The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-01-01


wall, as it were. and all the supersti-
ton Of her nature was aroused. Shrek
after shriel 6lled the cabin.
Dicks first inaNlse was to step back
and hide again, but the girls discovery
Of him made that course hnpracticable.
He closed the panel with touch Of
the spring, and sprang back into the
gloom of the cabin. The door Of
stateroom stood open, and through it
he plunged without looking around.
At almost the same instant Captain
Brent appeared in the cabin, and de-
manded Of the maid, What's the mat
ter? What're you yelling for?"
Marie was unable for a few seconds
to recover her wits. She kept on
shrieking and crossing herself until
the skipper shook her by the arm.
"Quit that!" he commanded. "Shut
up, and tell me what's the matter"
"a ghost, captain" she stammered
between chattering teeth. 1T come
right out Of the wall--come
"Ghost. your grandmother growled
lNOW---
Dick waited to hear no more. The
stateroem he was in opened directly
upon the deck. He slipped the catch
noiselessly and stepped out. 1t was
dark, and there was no one on that
side of the yacht. In the gloom he
saw the dark outlines of trees and
rocks, with the land rising abruptly
from tie water to a sort of peak,
topped off by a low, rambling struc-
ture, whose chimneys stood silhouetted
against the sky like gaunt fingers.
| Lights twinkled here and there in
the distance. some stationary, others
moving, and voices broke the stiffness
occasionally as one called to another.
AT his left the phosphorescence of the
ocean cleaned fitfully in the half light.
The yacht had landed at dock that
jutted far on. into the water.
Dick glanced at the end, measured
the distance to the island, and decided
that his safest way would be to drop
overheard and swim ashore. The COM
motion in the cabin, caused by Marie's
screams. had extended to the. dock,
and running feet could be heard APP
preaching.
Climbing over the rail he lowered
himself with rope until his feet
touched the water. He shivered lit
tie at the chill. and then dropped
noiselessly in the cold brine and began
swimming quietly toward the shore.
Marie's alarm. after all, helped him.
for it drew the attention of the whole
crew to the cabin. and by the time any
one thought of searching the outside
kof IL Dick was pulling himself upon a
hck. completely sheltered from view.
pit there wringing his clothes when
e, accompanied by Brent, crossed
1.-THE gangplank and landed on the dock.
She was Still protesting that she had
seen ghost.
"He came right through the wall.
Cap'n Brent" she moaned. II nearly
! tainted when saw him."
you'd better not tell Mr.. Cutler you
saw ghost on his yacht, If you don't
want to be fred" replied Brent. "Now
sget up to the house or Miss Cutler
will"
Captain" interrupted voice out of
THE darkness, whats all this noise
about? Mr.. Cutler sent me down to
inquire"
Dick recognized the voice of Mr.
Blake.
Nothing but historical woman"
growled Brent. "She thought she saw
something's ghost-and she let out
Shrek like fog whistle. Hustle her
up to her mistress. l got enough to do
without looking after her."
"Oh, Mr.. Blake" walled Marie. con
my word and honor saw something
Ia man"
Thought you said 1t was ghost"
| jeered Brent.
''Well. sir, 1t was man ghost-a
tall young man. with dark hair and
black eyes. with-with white face"
Il, Brent laughed hodrsely. I'VE got a
lot of dark men in the crew, Marie
good-lookers. too"
''But / never saw him before; he
was not in the crew. He was differ
ent-a gentleman"
Blake and the captain exchanged
gla-ces, and the latter finally said:
"Well, If he's aboard, Marie, I'll find
him. and when I do I'll bring him up
for you to identify. II he's gentle
man he won't try to brighten you
hgain; but between you and me and
he fishes, don't believe there was
nybody. If there was it was one Of
he crew."
Brent turned and walked away.
arie shuddered, and murmured, "Oh.
sir, he wasn't one of the crew. /
pw all of them"
Go up to the house. Marie" Blake
rrupted sharply. "Your mistress is
ing for YOU"
CHAPTER W