The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-03-02

done upon the owner OF it. The crime
was there inside.
To overcome that feeling, he had
worked all the harder trying to solve
its secret.
His interest, now. however. in ma
king sure that the box had really been
brought aboard the Aurora was not
superstitious, but wholly practical.
They were leaving most OF their stores
behind them, as there was no time
either to transport them to the Au-
rora or to destroy them. With these
stores and with the shelter afforded
by the hut and the little clump of sur
rounding out-buildings, it was prob
able that some members OF the Au-
rora's party. at least, would survive
the winter. If relief ship should
arrive the next summer. or even the
summer thereafter, 1t would probably
find some one on this desolate shore
who could tell the story of the disap-
pearance of the Aurora and form a
more or less definite surmise as to
the cause OF it. That rosewood box
had Captain Fieldings Journal in tia
journal that had been written up to
the very morning when Roscoe had
murdered him. Its discovery would
go a long way toward bridging the
gap which Roscoe meant to leave in
their departing trail. In short, If that
rosewood box were left behind Res
coe would always feel that he was in
more or less danger of detection. And
he didn't mean to have a thing like
that hanging over him.
Consequently, when he discovered
that the box was not on board. and
that his particular injunctions con
corning II had been either neglected
or disobeyed. he came raging MP on
deck again, most formidable figure
which caused his companions. harden.
ed ruffians though they were. to cover
and shrink away from him.
In torrent of furious blaspnemy.
he demanded to know why that box
had not been brought aboard; and the
concentrated lees of his rage he
emptied at last upon the two men
whom he had ordered to do II.
Now" he concluded. when he tor
rent had spent itself. won go ashore,
you two. Yes, you. Carlson mean
you-and you. Rose; go ashore now
and get IT,"
Then, after momentary silence,
he ragged out the command again,
amid foul food OF abuse.
But still they made no move to
obey. and the big Swede, in evident
terror. answered him. Il won't get
1t, Roscoe. II you want that box, you
can get 1t yourself"
What in hell do you mean?" the
leader stormed. But his voice, even
as he spoke, lost its confident tang of
authority
you tell him." said Carlson, nod
ding to his companion, Rose. Evident
ly II was Rose who had told the story
to the other members of the party He
was squatly built man with stub
born Jaw, and Planck, in the days Of
his command, had always disliked him
as that most undesirable pest that can
be found In forecastle-a sea law
yer.
What did you leave the box In the
hut for" he demanded. He might
not have come back If you had left
it in the cave"
Come back" echoed Roscoe, with
growl.
That's what | said We went to
the hut 30 get II. and there was a
light inside. and there he sat. Just like
he used to, And he had the box
open"
HE, Who do you mean" There
was no trace OF turbulence in Roscoe's
voice now. He spoke as though his
throat was dry.
1T was Captain Fielding; him to
the life. And. yet. 1t was different
from the way he used to be We
couldn't see it very well. Its face was
sideways and the light was behind it.
and 1t looked smaller and thinner
more-more like woman or Rose
had had the word spiritual in his vo-
cabulary, he would have used It. In
default of II, he gave up trying to
express just what he meant) Any
way, there he sat with the box open
beside him, and that red book of his
open on his knees. Go back for TT
Well, | guess not"
There Yas momentary silence aft
er he had finished, and Roscoe could
feel 1t, as IT. stretched itself out to the
length OF half minute or so. the chill
of their terror enyeloping him To
throw It OF, he clustered, stormed at
and abused them for pack OF liars.
But in the end he sprang down into
one OF the boats. and said he would
fetch the box himself. Whether he
believed their story. or not, IL was
the only thing for him to do.
AS he pulled shoreward he tried
hard to convince himself that he did
not believe It; that Rose and Carlson
had probably forgotten all about the
box, and had trumpet up the story to
avoid the necessity of going back for
It,
He beached his boat. scrambled
ashore and set out walking doggedly
along In the direction of the hut The
fcs Was still all but impenetrable. even
20 his practised vision. brit he knew
the shore like the palm OF his hand,
and he trudged on without pause.
until he was within ten PAGES. per-
haps. OF his destination.
But there he faltered and stopped.