The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-03-01

short time, he said.
Capen occupied his mind with specu-
ations concerning the patient.
"Df{you know, parson," he said.
secs II I'd seen the Teller some
where's afore. Course / never have,
out when ! used to go whalin' wages
cruised from one end of creation to
'other. pretty nigh, and l might have
met HIM"
mat night the sick man was much |
worse. His rawlings were incessant.
lhe wooden clock, loaned by Mrs. Par |
her, the doctors wife, licked steadily, |
although half hour slow. Ellery, |
'iancing at 1t to see if the time had
ONE for giving medicine, suddenly
Dticed how loud its ticking sounded.
wondering at this, he was aware there
vas no other sound in the house. He
'se and looked In at the door of the
|atJoining 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
you?"
Ellery, startled, made no answer.
h Who are your" demanded the man
gain. Then, with an oath, he re-
fated the question, adding: What
lace is this? This amt the fo'castle.
Nhere am II"
f'You're ashore. On Cape Cod. At
1umet"
tTrumet! Trumet!"
He was struggling to raise himself
OF his elbow. Ellery was obliged to
uS force to hold him down. He strug-
GID again. Then his strength and his
reSon left him simultaneously and the
darium returned. He began to shout
a Jane, name that caused Ellery to
stNd upright and step back from the
bel, 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
II he also was not losing his mind.
When the morning came, Ebenezer
Capen was awakened by a shake to
fint John Ellery standing over him.
'Capen," whispered the minister,
"Capen. get up. ! must talk with you
Yon used to be a whaler, / know.
Were you acquainted in New Bed
forl?"
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
naIled-" He finished the sentence
Wells wanted to. Pretty decent
Teller one time, but a 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 1 knew him. He mar
RED"
81 know. Now, listen"
Elery went on talking rapidly and
with great earnestness. 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 1t happened and"
1T wasn't true. That much I know.
l know. tell you"
He went on to explain why he knew.
Capen's sstonishment grew.
Judas priest!" he exclaimed again.
THAT would explain why thought I'd
seem There! heave ahead. I've
got to see. But it's a mistake. / don't
believe It."
The pair entered the sick room.
The sailor hy 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, Its him. Mr.. FL
lery, what are you goin' to do about
1T"
II don't know. j don't know.
must go somewhere by myself and
think. l don't know what to do"
The minister declined to wait fol
breakfast He said be was not hungry
Leaving EbeneDer to put on the coffee
pot and take up his duties as day
nurse. Ellery walked of along the
beach. BY and by Ae heard Capen call
ing his name.
"Mr. Ellery;" houted Ebenezer
"Mr. Ellery. where le your"
"Here!" replied tie minister.
The old man cana scrambling oveI
the sand. He was painting and much
excited.
Mr.. Ellery!" he crsd, Mr.. Elleryl
it's settled for us-ons part Of 1t, any
how. He's slipped his cable. Yup. H,
must have died just little while aftel
you left and after l gave him hi
medicine. thought he locked kind O
queer then. And when he doctor
came We went in together md he wal
dead. Yes, SIR, dead"
Dead"
"Um-hm. No doubt of it; It's TO
good this time Mr.. Ellery, what shall
we do! Shall I tell DR.. Parssrr
EIlery considered for a ION emf