The evening world. Newspaper, March 9, 1915, Page 15

‘A Treasure-Ship Romance By RANDALL PARRISH *_Avther of “TRE RED MIST,” Bie CHAPTER Ill. (Continued.) eo ln Which De Nova Speaks. SAID nothing, absolutely ailenced by the expression on the mate's face. -"Zat was very bad sing for se sailor-man, monsieur,” he continued, awkward- ) “It always mean death was Sacre! I know; ok een om board ze ghost ship. Once I sail wiz one, an’ we drop ovaire 20 corpses from La Plata to Santiago; go BO Sharks follow us all ze way. By » I not forget zat! An’ Filan tere, monsiour, Las’ night Mapes, he snap off from ze foreyard, an’ maybe he die; sure he die wiz se ‘Vegtivst on board. “It was his father sat Tuttle sees; —he told me it. Ze ol’ man wai - Preachchaire in Connecticut, an’ sweating blood, an’ try- ing to irit wat baunt seman, monsieur, an’ maybe you know ‘at to do, but dam if it wasn't much for Bill an’ me to tackle \¢. Nova,” I said quietly, “you eaid I was an educated man. I have some reason to believe ‘also, and first of all I should iow why you pretend othe < 2 Why do you endeavor to taik ip ry tpaatle hand?” 9 ont ung in the wind, surprised by “my ditect question and the foe! jen. change of topic. Then the smile came back to hia lips. “Maybe it was babit, monsieur, im twelve year’ passed in sat sort >. company. St wos ‘Correct then in believing have received more than an or- sR education?” <i? took #6 classical course in se lege at Martinique, an* zen two of 26 train’ for priesthood, i, monieur.” His ¢yes wandered over the empty waters. “Zen call me, an’ may! devil Zat was £e whole of it, you believe in ghosts?” creolé crossed himself. | “Sacre, 1 know not w'at I belie $ But it make ze blood chill to hear + Tuttle tell w'at he see down zare in ge cabin. Dam ze fellow! he got me 4-an- of a shive Ze question not w'at I be! it_w'at we do wiz him Z struck the rail with my fist, vexed at my own nability to take the "initiative. Wy that’s the issue,'De Nova,” I od quickly, “but I'm not the to, decide it. I've known what I ld do. from the first, if I had the ,power. Tuttle's Insanity was not to make me act—his bru- ity to those women below, bi ' igtialing me into this fool ache: enough. I am for takin, lon of the vessel, even if we ha’ th lash him to his berth. “Zat was not to be do “And why not? Must ? This is no regular voy- board has signed no better than a err pn arid to overthrow him and S gedumé control of the yacht would t fot ‘be mutiny, We might sail straight to Valparaiso, and not a thing -*/eould be done with us. Th uthori- or ties would hold that we w ven hi plot, ind that we rebelled just a goon as derstood the truth.” 7°" The mate foot te the other, his black eyes barden- » 0° “Now aee here, Monsteur Stephens,” 2s he’ burat out, “sat was only se helf » 2 ek It, Bure we not reg/lar crew, but “we partners. Zat was se way it i We take ze big chance for ze profit. ="©YZoue sailor men for’ard have Rossing A Zey ik he tell by t so bad gat way. Maybe sey a m @ bit queer in se head, may- be ney not like his praying, or his talk “ge spirits, but so long he sail ze ip all right, sey stick wis him. Zat per a believe w'at 9 n080 "pit, If we lay hand on ze mate, 80 lads fight for him till zey p.' Zey will do !t, monsieur, an’ = g)RO, pretty talk you put up will make ¢ Sen sink anysing but zat you try rob ep of seir share. I know sailor men, Cd case Uke zis you got to go ‘ou are speaking for yourself and as well as the men, I take have long voyage, an’ pow we not #0 very far from zat place wi im at “ag s'y not take look ‘long sat lati- +ttade before we turn north _ ©" not, monsieur? Sure you not blame "tine for feel like zat?” “No, De Nova, I don't blame you,” © repited honestly, although disap- m “pdinted at his confession, “That's natural enough. Still, I hoped there erittwas'a little French down below who might be worth more to you ‘ian even that fantastico dream of mone: io did not meet my eyes, bis own out over the oer tumbling \qvaters. But he smiled good-nat- oye chink, A. fow days. more it was ly 3 every watch below. 