Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-18

bang. as the Princess Julia acting un-
der instructions. slammed the door
between her statcroom and the saloon
Startled from his restless slumbers
Ramon looked up drowsily.
Dripping with scawater. the shape of
, Philip Barr confronted him at the head
Of the companionway.
In an instant the count was wide
awake. Rigid with terror. he saw the
thing that must be dead risen from
the sea TO stalk him to madness. slow
ly. step by step, descend the COM
panioIwaS.
Nainiy lie tried to call for help, the
cry died in his troat n dry. harsh rat
feet.
Galvanized by fear. lie half lifted
from his seat. supporting himself upon
his left hand, planted palm down on
the table. raised the revolver. and fred
The shape of Philip Barr continued
TO descend The steps. watching him
with a CHASTITY and menacinS grin
Two more shots proved OF no more
avail to stop that awful progress to-
ward the half-dementcd man.
In sheer despair. Count Ramon aban-
doned the barricade OF the table and
threw himself to the foot of the stairs.
With the muzzlc OF the revolver II
scaut ward from Philips chest, lie emp
tied all its chambers.
Without pause Phillip continued to
advance. Then Ramon found his voice.
Shrci>iug like Il luuatic. he fell grow
yelling to the deck.
The six staccato reports brought
the Savatz woman hastily from her
stateroom. She appeared just an in
staut too soon. Philip was still on the
companionway: i'll another breath. he
had vanished; but the woman had seen
hiin--and she was Il slave neither to
superstition nor to the bottle.
The iuSillade ii the saloon he'd
reused the ship. AS lie swung round
the after deckhousc, Philip encounter
eli or" Of the ships officers running art
The man seized Philips sleeve. COM
( mandiuG him to halt and give ~ ac-
count Of himself. weapon glimmer-
ed IN his other hand. Philip struck
OFT with every ounce OF him behind tho
blow. Ills list landed on the others
jaw. With Il louu snap the mauS
heau jerilcd back, and he fell.
Without other miSadvcnture. Philip
made his way forward and found Juan
Lopez. TumblinS hastily down the
companion ladder. the two fell into
their hcrths and in 4 twinklins were
ostensibiy asleep.
Fortunately. tie shots had failNd 10
disturb tho fatiSued slunbers III their
fellows off watch. None was awake 10
witness their return, not Il soul sus-
.
castle
Back in the main SALOON there Was al
rproar. Surrounded by officers and
stewards. Ramon-rcstorcd to partial
col,crcnce by douchc OF icc-w;,'er
over his hcad--was stammcrinS out his
tale OF tcrrur--a story received by his
audience with patient incredulity TIL
ii was supported by the testimony OF
Nictorne SavatZ.
'IIut IT was no spirit: the woman
insisted. Wiz ny owE eyes | 500 Hc
inan--h. il 'live---hc ~ flesh and blood.
/ Attend to me :,'il vous plait. mcSs asrs.
does u ghost ave substance. so Eat he
drip water all over everything" Docs
a Ghost leave re wet prints Of bare feet
on 70 stairs: I toll YOU, zis man. sis
I cuchun uf n PHILIPPE Barr, . is live
Oh board lis sheep.
Her reasoning convinced the captain.
\ True enough lie agreed. ana turning
I 20 the f.St officer ordered: Muster all
hands. Search the ship
There WAS = concerted movement to-
I ward the companionway. count Ramon
alone hung back. Pleading not IL he
left alone. lie still refused 10 stir a
! step beyond the lights of tho saloon.
/ He WAS Still blsatin2 prayers when he
/ found himself forsaken even by Vic
7 turinc-;ionc with his fcars--the SOL
itary tenant of the saloon.
y In panic haste he flung himself up
/ the Companionway. simultaneously
cries OF rage ana surprise rang out
on the upper deck. Ramon cibowcd a
\ frantic way into the group that sur
! rounded tho body OF the officer who
/ had attempted to hinder Philips fight.
! to find the captain and his frs, officer
I knecling on either side or that still
/ form
/ Even a. Ramon came upon the scene
/ the first officer lifted his head from
\ his fellows bosom and made tho an
nounccmoni.
His heart has stoppcdu'
The captain stood upright. his voice
I quaking as he declared: "Dead-and
never 4 sign To tell what Killed him.
I Count ramon pluckcd At the
/ speakers sleeve. cibbcrinc
The ghost, The ghost: Prince
| Philips ghost served him out az it
would have served me-
Take tia. gentleman aft and soothc
/ kin, down. tic captain told his first
officer. Make HIM shut up-dout let
/ tho crew h"nr his rawlings. or wen
/ have u mutiny on our hands,
Struggling ami ravins, Ramon was
led away.
Eight bells and airs we'll"
/ The hideous mockcry of tina, cry
stirred tn" group round the dead Of
! ticcr to action With an oath the can
tain shook himself together aud
1ramrcd forward, accompanied H. the
Saratz woman among others
I Tho change "f watch was iu pro-
cess as tho party arrived in tho fore
castle Already majority Of the
watch below had disappeared Those
4 who "crc coming on duty were re
/ viewed hy Nirt"rimc. VIII" Subjected
/ in turn each bcrrilnrd couutena,,re 10
7 tho closest examination without dis
covering ono that rcscmhlcd that Of
/ Prince Philip.
! Meantime. the frs, officer failing to
I persuade Ramon Ia drink no more after
conducting him bnct TO the saloon han
left him in disgust; and an ordinary
| water goblet Drumming with undilu,cd
/ hrantly had added tine last touch to
! the counts madness.
Quite suddenly. rs he nut dawn IN.
! empty goblet. Count Ramon was ar
fcctcd with an extraordinary lucidit =