The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1915-03-04


much what was her nationality, for If
she caught US she would take our car
go. If she were a neutral and we
could prove ourselves neutral we would
not be liable to seizure. but unfortu-
nately for us we had no papers at all.
It was about o'clock in the even
ing when we discovered the cruiser,
and by the time it fell dark she had
approached within five or six miles
Of US. l ordered every light put out,
but she brought a searchlight to bear
on us and Immediately after fired a
gun after us. Then a friendly fog
came along and threw a mantle about
US that not even a searchlight could
penetrate. The cruiser lost us and did
not find us again.
The next day one of the crew came
to me and reported that the men were
in great fear that the ship was haunt
ed. Means had been heard. sent for
the man who had heard them and or
dered him to take me to the part OF
the ship from whence they seemed to
have emanated. He led me on to
lower deck, where there were few
staterooms. opened several Of them,
but found nothing. Then suddenly
sound of some one crying came from
one Of the others. opened two doors
before I located the sound. Then. try
ing third, found it locked.
I knocked, but my doing SO only
seemed to increase the sobbing within.
1--WE are friends" 1 said, land wish
to serve you"
"Then why have you locked me in
here and left me without food or
drink"
The voice was that of woman. I
told her that if she would open the
door 1 would explain certain matters
to her of which she might be igno-
rant. She replied that she could not
open the door. for she had not the key,
whereupon l decided that if she could
not open it I would.
"Look outw I cried. I'm going to
break down the door," Then. drawing
back, 1 put my heel against it, and it
few open.
Inside was girl about nineteen years
old. She was dressed, but had got
into a berth to avoid the opening door.
CrOuching back, she was evidently I'M
certain whether we were friends or
coming to do her harm. She was very
pale and weak. and l saw at once that
she was starving. Before questioning
her I sent for food, Of which l gave
her sparingly. Then carried her up
to the stateroom where l had found
women's clothing.
She told me that this had been her
room and she had been taken from 1t
by several members of the crew to the
one in which had found her.
AS soon as the girl was able to talk,
fully expecting that the mystery of the
Pelican was about to be solved. I ask
ed for her story. / was doomed to dis
appointment. She knew very little
more than 1 did. Her father was or
had been master of the Pelican. He
had sailed from a small port in the
States. He had told his daughter be-
fore sailing that she might go on
trip with him, but nothing more. One
morning when she had tried to leave
her stateroom she found the door
locked. The same evening she had
been taken to the room in which l
found her and was confined there. A
supper had been given her and the
next morning a breakfast. That was
ali she knew. She was much surprised
to learn that the ship had been desert
ed and greatly feared for her fathers
safety, for she was sure that. If free
to act, he wonld not have left her to
perish.
cross questioned Miss Bradford
Helen Bradford was her name-hoping
to get some clew that would enable me
at least to form a theory which would
solve the mystery. / got nothing She
did not even know that the cargo con-
sisted Of rifles. She was aware that
a great war was being fought. and her
father had told her that the ship was
liable to be overhauled by a cruiser
and searched, but whatever happened
she would be in no danger. The only
incident she mentioned bearing on the
case was that the portfolio in her state
room had been darkened at night.
Our voyage proved an exciting one,
chased as we were on several occasions
by cruisers. We always showed neu
trail flag and at the same time a clean
pair of heels. The worst Of it was
that we were driven off our course
several times, and thus kept wandering
about In the Atlantic ocean. On one
occasion, being chased by a gunboat.
we would have been taken were it not
for the fact that we could do about a
knot more than she.
/ spent whatever time I could spare
in trying to comfort Helen Bradford
and since pity is akin to love, I may
have been in love without knowing it.
i certainly had enough on my mind to
keep me from anything sentimental
L found out afterward the nature Of
my feelings for the girl had been in
strumental in rescuing.
During a spell Of bad weather we
lost our reckoning, and one still morn
ing, enveloped in a fog. we went |
ashore on the coast Of Morocco. We
had various visitors, among them an
Italian trader, to whom confded the
secret Of my cargo. He proved
wealthy enough to buy it and paid me
in gold. I went ashore with Miss
Bradford and the crew. and the next |
night storm made kindling wood Of |