1! in? Wy ® @ love for such things that Lord took wr me mate's ptorys anyway, it eats ge try. My share of se pesos be bettaire as @ sailorman'’s pay. Oul, why not?” man was undoubtedly right from his point of view, and I com- prehended fully the utter uselessness | of any furt! argument. I was still practically mi I had) an understand strengthened me. “Then why did you speak to me about Tuttle?” “To warn you to take care of your- self, monsieur; to have you keep your eye on him. “Thi then, is*all you expect me to. do “So I sink; sat will be all #0 long as he sail ze ship right, an’ keeps away | from se ladics. Ay, but would he? The vi jes of | & crazed man were beyond all guess- | ing, and to be cooped in the con- fines of @ narrow cabin with one, and he in virtual command, was any- thing but a delightful position. I no longer doubted Tuttle's mental condi- tion; in a way I had suspected it long before, but now I possessed poal- tive proo’ Moreover, his enmity was directed toward me, and might at any moment find violent expression. That the man was constantly armed was most probable. I believe now that had I felt no responsibility for the safety of others on board I should have sought quarters elsewhere — amid-| ships, or even in the forecastle—but I could not desert what was ao plain- my of duty, Even as I ga: down over the rail at the white f rushing past u: the appealing ton. to giv me se Present position of ze! = tear ship, mon. glanced around at hi by so unexpected a qi tion, ialagt, ition! Doesn't Tuttle prick run on the chart?" “Maybe he do, but he keep in Ls oe Toor, wren rt) im to see wat Zat was wat he have agains yoo” fe takin’ of ze observation. He not seem to want us to know. I under- Hyaltng w'at he be up to, but I have 88 were Wi week fe was for maybe two gave him our position to my latest Agures, and we wont ane ward to the chart-house, hunting among the maps there until we finally’ discovered an old one Partially co ering our course. By means of this I indicated with some accuracy about where we were, and the point toward which we were driving the Sea Queen. I left him studying over it and descended the com; inion~ steps, unwilling longer to remain out pears of iBone. I guarded. My lady me in the dim light her Ii ling welcom pr Shei enttm, i may He get ver’ | to h claimed triumphantly. it gE you ree nd. so we sailed on into the piti- less ice, through the cold, gray ena of the Antarctic, under a mad skip- per, and I looked down at her smooth cheek, breathed the faint perfume of her hair and strove vainly to forget. CHAPTER IV. In Which the Ghost Appears. IF FICULT work !t was keep- ing sealed lips while we con- versed upon matters far away, each endeavoring to avoid any reference to pres- ent surroundings. I knew. could ful- ly trust this woman, could safely confide in her, yet surely there was no immediate necessity for telling her this latest development in Tut- tle’s case. Already she had burden enough to bear, and the manner in which she bore it awoke my sincere admiration. Whatever of despair, of womanly shrinking her private cabin may have n during those weeks of loneliness, she brcught nothing outside ita doors but courage ‘and Inspiration, Smiles, not tears, greeted me daily, and al- though I comprehend clearly the con- tinuous struggle which gave them birth, they done the leas awoke with- in me a regard and respect no words can fitly express, Her love of nature, and especially of the varying moods. of the sea, sus- tained her strength where other women would have failed utterly. No peril of the elements daunted her, and she remained keenly susceptible revealed about us in new, strangt While upon deck ey: aglow with delight, gasing for the immense sea vista encircling us— the wild, tossing desert, with its sul- ya, Il sombre, ice-strewn Once, I remember, she lin- 5 ide the rail witl. me, cling- ing to my arm for support against the yacht’s tumbling, her loosened hair flapping in the wind, her cheeks tingling from the flying spray which occasionally lashed our fi . It was my look of inquiry that unlocked her to confession. cannot help it, Mr, Stephens, but the spectacle of the sei ks all that is divine within her lips smiling, her e; must have been born wit! it in my heart. It has been my one passion sinc hildhood. In sun or storm it possesses the same intense fascination over my mind, How cruel, gray and dreary it all appears to these ocean pictures out there now, and yet it draws me ti “Maybe ao, monsleur; w'y not? We | ® magnet. I could remain here by the hour, doing nothing but gaz: ing forth over those tussbilng. waters with the brooding leaden sky over. dreams th ch of a achoolgirl, yet that is fascination the sea exerts upon mo, I never tire of it, and it must be that I possess the soul of the sal- lor." She clasped her hands more firmly about my arm. “Even this voy- age, terrible as it has in, has brought with it some slight compen- sation for days and nights of misery; it has given me a view over this lone- ly waste of ice-guarded he Tey creerinane which te “Was' it beoause of your june are to yachting?” I ques- always — to ob- 7 . rater, @ revel toned no; far from it. