Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-16

told her that II she would open the
door I 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 / decided that II she could
not open 1t would.
"Look out!' I cried. I'm going to
break down the door, Then. drawing
back, l put my heel against It, and II
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 un'
certain whether we were friends oil
coming to do her harm. She was very
pale and weak. and SAW ut once that
She was STRIVING. Before questioning
her I sent for food. Of which ! give
her sparingly. Then I 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. ask
ed for her story. was doomed to dis
appointment. She knew very little
more than l did Her father was OF
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 !
found her and was confined there. A
supper had been given her and the
next morning breakfast. That was
all 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 would not have left her to
perish.
| cross questioned Miss Bradford
Helen Bradford was her name-h0pine
to get some clew that would enable me
ut least to form 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 het
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 a neu-
trail flag and at the same time a clean
| pair Of heels. The worst Of 1t was
that we were driven of 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 1t not
for the fact that We could do about a
knot more than she.
spent whatever time l could spare
in trying to comfort Helen Bradford.
and since pity Is akin to love. l may
have been In love without knowing 1t.
certainly had enough on my mind to
keep me from anything sentimental.
found out afterward the nature Of
my feelings for the girl had been in
strumental In rescuing.
During q spell Of bad weather we
lost our reckoning. and one still morn
ing. enveloped' In fog. We went
ashore Oh 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 1t and paid me
In gold. went ashore with Miss
Bradford and the crew. and the next
night u storm made kindllng wood OF
the Pelican. married Miss Bradford,
and we returned to America. con-
stituted myself court Of admiralty
and divided the price for the Pelican's
cargo rs considered Just. my wife
getting the principal part We have
not as yet heard from her father. and
the mystery Of the Pelican Is still un-
solved. My theory is that the crew
mutinied; that. being chased by a
cruiser. they left the ship In the ships
boats. taking the captain prisoner
with them. His daughter may have
been left in the hurry Of departure.