American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-09-18


-ngines was no special concern Of mine,
md I lay down again. But sleep would
lOt return. l tossed and turned, and
inally arising in sheer desperation,
hastily donned my clothes. The after
was deserted, dimly lighted By
one shaded electric globe, beneath
which the brass stair rails shOne duly.
| emerged on the deck, gratefully
breathing in the fresh night air. AS I
stood there, a man descended the lad
der from the bridge, entered the chart
house and switched on a light. In the
mOmentary CLEAN I recognized the face
Of the second officer, and when he final
" came out again, I crossed the deck
so as to intercept him.
Anything going wrong, Mr.. seeleyT"
l asked. You have stopped the en-
gines."
He stared at me through the dark,
blinded still perhaps by the glare Of
the chartroom, and unable TO recog-
nize my strange voice. Yet he was a
yachtsman, trained above all to cour-
tesy.
Nothing serious, sir" he announced,
civllly enough. The engines are new,
and not well adjusted yet; a bit Of
shaft went wrong, and has to be re-
paired"
He turned away, but at that instant
my eyes caught the flashing Of a bea-
con away OF to the southeast.
what light Is that put yonder, Mr..
Seeley7 We must be well beyond Ea-
toni 2
He glanced In the direction indi-
Gated.
Those white iashes7 That is Old
field point, sir. Are you acquainted
with these waters7"
Not intimately, although 1 retain
some memory Of the charts. I saw
merchants service on the old Atlas
line"
"A fine line that" he acknowledged
heartily. Il made my first voyage, as
cabin boy, on the Mohawk. You are
Mr.. Hollis, I presume, sir. I overheard
Mr.. Darlington tell Captain Turner you
were TO be one Of the party aboard.
Well, good night, sir; I make
certain the watch is awake"
He touched his cap c~ourteously, and
disappeared beneath the shadow of the
bridge. leaving me again alone. unde-
cided whether TO return below. or en-
deavor to walk off my sleeplessness
I scarcely know what idle curiosity led
me to stroll along the narrow deck
space, around the cabin TO the loung'
ing place at the stern. 1 stopped sud
denly in surprise, staring across at the
: opposite rail. questioning the evidence
Of my own eyes. There. clearly out
lined in the star glimmer. was plainly
revealed the figure OF a INIT SOM
instinct of fear. or, perchance, a Sigh
sound of approach. u have apprise'
e her Of my near presence. for she turned
instantly toward me, bending slight,
forward. her face visible in the shad
4 ow; and then. before l could eithe
move or speak. she fed along the por
f rail. vanishing Immediately behind th
protection Of the cabin. l felt sur
g that her parted lips had uttered
quick exclamation. and her startled ei
fort at escape was sufficient TO urg
g me 10 pursue. Who could she be
d Why was she here on board the Esm'
r ralda? Above all. why should she b
h so eager to escape observation
d I rap forward across the deck. 80
:. quickly explored the passage betwee
the cabin and rail. 1t was clearly ST
il lille in the bright starlight, but u
swiftly fleeing figure had totally yai
10 ished. l reached the steps OF the cor
"a panion. and gazed down through Il
10 glass doors. The light below reveal,
nothing. the cabin remained quiet ar
K deserted. Not q shadow rewarded p
b. search. either on the open deck, or b
low. Yet surely this was no dreai
81 no ha~llucinarion. no mere vision of q
a night. The woman had actually be-
&c there: I had seen her plainly enough
had even heard the echo of her votC
o. There was then a woman on board
a woman who sought TO hide from q
servatiOn who ventured on deck on
on when she thought il entirely deserte
and who fled in fright from discover
in l even felt a vague impression Of b
nv personality-she a young. slender
k form. dressed In some simmer
m gray stuff, a light. hufy scarf concel
ad ing her hair.
ok There was nothing more 10 do tbs
he although I prowled about for sol
rio time peering into dark corners, a
turning the matter over and over
he my mind. 1t must have been neal
he ~daybreak before I fell asleep again
Of my own stateroom. nor did I awak
te. until the steward announced the Il
asst breakfast call. by a vigorous iappi
as on my door.
ice Darlington was seated alone at
table when l entered the cabin, ling
Ter ing over his coffee, and he remained