Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-10-10

the bed.
Rubbish" he cried at last. "Why.
faint possible! The feller's dead as
Methusalem's grandmarm. remem-
Der how it happened and"
1T wasn't true. That much know.
know, tell you"
He went on to explain why he knew.
Capen's establishment grew.
Judas priest!" he exclaimed again.
That would explain why thought I'd
seen There! heave ahead. I've
got to see. But it's mistake. / don't
believe it."
The pair entered the sick room.
The sailor lay in a stupor. His breath
Ing was rapid, but faint. Capen bent
over him and gently moved the band
age on his face. For a full minute he
gazed steadily. Then he stood erect,
drew big red hand across his fore
head, and moved slowly back to the
living room.
"Yup," he said, "it's him. Mr.. Ell
lery, what are you goin' to do about
it?"
i don't know. I don't know.
must go somewhere by myself and
think. I don't know what to do"
The minister declined to wait for
breakfast. He said he was not hungry.
Leaving Ebenezer to put on the coffee
pot and take up his duties as day
nurse, Ellery walked off along the
beach. BY and by he heard Capen call
ing his name.
Mr.. Ellery;;" shouted Ebenezer.
"Mr. Ellery, where be you?"
"Here!" replied the minister.
The old man came scrambling over
the sand. He was painting and much
excited.
Mr.. Ellery!" he cried, "Mr. Ellery!
It's settled for us-one part Of it, any
how. He's slipped his cable. Yup. He
must have died just little while after
you left and after gave him his
medicine. 1 thought he looked kind of
queer then. And when the doctor
came we went in together and he was
dead. Yes, sir, dead"
Dead"
"Um-hm. No doubt of it; it's for
good this time. Mr.. Ellery, what shall
We do? Shall I tell DR.. Parker?"
Ellery considered for a moment.
mo-" he said slowly. mo, Capen,
don't tell anyone. I can't see why
they need ever know that he hasn't
been dead for years, as they supposed.
Promise me to keep 1t secret. I'll
tell-her-myself, later on. Now prom
Use me; trust you"
Land sakes, yes! I'll promise, If
you want me to-"
The next day the body Of Murphy"
foremost hand on the San Jose, was
buried in the corner of the Regular
| graveyard, near those who were
drowned in the wreck Of that winter.
Capen remained at the shanty another
week. Then, as the minister showed
no symptoms Of having contracted the
disease and insisted that he needed nc
companion, Ebenezer departed to take
up his fishing once more.
| Ellery himself was most urgent In
the decision that he should not &c
back to the parsonage and his church
just yet. Better to wait until he was
sure, he said, and DR.. Parker agreed.
DR.. Parker told him Of Grace Van
Horne's return to the village. She had
come back. so the doctor said, the day
before. and was to live at the tavern
for while, at least. Yes, he guessed
even she had given up hope of Cap
tain Nat now.
And say" went on Parker, what
want to know is whether you think
could leave you for couple Of days?
The Ostable County Medical Society
meets at Hyannis tomorrow and had
promised myself to take 1t in this
year. But don't want to leave you,
II you need me-"
Ellery insisted that he did not need
anyone, was getting along finely, and
would not hear to his friends miss.
Ing the medical society's meeting. So
the physician went. John Ellery did
not feel cheerful that afternoon. The
tired feeling he had spoken of 80 light.
ly was worse than he had described it,
and he was Respondent. Cor no particu.
lar reason. That night he slept miser.
ably and awoke with chill to find q
cold, pouring rain beating against the
windows OF the shanty.