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman long before first met, but had contentedly con- fined his cruising to the English coast’ and Mediterranean waters. .No doubt it was my enthusiasm which induced him to attempt longer voy- ages and stranger seas. I lack in- terest in ordinary social life, and was far happier on board the ht than in London drawing-rooms. His lord- ship was—was always most consid- erate.” The alight change of voice per- ible in this final sentence might have excused the utterance of the question trembling on my lips, yet T eet my teeth and remained silent, t is odd how our lives are in- enced,” she continued thoughtfully. ‘I feel that the charm of the sea has been the one great impelling force which has moulded mine. I wond is-it destined to always be eo? Are these wat ven now bearing me on as Fate wil Ever since I can re- member I have permitted the ocean to take that place in my heart which, perhaps, should be otnerwise occu- pied. It has been my master, my strongest But I must not think this, much less say it,” hastily awak- ening and pointing forward. Mr. Stephens, how those clouds an the waters blend yonder in such fan- tastic forms; they appear an army of sheeted ghosts bearing down to block our passage into the Polar Sea.” I looked in the direction indicated, ge: goarcely noting the phenomena, but wondering what was the real meaning concealed behind her veiled utterance, In truth Lady Darlington was not a ‘woman easily interpreted. She was by no means a creature of moods, yet behind her effort at outward cheer- fulness I was constantly aware of something hidden, some haunting memory of the past, more to be dreaded even than her present en- vironment. Hasing conception 0! me freab Teal character; but any attempt to delve deeper was beyond my daring. was an tmpen ways; our verse together was frank with all he delightful freedom of old-time lowship. Nevertheless I. felt myself a stranger, realizing that I was bein held back from any full revelation o! soc! inner woman, and even in our appar- ent intimacy remained baffled and perplexed, Sometimes I even thor with ue’ r purposeful deceit in either words or action, and I cast ¢ unworthy thought from me with the Indigna- tion It deserved. Still, her method ‘was most strange, most peculiar, Oc- casionally days would pase during which I would meet her only at the ie in the mee of others, en- deavoring to converse with Tuttle and apparently almost oblivious of my presence. con’ ing with me upon the ing to me in the cabin. ing I could never gue to be—her lad: suddenness her eyes long las! Bec ly and her lips hesitated for words as though in deep embarrassment; then again she would t me with open the spirit of Bo- hemia, full of wit, cheery of speech, her laughter ringing with merriment. two women, In the morn- what it was with a ‘his pea-jacket, causin, became a teasing puzzle, an enigma of womanhood, before whom I was be- éven my own feelings, half hopetal ven my own n half afraid. ie one Hence it was that on this day I re- mained leaning against the piano, lis- ct ta hey.really brilliant execu- ton of difficult music, gasing down upon her unconscious face, the swing of the deck under my feet, but- with a heavy heart behind the smile upon my lips. ‘the music nn yet we lingered th the memury aroused by its rend tion, when Tuttle emerged from his room, prepared for his turn of ser- vice on deck. He stopped and stared across at us, his hand on the knob of the closed door, The heavy eea-cap drawn low over his eyes, with the gray chin- beard forking out over the collar of his face to appear peculiarly peaked and old. How seamed it was with lines: how deeply the eyes were sunken beneath those heavily thatched brows! “Such songs are most unseemly un der our present circumstances,” h sald solemnly, apparently addressin, the lady only, for his nce ir met mine. “In presence of death and the hereafter, madam, prayer is the natural outlet of the soul.’ ent. sym: ee face whitened, P of her e: faeend yes changing 'What—what do a you Tuttle pen My. we in any special dan- ir?’ “In midst of life we are in death, What is man that Thou are mindfui of him, or the Son of Man that Thou visitest him? Death rides upon the wind, races upon the waters. Place not your trust in princes, nor in any of the powers of earth, but upon the mercy of the Most High, Be warned, mada 100 ,propared for His early ady has it been giv ne @ to behold the End.” re strode past us, stony-fac: gaunt form outlined against yee sky without as he pushed back the companion-door, Lady Darlington watched his disappearance with pee lips and eyes filled with fear. rested my hand upon hers, gripping ay sone ae keep back the explosion fellow has ne crasy spiritistic theories,” I sodenversa to plain. ‘Do not permit euch folly to affect you." Mr, Steph: jens, he believes it. What te it he ‘Some vision of bis insanity, no doubt—nothing that need worry us who are sane. Angers pressed tightly upon my jut If he is really insane how much more dangerous it makes our position! Do you really think he is “Only along that oi line, Lady Darlington,” my voice growing firm with conviction, “Otherwise he seems as sane as most men. We must hu- mor him to that extent, but regarding all other matters there is no occasion to worry. The man is a magnificent seaman and handles the Sea Queen with remarkable skill. He will bring us out safely, and you must not per- mit his prophecies of disaster to in- fluence your mind—they are only the ravings of a diseased brain. The one thing for us to rely upon is his real ability to sail the yacht; regarding that there is no doubt.” I do not know how much of what I said she actually believed, yet as 1 talked on In apparent confidence her expre ually changed, and jeate bring her wraps and I escorted her forth upon di The fresh, stinging air soon served to drive from her brain the last ves- tige of terror, although at first she watched Tuttle on the bridge very closely, However, the fellow had ft his weird fancies below, and his wharp orders, coupled with the abl manner in which he gailed the vessel, rapidly brought back even my own and @ huge monster on. the opposite quarter, which glittered in all the colors of the rainbow, the great waves pounding along ite base and flinging volumes of spray high into the Osiris & veritable temple set afloat, with epires and minarets scraping the clouds, tupendous mass, majestic and awe inspiring. We watched it together for more than an hour, enuggled down in the lee of the cabin, until the monster slowly crept away into the hase of the sea. Then, when we went down into the cabin at the call of Dade for lunch, the memory of the spectacle yielded us subject for converse at the table. Even Tuttle seemed to have had some of the gloom swept out of him by his experiences on deck, for he talked rationally enough of the many strange sights he had seen at sea. In- deed, as I remember now, the meal proved a most pléasant one and we parted happily. after supper, jough Celes sat in the mae cabin and chatted vivaciously with De Nova while he ate. They ap! 80 deep); - oth nally in e@ac! ir that I ‘ook my pipe and went on deck, ing them undisturbed, their laughter echoing to my ears as I slid to the companion door. Intensely cold as it was in the stinging sweep of the wind, yet the awful seas under the magic spell of the night shadows laid instant hold on my imagination, so that I lingered for an hour or more, sometimes pac- ing from rail to rail, as though on watch, or pausing to rest under the partial shelter of the long-boat. The cold, far-away stars peeped through rifts in the skurrying clouds, leaving little atlvery reflections along the restless, tossing surface of the deep, while occasionally the moon. hi burst forth also, rendering the almost ghastly with the drear g! of ice perceptible along the horizon to south and west. The Sea Queen danced Iike a wild thing, with merely Terr esi aeattrs noe » the wat ry over her forecastie rail, the decks {cy to the main-hatch. There was a taste of snow in the wintry air—delicate, scattered, whirling flakes that out the exposed flesh lke needles, while the wind whistled through the frogen rig- ging in shrill mosic. The decks were as gloomy and dark as the sur- rounding sea was desolate and gray, the endless vista of circling water and sky merely merging !mperceptl- bly into the haze of distance—every- where the white-capped waves fran- tically chasing each other, crest fol- lowing crest, the deep hollows be- tween as black as death. It got upon my nerves at last, and I_went below, striving manfully