command is not
very seaworthy," said the latter. IF
meet a big blow I may not get
Through. But I promise you. Hector,
that your wife shall have the letter"
Peckham hoped that his friend
would get through safely, and they
parted.
One morning young Mrs. Peckham
was sitting in her room at Annapolis
reading accounts Of the naval fight Off
Cuba-she had read them many times
before-when a draft blew open the
door and there came into the room
strong smell Of the sea. Standing be-
fore the opening was Leslie Holt pale
and exhausted.
why. Mr.. Holt!7 exclaimed Mrs.
Peckham.
Without word he handed her n let
ter. Thinking it to be from her hus-
band or that it might bring her bad
news from him, her attention was mo-
mentarily turned from its bearer to
the letter. 1t bore evidence Of having
been wet. A dampness chung to it,
and the letters of the superscription
had run together She tore it open
and read it. 1t was simply an an
nouncement that the writer was well.
had suffered nothing in the recent en-
gagement and hoped before many
weeks TO return TO her Having sat
isfied herself that it BODIED no harm to
the man she loved, she turned to it's
bearer. He was not there.
Thinking that what had passed be-
tween them before her marriage had
led him to go away without even hav-
ing been thanked, she tossed the let
ter on a table and ran out into the
hall TO stop him. Not finding him in
the hall. she went out on to the porch
He was not there, nor was he any
where to be seen, though there was
nothing for some distance TO obstruct
her vision.
STRANGE she said to herself and
returned to her room, fear coming
over her that the affair was in some
way connected with a misfortune to
her husband. Going to the table. she
was about to snatch up the letter
when she saw that IL was not where
she had put it. Looking on the floor
for it, she did not find it,
I'm sure something, has happened
to Hector" she moaned Leslie Holt
slipped away on purpose so that he
wouldn't have 10 say anything TO me
about it. But how pale he looked and
how exhaustedI
Thinking a draft might have blown
the letter off the table, she looked about
until she saw something of a light
brownish color in Il corner. Sure that
it was the letter, which had been dis
colored. she seized it, What was her
surprise to find seaweed
There was something so uncanny In
all this that she was now thoroughly
frightened. Dropping the seaweed.
she put both hands to her temples in
an effort to regain her equanimity.
Then. rushing out of the room, she ran
into her aunt and sank in n swoon.
Ten minutes later DIR. Coggswell,
medical officer at the academy. was