Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-03-21


a short time, he said.
Capen occupied his mind with specu- |
lations concerning the patient
do you know, parson," he said.
seems if I'd seen the Teller some |
where's afore. Course l never have, |
but when / used to go whalin' wages
/ cruised from one end Of creation to
t'other, pretty nigh, and l might have
met him."
That night the sick man was much
worse. His rawlings were incessant.
The wooden clock, loaned by Mrs. Par
ker, the doctors wife, licked steadily,
although a half hour slow. Ellery,
glancing at it to see if the time had
come for giving medicine, suddenly
noticed how loud its ticking sounded.
wondering at this, he was aware there
was no other sound In the house. He
rose and looked In at the door OF the
adjoining room. The patient had
ceased to rave and was lying quiet on
the bed
The minister tiptoed over to look at
him. And, as he did so, the man
opened his eyes.
"Halloo!" he said family. who are
your"
Ellery, startled. made no answer.
Who are your" demanded the man
again. Then, with an oath, he re-
peated the question, adding: What
place is this? This amt the fo'castle.
Where am I?'
You're ashore On Cape Cod. At
Trumet."
"Trumet! Trumet!"
He was struggling to raise himself
on his elbow. Ellery was obliged to
use force TO hold him down. He strug-
gled again. Then his strength and his
reason left him simultaneously and the
delirium returned. He began to shout
name, name that caused Ellery to
stand upright and step back from the
bed, scarcely believing his ears.
All the rest of that night the man
on the bed raved and muttered, but OF
people and places and happenings
which he had not mentioned before.
And the minister, listening intently to
every word caught himself wondering
If he also was not losing his mind.
| When the morning came, Ebenezer.
Capen was awakened by a shake to
find John Ellery standing over him.
"Capen," whispered the minister,
"Capen, get up. l must talk with you
Were you acquainted in New Bed
ford?"
"Sartin. Was time when / could
have located every stick in it, pretty
nigh, by the smell, If you'd set me
down side of 'em blindfolded."
Did you ever know anyone
named" He finished the sentence
Wells l wanted to. Pretty decent
Teller one time, but fast goer, and
went downhill like a young ones sled,
when he got started. His folks had
money, that was the trouble with him.
Why. course / knew him. He mar
RED"
II know. Now, listen"
Ellery went on talking rapidly and
with great earnestness. Ebenezer lis
tened, at first silently, then breaking
in with calculations and grunts Of as
constituent. He sat up on the edge Of
the bed.
Rubbish" he cried at last why,
faint possiblel The feller's dead as
Methusalem's grandmarm. l remem-
Der how 1t 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 a mistake. l 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 full minute he
gazed steadily. Then he stood erect,
drew a big red hand across his fore
head, and moved slowly back to the
living room.
"Yup," he said, ats him. Mr.. Ell.
lery, what are you goin' to do about
it7"
II don't know. don't know.
must go somewhere by myself and
think. l 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 OF along the
beach. BY and by he heard Capen call.
ing his name.
Mr.. Ellery;" shouted Ebene7er
"Mr. Ellery, where be your"
"Here!" replied the minister.
The old man came scrambling over
the sand. He was painting and much
excited.
"Mr. Elleryl" he cried, mfr. Elleryl
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 l gave him his
medicine. / thought he looked kind Of
queer then. And when the doctor
came we went In together and he wat
dead Yes, sir. dead"
Dead"
"Um-hm. No doubt Of II; it's FOL
good this time Mr.. Ellery, what shall
we do? Shall / tell Dr. Parker?"
Ellery considered for a moment
NO." he said slowly. mo, Capen