The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-24
What is the natter" | called.

unlockcd 1t and threw it open. III,
retreated Lesore me with his hands out
and huddled against the wall beside
the window. | striicl match. His
face was drawn and distorted. and he
held his arm up as IL to ward off \
blow.
"Well?" demanded.
1t was there" he said. looking oyel
his shoulder. Its been there three
times. looking in-all in white. anC
grinning at me-"
"A man?"
Tit hasn't got any face"
How could it grin at you if it hasn't
any face?" l demanded impatiently
Pull yourself together and tell me
what you saw
1t was some time before he could
tell connected story. and when he
did l was inclined to suspect that he
had heard us talking the night before
had heard Adams description of the
Intruder on the forecastle head and
that. what with drink and terror, he
mad fancied the rest. And yet | was
not so sure.
Il was asleep, the first time" he
said. II don't know how long ago II
was. woke up cold. with the feel.
ing that something was looking at me
raised up in bed. and there was q
thing at the window. 1t was look
ing in
"A white head?"
1T wasn't head. For Gods sake
Leslie, l can't tell you any more than
that! l saw it. That's enough
saw 1t three times
1T isn't enough for me- I said dog
gedly. 1T hadn't any head or face
but it looked in. It's dark out there
How could you see?'
For reply he leaned over and, turn.
ing down the lamp. blew 1t out. We
sat in the smoking darkness. and slow.
ly out of the thick night the window
outlined itself / could see it distinct.
ly. But how, white and faceless. had
1t stared in at the window or reached
through the bars. as Singleton declar-
ed 1t had done, and waved fngerless
hand at us?
He was in state of mental and
physical collapse and begged so pitt,
fully not to be left that at last | told
him l would take him with me on his
promise to remain in a chair until
dawn and to go back without demur.
He sat near me, amidships. huddled
down among the cushions of one of
the wicker chairs, not sleeping, but
staring straight out, motionless,
With the first light of dawn Burns
relieved me, and went forward with
Singleton. He dropped into his bunk
and was asleep almost Immediately.
Oleson and Adams made no attempt
to work that day. Indeed. Oleson was
not able. AS | had promised, the
breakfast for the after house was plac-
ed on the companion steps by Tom,
the cook. whence it was removed by
Mrs Sloane. | saw nothing Of either
Elsa Lee or Mrs. Johns.
That afternoon, alone. made a sec
ond and more thorough examination of
the forecastle and the hold In the
former I found nothing. Having been
closed for over twenty-four hours, it
was sitting and full of odors
The examination of the hold led to
one curious and not easily explained
discovery. The Ella was in gravel
ballast, and my search there was diff
ficult and nerve racking. The creaking
Of the girders and floor plates. the
groaning overhead of the trestle trees.
and once an unexpected list that sent
Inc careening head first against a bal
last tank, made my position distinctly
lisagreeable. And above all the Incl
dental noises of ships hold was one
that | could not place-a regular knock
ing. which kept time with the list Of
the boat.
I located it at last. approximately.
at one Of the ballast ports. but there
was nothing to Be seen. The port had
been carefully barred and calked over.
The sound was not loud. Down there
among the other noises l seemed to
feel as well as hear it. sent Burns
down, and he came up puzzled
Its outside" he said. Something
cracking against her ribs
''YOu didn't notice it yesterday, did
you?
mo; but yesterday we were not lis
tening for noises"
The knocking was on the port side.
We went forward together and, lean
ing well out, looked over the rail.
The missing marlinespike was swing
ing there, banging against the hull
with every roll of the ship. 1t was
fastened by a rope lanyard to large
bolt below the rail and fastened with
what Burns called Blackwell hitch
a sailors knot