The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-09-21
A BOMB
AT SEA
By F. A Mitchell


this ship said one passenger to an
other. I'VE are In some danger"
.SubmarinesT
'T hope not" said the other, turning
pale.
Its not submarine danger" . third
put In; "It's a bomb. a wireless has
been received from New York stating
that a letter has fallen into the hands
OF the police indicating that a box is
aboard containing an explosive. SGT to
be fired In three or four days after
sailing"
"Oh. my goodness graciousr' exclaim-
ed an elderly lady sitting in steamer
chair with a very pretty daughter be-
side her The mother showed signs OF
fainting. The daughter was very
much troubled Her mothers heart
was weak
There's no danger, mamma; indeed
there isn't, assure you"
How do you know? You don't
know. Isn't it awfulI'
81 do know
It appeared that the girl was trying
to keep her mother from another
danger than bomb; therefore no one
who overheard what she said paid any
attention to her claiming TO know that
nothing was to be feared from an ex-
plosion. In the wireless message re-
ceived a description of the box was
given. 1t was six feet square and
marked: Fragile. Handle With Care
This Side Up
A thorough search was made OF the
hold where freight had been stored.
but 1t was not necessary to remove
anything, for the box was found as
described with nothing stored in It An
officer conducting the search listened
for a ticking. but heard nothing. He
was not surprised at this. for the bomb
was probably I'm the center Of the box
with packing material around 1t
The next information the lady and
her daughter received concerning the
danger was seeing the box swing out
over the side of the ship. The girl
gave a shrek and, running to the rail.
called out frantically to those below
not to drop the box into the water.
The mate directed them TO hold II, and
while the internal machine dangled I'm
the air the girl ran down the compan-
ionway to a lower deck where the work
of getting rid OF the danger was going
ON. The mate, the men at the tackle
and a group OF passengers standing
around looked at her wonderingly.
"Oh, heavens" she cried, don't let
1T go; take IL inr'
What have you got to 10 with it7''
asked the mate
Bring it I'm"
Its safe enough where it is. Come,
confess Are you mixed up In the
plot?''
'No-yes. 1t isn't plot to blow up
the ship; there's no bomb In the box"
''Well, what is I'm the box?"
''Why, there's nothing to hurt any
body"
''How do you known
Because / do"
mo such woman's reason as that can
be taken where the lives OF hundreds
of persons are at stake. Let her go
| men,"
The girl sprang to the ropes. The
officer made a sign for them to hold
Come, out with itl We can't take
any further risk"
Bring it back and III open 1t II
you are afraid to. There's nothing In
it to hurt any one
The box was brought back, and for
| the first time holes We're noticed bored
in its sides.
"a stowaway." remarked the mar
who made the discovery.
Bring hammer" said the mate.
The lid was taken or the box by
one OF the men. and the top OF a mans
head appeared.
Come out O. thatr' roared the mate.
The man was helped out of the box
as pale as the girl. They staggered to
gether and fell into each others arms
The act caused more commotion thar
the receipt OF the wireless telegram.
What in thunder does this mean 2
asked the mate. Young Teller, If you'v,
been trying to beat your way you'll g,
down into the furnace room TO shove
coal"
Nonsense" exclaimed a passenger
Don't you see that they're a pair o
loversT'
"a love story cried another locker
on. Lets have it"
The young man and the girl locke,
at each other sheepishly; then the for
mer said:
my friends, l suppose wen have Z
confess. This young lady and / ar
lovers. Her mother Is taking he
abroad to get rid OF me. 1t occurred Z
US to outwit her by my being shippe.
as freight Some friends helped me
/ was put I'm this box, with plenty O
food and water. and all might haE
gone right, but some OF the crow,
must have talked. Likely one OF ther
has reported the box TO contain a bonn
as practical joke"
Joke be hangedr' said the mate
In another minute you would hav
been dropped overheard"
/ "A parsonr" cried passenger.
"Goodr' cried another. Tie 'em u
before the old lady comes"
. The girl shrank back, but nothin
would do but that there must be
wedding. There was a clergyma
among the bystanders. who. being re.
ognized by his canonicals. was pushe
forward, and before the pair realize
what had happened they were mad
? man and wife. Just as the ceremon
a ceased the mother came down the con
FL DanfOnWay. She was greeted with