Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-11-06

ing the anchored vessel through the
spyglass, lowered the latter and
seemed puzzled. BLESSED If she don't
look aban Toned to me. Can't see a
sign of life aboard her"
I'VE couldn't neither" said Tboph. |
1--WE was just cal'latin' to go off to her
when Charlie come and told us about
the longboat guess likely we can go
now; it's pretty nigh smooth as
pond. You'll take an oar, won't you,
Noah?"
Il can't leave the light very well. My
wife went over to the village last
night. You and Charlie and Bill go.
Want to go, too, Zeb?"
NO III stay here, guess. The old
lady made me promise to keep my feet
dry afore l left the house"
You want to go, Mr.. Ellery? Lots
OF room"
The minister was tempted. The sea
always had fascination for him and
the mystery of the strange ship was
appealing.
Sure | won't be in the way?"
mo, no! course you won't" said
Burgess. Come right along. You set
in the bow. il you don't mind gettin'
sprinkled once in a while. I'll steer
and Thoph and Bill1l row. That1l be
enough for one dory. II we need
more, We'll signal. Heave ahead"
The rowers "hit her up" and the
dory moved faster. Then Burgess, put
ting his hand to his mouth, hailed.
Ship ahoy!" he roared. "Ahoy!"
No reply.
The dory slackened speed, turned in
obedience to the steering oar. and slid
under the forequarter of the an
chored vessel. Ellery, looking up, saw
her name in battered gilt letters above
his head-the San Jose.
Stand by, Thoph!" shouted Charlie.
"S'pose you can jump and grab her
forechains? Hold her steady, Bill.
Now, ThophI That's the time!"
Thoph had jumped, seized the
chains, and was scrambling aboard. A
moment later he appeared at the rail
amidships, a rope in his hand. The
dory was brought alongside and made
fast; then one after the other the men
in the boat climbed to the brig's deck
"Ahoy!" yelled Burgess. All hands
on deck! tumble up, you lubbers
Humphl She is abandoned. sure and
sartin."
"Yup," asserted Bill. Her boats
are gone. See? Guess that explains
the longboat on the beach. Charlie"
"Phew!" shifted Burgess. "She aim
no cologne bottle, is she? Well. come
on below and let's see whatll we see.'
The cabin was a mess" as Bill
expressed it. The floor was covered
with scattered heaps of riff-raff. oil
skins, coats. empty bottles, and pa
pers. On the table a box stood, it!
1 hinged lid thrown back.
Medicine chest" said Burgess, ex
aiming It, And rum bottles aplenty
Somebody's been sick, shouldn't won
[ der"
: The minister opened the door OF on
i of the little staterooms. The ligh
: which shone through the dirty an
L tightly closed "bull's-eye" windoV
e showed a tumbled bunk, the blanket
D soiled and streaked. The smell wa
. sitting.
u Say, fellers," whispered Thoph,
: don't like this much myself. I'm 10
gettin' on deck where the airs bette
y Sometimes happened aboard this Graf
:. somethin' serious"
Charlie and Bill nodded an en-
phatic affirmative.
q Hadn't we better look about II
e tie more?" asked Ellery. There's al
other stateroom there"
g He opened the door of it as b
u spoke. 1t was, II possible, In a wors
!. condition than the first. And the ode
was even more overpowering.
Shippers ROOM" observed Burgess
H. peeping in. And that bunk amt bet
+ slept in for weeks. See the mildew c
y them clothes. Phew! I'm fair sic
-. to my stomach. Come out Of this
III On deck, in the sunlight. they he
- another consultation.
"Queerest business ever see," o
p served Charlie. l never"
Ct see somethin' like it once" int
co rupted Bill. Down in the Gulf 'twa
{ was on the old Fishhawk. Eb'
= Salters' dad from over to Baypo
A., skipped her. We picked up We
II Iniy schooner, derelict, abandon
II same as this one, but not anchore
y of course. Yeller jack was the trc
4 BILE aboard her and Where y
n bound, Thoph?"
< Coin to take a squint at the foe;
n tle," replied Theophilus, moving II
ward. The minister followed him.
The fo'castle hatchway was bla
N and grim. Ellery knelt and peer
N down. Here there was practically
NJ light at all and the air was fou
M than that in the cabin.
M See anything, Mr.. Ellery?' ask
M Thoph. looking over his shoulder.
" mo, don't see anything. But
Y thought"
NJ He seemed to be listening.
NJ What did you think?"
u Nothing. /"
N Hold on! you amt goin' do
there, be you? l wouldn't. No tell
what you might find. Well, all rig
| amt curious. I'll stay up here
,be you can report"