Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-08-02
Sweeney's S
Ghost
Dead Men Tell No
Tales"
By cLARIssA MAcKIE

AiteI tultc uayS ana uiknts OI Dat
tling with frenzied winds and wild
gray seas the shabby little steamer
Marygold fell upon the white reefs OF
Sugar island and pounded out her fee
bic life.
Early dawn found Captain Shaleb
Balns and his first mate digging q
shallow trench in the snowy sand OF
the islands curying beach. Beside
the trench there lay a dripping form
roughly iasiied to the Marygolds for.
ward hatch
The mate paused IN his digging and
fiung aside the empty turtle shell that
had served as spade. He pulled out
a knife, cut the lashings and hurriedly
rolled the inert form into the shallow
grave
"'Twas Sweeney" he announced
briefly to the captain, and the big fat
man nodded carelessly.
whats that stun out there?" asked
Bains. pointing heavy forefnger.
"Bro.sen spars and scraps Of the wa.
terloaged tubs you called lifeboats,' .
growled the mate.
'Y0u ought to be thankful, Peter
You ought TO get down on your knees.
man, because this is all the best lucl,
you ever had Bains' fshy eyes al
most glowed with excitement.
Thankful for what? Because the
expedition has failed? We can never
get to Sugar island now"
Bains smiled triumphantly. "We're
on Sugar island this minute" he an
nounced
The mate stared. "Nor' he yelled
"Yes." assured the captain. drawing
water tight metal case from his
pocket. "Just look at the map. All
we got to do is to locate the palm un-
der which the pearls are buried and
wait until somebody comes and takes
us off. Wen be rich. Peter. much
richer than if the pearls had to be di-
yided into eight parts. It's half and
half now"
That evening they sat in the shelter
Of huge rock and watched the moon
rising out Of a quiet bosomed ocean.
Both were smoking furiousIy and say
ing little. It had been a hard day in
many ways. They had found rather
unpalatabIe sheIltish and plenty Of CO.
coanuts to eat and a tinkling rill OF
sweet water. They had not found the
pearls. although they had dug feyerish-
ly all around the roots Of the giant
palm.
''The map says under the largest
PALM insisted Captain Bains In re.
sponse to Peters skeptlcal mood.
ut wasn't there Peter was begin
ming when all at once he stopped short
and pointed at something dark and
shadowy that approached them out Of
the white beauty of the night.
whats that?" he gasped.
"Ahoy, therer' piped feeble voice
from the shadow.
"who is it," doomed the deep voice
Of Bains.
"'Tis Sweeney" came from the near.
ing shadow.
The two men under the rock leaped
forth and scrambled around to safety
Little thrills Of superstitious horror
chilled their blood.
"You liel' quavered Peter Darrow.
"Sweeney's dead"
I'VE buried him." chimed in BaIns.
"Then I'm riz from tn dead and
thankful so to be whln tn waves wash
ed over me there was tucked away
as snug as ye plaze in a grave Twas
rayther premayture. I may say" And
the words We're mingled with Dennis
Sweeney's unmistakable chuckle.
The two men conferred In grumbling
tones.
I'm thankful for tn warrum well
come extended to me, seein' I've re-
turned from tn grave. It's been long
day to lay dryln' in tn sun wishIn'
for bite or sup" 1t was Sweeney's
sarcasm that convinced his shipmates
that he had indeed escaped death, but
the greed Of gain overcame any scru-
Piles they might otherwise have had.
''Sweenexs dead" insisted Peter
Darrow obstinately, all the terror gone
from his voice. "If you're his ghost
you can keep to yourself We don't
want you around here"
mo more we don'tF' emphasized
Bains roughly.
''Indade,- purred Sweeney's voice
"And might I ask If us three are tn
only ones saved from tn poor Mary
gohY'
"Only two was saved Captain Bains
and me-" returned Darrow signih-
cantly.
How about me-,lon't l count?"
You're deadr Darrow's voice was
final.
"'Twas a legal burial-I can swear
to it.. added Bains ponderously.
AYE" said the voice of Sweeney.
"yez can swear till yez black in tn
face. yes blasphemin' ould pirate, but
worruds won't kill Dinnis Sweeney
And the form Of Sweeney receded
down the beach. accompanied by very
audible footsteps.
''You should have dug II deeper"
complained Captain Bains querulously
as he Joined Darrow in a walk around
to the opposite side of the island.
'How did know he wasn't dead?r
demanded Peter impatiently. Then In
worried tones he went on: II suppose
he'll be watching us ali the time. Meb-
be he'll expect share of the pearls"
How is he to know we're en- Sugar
lslande" uueried Bains craftily "He
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