to shake off all memory of the depress- ing picture. The cabin lamp had been turned so low that the room was left in dim shadow, but Dade had ar- ranged the midnight luncheon on the table, with the decahter of brandy on the swinging shelf. self to & liberal glass, feeling chilled to the bone, and stood there a mo- ment, listening to the dismal creak of wood and wondering if Lady Darling- ton could sleep amid such an infernal uproar, But of course she did; had lived at sea far too long to be kept awake by so ordinary a commo- would be the sensible thing for me to do likewise, and ten min- utes later I was securely braced in my bunk, s0 soundly sleeping I for- got to dream. I could never tell what awoke me: some strange noise, no doubt, for | x, sat straight up, staring through the blackness toward the closed door, Almost at the very instant I heard the amagh of glass in the main cabin. 1 waa only partially undressed, and with one spring was at the latch, the fierce pitching of the yacht making me instantly apprehensive of acci- dent. At the first glance I perceived nothing unusual under the din light, Se ine le Pe a cihation of those wide polar gh, T helped my- 4 toward the fellow, twisting my hand {nto the oollar of his pea-jacket and whistling him face upward to the ight, It was Tuttle, and he shrank away me, cowering like a whipped cur, his hands thrust out, his tearing. It wap se apparently n is teeth gnashing, a foam on his lips, “I.saw it again. ht over there! But I killed that dhe! 1 killed that one! It will go back to hell ahead of me! Qh, God! there’ another! Another, but I'll kill that one too!” Straight toward me he came with the fei animal, if dazed I grapp| It wag the contest of man against beast, for he fought clawing and Le 4 ping, snarling. forth curses, necessity of saving myself stiffened me to it, and I struck out hastily, landing twice before we came to the grip. it wee! to me he possessed the strength of @ dozen men, my fingers in his neck pret) crashing down together jock. As we struck he went suddenly imp, his fingers shaking, his eyes staring up dully at the light. I held him thus in my grip an instant, sus- pecting some trick; then, as he never Grew him up until his against ti support of a ehair. “What je it, map anxiously, “What Are you sick?” He made no responi slightest sign that he out a 7 3 questioned has happened? se, Guve not the evén heard me. of held be sul; it dows, ingly in @ stupor. “Come along," 1 said, sternly, feal- ising that my will must dominate if I would move .bim te action. am going to take you to your m berth and make you Ne down. “You are sick and need reat. Get up, now.” He attempted no resistance as I lifted him, even clinging to the cha: for support, his entire bod: like a jelly I bri through the 0; staring straight up with unwtokt a up with unwinking ® hss face as yellow as \~ ment He was completely {othe ching hus’ henry. aen-bpota, om ¢ VY aga! ry T’unlocsantd ‘the ons, drow "ott tie others, shut the door and left him there alone. » It wan clear enough he had again beheld the ghost, but how came he to be fully dressed, his clothing still wet with the salt spray? Breathing hard exertion, 1° glanced curl~ usly at my watch to note the bour, Barely two o'clock. . Why, it was his trick on deck; he deser: his omition to come below. The Sea ueen was rushinng through the gloom with no officer on the bridge. De Nova would be in his , bunk asleep. I sprang to my own room and hastily fintshed dressing, fully ermined on standing out ttle” watch on deck. As came fort! again into the main cabin, winding ® muffler about my throat, @ vision ih white fronted me, grasping the table to keep from falling. “What is it, Mr. Stephens? What has happened?” “Nothing that need in any way plunge, and her and as the vessel opened in apprehension, I caught her arm firmly, “Truly, belleve me, there is no danger. Mr. Tuttle haa been suddenly taken ill, and I am going tu relieve him on watch, You have con- fidence in me, have you not Her eyes searched my face earnestly, the gray depths full of anxiety, “Oh, yes.” “Then now is the time to show It. 1 shall remain on deck,’ probably, until morning. T wish you to go back, lle down and rest. Let me as- aot ee iB return to your stateroom.” Ir me, y 1 coud igol the the aR, be was to me ia hit tes! ANNE ei roe, unesoerses leap be ie gia m A GETOW ee A? - fulness, Onty at the-déor did she draw in our care, I away sughtly, yet even then Slum nee mand. Have you hands clasping my arm, hee. directly into mine, - ». s P =" tn nin Bh ‘ou have told me all?” Pie ¢ “All of the slightest importand -Aetaile cha WATE GRYTINE. 