Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-15

key The night was fairly quiet. He
could lash the wheel safely. and he
had in his favor the fact that Oleson.
the lookout. was slow thinking
Swede who VIGOROUSLY slept on his
watch. He found the ax. not where
he had left il. but back In the case
But the ease was only closed. not
locked Sinrlcton's error
Armed with the ak. Jones slipped
back to the wheel and waited. He had
plenty of time. lie had taken his robe
from its hiding place In the bont. and
had it concealed near him with the
AK. lie was ready, but he was wait
ing for another signal. lie got il at
2.30. He admitted the signal and the
time, but concealed its naturc-I think
IL was shooting star. lie killed Vail
first. believing him 10 he Turner. and
making with his TX the four signs
of the cross. Then lie went to the
Hansen girls door He did not know
about the bell. and probably rang it
by accident as he leaned over to listen
If Vail still breathed.
The captain. in the mean time had
been watching Singleton. lie had for
hidden his entering the after house; if
he caught him disobeying he meant to
put him in irons. He was without
shoes or coat ana he sat waiting on
the after companion steps for develop
ments. II was the captain. probably,
whom Karen Hansen mistook for
Turner Later he went back to the
forward companionway, either on his
way back TO his cabin. or still with
an eye to Singletun's movements.
To the captain there must have ap-
peared this grisly figure in flowing
white. smeared with blood and armed
with an AK. The sheet was worn over
Jones head-a long. narrow slit Serv-
ing him TO see through, and two other
Sits freeing his arms. The captain
was brave man. but the apparition,
cleaning in the almost complete dark
ness. had been on him before he could
do more than throw up his hands.
Jones had not finished. He went
back to the chart room and possibly
even went on deck and took look at
the wheel. Then he went down again
and killed the Hansen woman.
lie vas exceedingly cunning. He
flung the AK into the room and was
up and at the wheel again, ali within
q few seconds. To tear of and fold up
the sheet. to hide it under nearby cord
age. to strike the ships bell and light
his pipe-all this was matter of two
or three minutes. l had only time to
look at Vail. When l got up to the
wheel Jones was smoking quietly.
believed he tried to get Singleton
!ater and failed. But he continued his
devo:ions on the forward deck. visible
when clad in his robe. invisible when
he took it off 1t was Jones, of course,
who attacked Burns and secured the
key to the captains cabin; Jones who
threw the aX overheard after hearing
the crew tell that on its handle We're
finger prints 10 identify the murderer;
Jones who while on guard in the after
house below had pushed the key to the
storeroom under Turner's door: Jones
who hung the marlinespike over the
side. waiting perhaps for another
chance at Singleton; Jones in his deyo-
tional attire who had frightened the
crew into hysteria and who, discovered
by Mrs Johns in the captains cabin.
had rushed by her and out with the
ak. 1t is noticeable that he made no
attempt to attack her. He killed only
in obedience to his signal, and he had
had no signal.