Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-15

I mOnU- i Hey were pursuing ulLn WHEN
he went to Hagerton for advice. The
client told Hagerton," continued the
captain, that if anything happened
to him he should take the jewel and
fee to England. The next day the eli.
| ent was found dead"
The Salt Spray was a tramp freight
er, and Mr.. Hagerton was the only
| passenger on this trip. He took his
meals with the captain and the mates
| in their little mess room. He was a
very interesting man. He was in IN
| usually good spirits the next morning.
At breakfast he told the first mate the
tale that Captain Mathews had detailed
to Henry the night before.
"Have you opened the box that con-
tains the jewell" inquired Mate Henry.
"Why. no. l haven't" answered the
| lawyer. but If you will wait a mo-
| ment / will get it and open 1t here"
In few minutes he reappeared with
a package under his arm. Henry no
| ticed that II was the same one that he
nao carried when he had run up the
! dock.
Now, gentlemen. am going 10 show
you an almost priceless jewel. 1t has
hundred years. and four generations
| back curse was placed upon it. You
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 of
the men were thieves. and the other
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'swn's fell down a 'atch
| and busted his leg"
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 strea ming from a cut
on his head. In a few minutes the
| captain arose from his side and ex-
claimed in IL Disguised voice:
Nothing broken: only little cut on
his head. He's drunk. Put him 10
bed for a couple of days. and he will
be all right
1--WE had better hurry back. I want
to see that diamond" said the first
mate.
When they were walking along the
passageway near the mess room they
heard a loud excla nation and thud.
They rushed in. There lay Hagerton
on the floor The captain knelt beside
him and put his head TO his heart.
Dead" he announced soIemnly.
"Well. I'll he hanged" exclaimed the
first mate hoarseIy.
Look" calculated Henry. pointing
to the table.
On the edge. nearly ready TO fall of.
was the jewel box. open. On the COW
er were the words. There is 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"
'sThat is the strongest thing / have
seen in a long time" said Henry.
isn't there a cut or bruse on him.
"Only q few little cuts on his fin
GER said Mathews, land they would
not kill him."
And so it was entered in the log. I'M
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 the
first watch that night. and as he stood
there he grew thoughtful. 1t was lone
ly and still. and the exciting events of
the day caused him much worry.
ST must have some money" he ar
gued. Ito pay on that beastly mort.
gage. Hagerton said that | should
take the diamond If anything happened
to him. But 1t won't do me any good.
as 1t will be claimed when we get TO
England
In the meanwhile Second Mate Hen
~ had been going through the dead
lawyers papers in order TO find where
to send bis belongings.
THAT certainly YVES a strange occur
renee" he thought. Hello. WHAT'S
this?' And he unfolded a small blue
paper.
please give this to Captain Math-
ews If nnrtl-i7~ hanpons to me- ne
read. eff should be killed before we