1 aa oy to confide In now, and sleep. * lay I have your promise?” 4 There was something mystifying In those gray eyes I had never per- eeived before, and: she caught her Prsybac" he Sroopta, table to the pantry, tive sinnoee toward feo. in in ey were so which the dead es MacNee tr cee a ee cantewet the mate’ Sota ence tw aa) HT -card, and thi Ine the sean with ‘my giusses. There fully dressed, was no ice in sight, but the bitter She touched jd of the air wae sufficient proof: her of plenty not far away. Oma ‘rattle Petar Now! ought to ride her. SERS tt tenet a rr ada would that, sir; shes ed, ' fit to jerk the arms out of the: “T two of us.” alae " a T Dawled out the neceanity ofderd, dutcketied from exc! watching the men spring smartly .coloriess. I from their coverts to the designated mental condi id he leave any wo! never said nothin’ i? He'd been actin’ qucer, an’ a- ar | to Nigeele, | ae all at Lad he un down e pe, an’ wel it out how sot be was cold, an‘. wa sky al from thicken~ f log, the } to mist as if hands aft to rout out De came stumbling up the steps, ten ‘prong _ still ru curred alt he delow. “It will probably have to be watch and watch with us, De Neva,” I end- ed firmly. “Tuttle is no ionger fit to be left in oenape of the deck, You "ie shrugged his shoulders.” “By gar, it look like sare wae nos- ak: aed the only way. Call me “No; re at the end of your tri J‘) look in oO eae in asl ted his his iu back, 16 0) ® straight ‘ap at the vale “Ia there ated I can do you, Mr, Tuttle’ He wet his parched lipe with his tongue, turning his ever so slightly at sound of my voice. “Another drink of brandy,” he mut- tered thickly. “I don’t see what the matter with my legs; they won't ove." I brought him the Mquor, lifting hie ” head so he might drink more easily, @ hope that he would m, wr by morn He answer, aod across to my own berth a in, : CHAPTER V. In Which I Again Come ‘to Command. DE awoke mé, the gray light of the Antarctic day atream- ing in through the porthole, “I. pounded on the door twice, sit,” he ‘explainéa, quickly, “but you was sleepin’ so hard Thad to come in, Somethin’ 's gone wrong in Mr. Tuttle's stateroom, sir.” “Wrong! what do you mean?” |" soWell, air, a gan went’of in there Justgnow, an’"—— ve I was already upon my feet, pull- the ing om my clothes, 7 ° “Rum up on deck and ask De Nova to come down here at once. Lively old now, my iad.” our The two had already reached the came out, and Dade bad evidently made the situation clear to the mind’ of the creole. and thought it would. be better -£0 mtime Us to go togethen. Stand by, Dade ‘tating for we may need you.” the crew was af ‘The ex-whaleman was lying on the “200 some un! floor in @ ourled up heap, a revolver 1 pony ane er ing beside him, from bis hand. The pungent odor powder was atill im the room. ‘We from the rail.’ turned htm over, teveniiag ‘a bullet _ 1 took my positior wound Just in front of the ear, Hes’ Darlington and Cel yond ail doubt he had shot himself but pomewhat sheltered) while sitting upon the é¢dge of the °f the long-boat from bunk, and had tumbled forward, dead Wind. The herd came before he struck the . TL wag [nd ranged themselves ai impressed by the look m his face; pr gy Rag the ae deck, De in some wa ‘happier than I . rete in Wid and then climbed the short ested fate Seats tate: PEM ST, onagar” Tm 0 wi starin, jt] a . na Dede ale uN valoe..""Mapes was dead. Yellow with tetron, peer Cousin foro ptl low wi terror, peerin, th , In through the Opes deo eeu Oh, he was the man is beyond further trouble,” 1 fell from the f wan said solemnly. poor devil, Help) , “Owl, an’ it me lift ney te he poste feel scare’ el aloof, Ne hold with me, and fue Mae straightened out the bod o y, lecently with a sheet. Passed out into the main cabin ‘ sunt . No doubt you know pret closed the door, , ready what has Ppa ‘What sort of weather have we out Gurieg tte Bighe A alde, Mr, De Nova?" I questioned, en, tat Mr, Tuttle le dead: Peating at ‘him: deavoring to quell the and shot’ * Tegular MORO, gel. win oars between ports, “Clear it have signéd papers and nor'west. “Then we are holding our course?’ ticulating, “but w’at. lawful officera to take ¢ 't we do now?" bene I'm the only nat mal, oul,” we do now? W, ‘Well, ‘that depends outhrely upon sae. dee an" col’, ae el at