Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-07-18
Sweeney's
Ghost
dead Men Tell No
Tales"
By CLARISSA MACKIE


BIuy HSuS lut SIIuDDy uLLIt SIcHDltl
Marygold fell upon the white reefs OF
Sugar island and pounded out her fee
BILE life.
Early dawn found Captain Shaleb
Bains and his first mate digging a
shallow trench I'm the snowy sand of
the islands curving beach. Beside
the trench there lay dripping form
roughly dashed to the Marygold's for
ward hatch
The mate paused in his digging and
flung aside the empty turtle shell that
had served as n 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 careIcssly.
"What's that stuff out there?" asked
Bains, pointing a heavy forehnger
Broken spars and scraps Of the wa
terlogged tubs you called lifeboats."
growled the mate.
"You ought to be thankful. Peter.
You ought to get down on your knees,
man. because this Is all the best luck
you ever had" Balns' fshy eyes al
most glowed with excitement.
Thankful for what? Because the
expedition has fniled2 We can never
get to Sugar island now"
Balns smiled triumphantly. Were
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 Mt 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
as off. Wen be rich. Peter. much
richer than II the pearls had to be di-
vided 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 quiet bosomed ocean
Both were smoking furiously and say
ing little. 1t had been n hard day In
many ways. They had found rather
unpalatable shellhsh and plenty of CO.
coanuts to eat and tinklng rill Of
sweet water. They had not found the
pearls. although they had dug feverish
ly all around the roots of the giant
palm.
"rhe map says under the largest
PALM" insisted Captain Bains in re-
spouse to Peters skeptical mood
ut wasn't there Peter was begin
ming when all Mt 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. there!' piped feeble voice
from the shadow.
"Who is it2" doomed the deep voice
Of Bains.
"'Tls Sweeney" came from the near
ing shadow.
The two men under the rock leaped
forth and scrambled around to safety
Little thrills of superstitlous horror
chilled their blood.
"You lier' quavered Peter barrow
"Sweeney's dead"
1--WE buried him." chimed In Bains.
"'Fhen I'm riz from tn dead and
thankful so to be whin tn waves wash
ed over me there | was tucked away
as snug as We place In II grave. Twas
rayther premayture. | may say" And
the words were mingled with Dennis
Sweeneys unmistakable chuckle
The two men conferred in grumbing
tones
I'm thankful for tn warrum wei
come extended to me. seem I've re.
turned from tn grave It's been long
day TO lay dryin' In tn sun wishin
for n bite or n sup" 1t was Sweeney's
sarcasm that convinced his shIpmates
that he Ind indeed escaped death. but
the greed OF gain overcame any scru-
pies they might otherwise have had
"Sweency's dead" insisted Peter
barrow obstinately, all the terror gone
from his voice. IF you're his ghost
you can keep to yourself We don't
want You around herer'
mo more we don'tw emphasized
Bains roughly.
"lndade" purrcd Sweeney's voice,
And might ask II MS three are tn
only ones saved from tn poor Mary
tohT"
"Only two was saved-Captain Rans
and me-" returned barrow signiti-
cantly.
How about me-don't | countT
you're deadw Darrows voice was
final
"'Twas a legal BURIAL can swear
to It," added Bains ponderously.
AYE" said the voice OF Sweeney,
"yez can swear till ycz black In TIL
face, yes hlasphcmin' ould pirate. but
worruds won't kill Dinnis Sweeneyw
And the form OF Sweeney receded
down the beach, accompanied by very
audible footsteps
"fou should have dug It deeper"
complained Captain Rains Querulously
as he Joined barrow In walk around
to the opposite side of the island
How did know he wasn't dead?"