The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-05-29
moaned or lay in a srupot, Ebenezer

CduIS AISQuSully, UuC Sdlu Uu6T0 WdS
no hope. A question of time only, and
a short time, he said.
Capen occupied his mind with specu-
lations concerning the patient.
"Do you know, parson," he said,
seems II I'd seen the Teller some
where's afore. Course / never have,
but when l 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 az It. to see if the time had
come for giving medicine, suddenly
noticed how loud It's ticking sounded.
Wondering at this, he was aware there
was no other soun6 in the house. He
rose and looked III 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 you" 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 II"
You're ashore. On Cape Cod At
Tvumet."
"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, a lame that caused Ellery to
stand upright and step back from the
bed, scarcely believing his ears.
All the Test 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 tho morning came, Ebenezer
Capen was awakened by shake to
find John Ellery standing over him.
"Capen," whispered the minister,
"Capen, get up. | must talk with you.
You. used to be a whaler, l know.
We've you acquainted in New Bed
ford?"
"Sartin. Was a time when l could
have located every stick in 1t, 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 | wanted to. Pretty decent
Teller one time, but fast goer, and
went downhill like young ones sled,
when he got started His folks had
money, that was the trouble with him.
Why, course l knew him. He mar
ried-"
81 know. Now, listen.''
Ellery went on talking rapidly and
with great tarnestness. Ebenezer lis
tened. at first silently, then breaking
in with calculations and grunts of as
tonishment. He sat up on the edge of
the bed.
Rubbish" he cried at last why,
faint possible! The feller's dead as
Methusalem's grandmarm. l remem-
Der how it happened and"
1T wasn't true. That much l know.
know, tell YOU"
He went on t. explain why he knew.
Capen's establishment grew.
Judas priest!" he exclaimed again.
THAT would explain why l thought I'd
seem 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 full minute he
gazed steadily. Then he stood erect,
drew a big red hand across his fore
living room.
"Yup," he said, cts him. Mr.. Ell
lery, what are you goin' to do about
it?"
II don't know. l 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 off along the
beach. By and by he heard Capen call
ing his name.
mr. Ellery;" shouted Ebenezer
"Mr. Ellery, where be your"
"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-ona part of it, any
how. He's slipped HE cable. Yup. He
must have died just little while after
you left and after gave him his
medicine. l thought he looked ki.5 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 l tell DR.. Parker?"
Ellery considered for a moment.
NO." he said slowly mo, Capcn,
don't tell anyone. l can't see why
they need ever know that he hasn't
been dead for years, as they supposed.
Promise me TO keen il secret Ill