Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-11-29


crew as Humphrey was, and likewise
'for the good of her soul"
Maude received the news in wonder
ment. What kind of man was this
hooking master Of the Ghost2 She
was soon to find out.
The cook had offended Larsen. A
rope was coiled around the offender
and he was cast overheard in the
wake of the ship A shark rushed for
him and Larsen ordered him pulled in.
Despite the maddened haste, the shark
in the final rush tore away the foot of
the victim. -
1.-The shark was not in the reckoning,
Miss Brewster" said the Sea Wolf.
smilingly. ut was-shall we say-an
act Of Providence"
This scene convinced Humphrey that
he must kill Wolf Larsen. His 'cour-
nge farce ur SO brightly that he actu-
ally threatened to murder him.
| The Sea Wolf barked whimsical
guffaw: 'Bravo. Hump, you do me
proud. I like you the better for it"
Humphrey WINGED. He confided his
resolution to Maude, with whom he
had fallen in love. She counseled
against it, protesting that moral cour-
age always defeats 'brute force, but
she failed to convince him. He knew
the Sea Wolf too well.
The dancing lights in Wolf Larsen's
eyes when he looked into Maude's
warned Humphrey that some day the
storm would break. And it did. In
the midst of the night, he rushed into
Maudes cabin to find her IN the crush
ing embrace of Wolf Larsen.
| Humphrey flung himself on the
monster to be tossed aside like a chip.
He rushed again, drawing mis- knife.
plunging the blade into the Sea VOLTS
shoulder. Larsen staggered back and
Maude seized Humphrey, begging him
not to kill Suddenly the Wolfe coll
lapsed, not from his wound, but as If
from some uncanny spell that para
lived him. The giant was helpless.
Humphrey carried him to his berth
and realized that opportunity for es-
cape was at hand.
Maude and he put off in small
| boat, hoping that they might maize
Japan. 600 miles away. But the winds
and creeping drift Of the Pacific inter-
vcned and finally the grim adventure
ended for n time on little Arctic
| island. Here they prepared to remain
| for the winter.
! Suddenly one morning, weeks after,
Humphrey saw on the bench the
wreck of Il vessel and it was strangely
familiar 1t could not be-yes it was
the Ghost. The blood chilled in his
veins. Wild thoughts of flight or the
sudden ending Of both their lives en-
tered his mind. Then wondering
cunning succeeded such fears. Ho
would kill Wolf Larsen, kill him as he
slept, for all on board were doubtless
sleeping. With knife and gun he
| climbed to the deck. He saw no one.
Was the ship deserted after all?
| But as-he rounded the poop there
burst on his gaze the Sea Wolf. Hum
! phrey raised his gun; the trigger
clicked sharply. Then silence.
"Why don't you shoot? coolly re-
! marked the Wolf.
Humphrey could not speak.
Hump" said the Sea Wolf. slowly,
"You can't do it. Andzaftcr all have
taught you. You know that l would
kill an unarmcd man rs readily as
would smoke cigar. Bah! had ex-
pected the better things Of you,
Hump"
Humphrey slowly lowered the gun.
The Ghosts presence was explained
calmly by the Sea Wolf. He was
caught in net he had set for his
hated brother, death" Larsen, his
t;crew were taken away and he was left
alone. Pacific storms did the rest.
A strange WEAKNESS in the Sea
VOLTS bearing, hestant, preoccupied
air about him puzzled Humphrey. A
few days later he again summoned
| courage to put him out Of the way.
| But this time he saw Wolf Larsen
slowly making his way down the deck.
his quivering finger tips cropping for
the hand rails.
| Wolf Larsen was blind! No need to
khl him.
Maude and Humphrey determined to
escape by repairing the Ghost, but the
Sea Wolf wlled otherwise. Blind and
helpless as he was. he craftily con-
trived TO ruin Humphreys work. de-
termined they should die together. so
his grim revenge would be complete.
Ficndish cunning and instinct to Kill
still remained.
A final reckoning was to come.
Scoring precaution because he felt
the Sea Wolf physically poweriess
from the suspected presence of ti-
NOR on the brain, Humphrey ventrred
too near one day. Suddenly the Sea
VOLTS stupor passed. The steel-like
fingers gripped Humphreys throat.
The trap had sprung.
Maude leaped into action, tearing nt
T.nrsen's hands. But for once the Sea
VOLTS tremendous will could not spur
his weakened body. His fingers
twitched and then relaxed and Hum-
phrey was released.
"That was the last play Of the
Wolf" said Larsen. with his twisted
smile. I'D like to have done for you