The evening world. Newspaper, August 7, 1915, Page 9

f j f ‘parking of the passeng (Copyright, 1912, by Street & Smith.) mt Now Orleans, iIton Forber, bet, hia new * lame Passenger, as is Tarkipsa tell he’ ators) An. Eakins “an wratehiog th " and auminone @ Buren Courtlandt, Elsabeth but I Teported tude Tie in TE to Forben, who clew jn ter fay ity ye threateied! fly's going ww ill-me to it!” Forbes later te found. deed, “a. tevolver iy loaded, "Fortes ws weapon ‘and of which no Phas Alacwrered™ Gonridandt eclaten. he” Kiled Foros," Biinuieth dsclaren ft was she "who Killed im. The cartain Ye in a. quandary.” barking fries to solve. the. mystery by further The ctnher pote * Meantime Jaron is "killed. by “the and Courtland narrowly ack ‘death Phe fared Yolley strom. the ms: ivan ‘sbotann turns the ide. of tin hn the CHAPTER XVIII. . (Continned,) The Transfer at Sea. J | UST before midnight land was reported dead ahead, and with eager footsteps a quartermaster and two of the crew hurried forwird. From a perch on the port side the heaver of the lead droned out that he could not get bottom. Soon he com- menced calling fathoms to the officers on the bridge, and a faint cheer went up from the knot of passengers gath- ered on that part of the deck. When six fathoms were reported to him by the quartermaster Capt. Loyd ordered the vessel stopped, and with @ rattle the huge anchors tumbled into the sea, As the great propeller shafts stopped the steady throbbing of the pumps sounded above the roar and crackle “of the fire, and twen' streams of water poured from tt twenty nozzles into the broiling hold. Many passengers had quieted down, but occasionally little things set them ecurrying about like frightened quail. A report that the crew was provision. ng the lifeboats plunged half a dozen back into hysterics and caused score of men to fortify spirits with spirits. ‘The! » were a few shining examples of real courage and heroism, 1 must confess to tremors of panic seizing ae like symptoms of fever and ague, but Elizabeth Forbes was of finer mould, and after the first shock of was regardless of everything but prting and sustaining of those around her. Despite the fact that they had been reassured again and again, an audible prayer of (aanksgiving went up from all on board when the st liehts of an onconting steamer appeared r the western horizon fear she The Bacchus!” sho n excited man, bounding inte the library, and every passenger rushed to the decks hysterica!! rhead the “crash, crash, er-t sh" of the wireless even took on a br more joyous tone, and every command given from the bridge earned a cheer. Long before the Racchus within hailing distance the order he passenger® without luggage were fo be transferred to the sister ship, and there await the result of the fight to subdue the flames, was given “A battle of the elements,” I heard Larkins say softly to himself, and, puzzled ax to the meaning of ; mark on such a perfect night as this, 1 pressed him for an explanation. “Wait and see,” he answered, as he trirned his attention to the prepar tion the passengers were mak the transfer to the succoring vessel, When Capt. Loyd arrived on deck the reporter drew him aside, and held a whispered conversation with him, and after a few sentences the commander moved away, saying he “would have some of the crew keep wateh.” “May I ask who or what is to be watched?” 1 asked the newspaper man, as he Joined me at the rail. lure!” he responded. “But keep {t under your belt-—every passenger and every effect that is taken from this boat will be most thoroughly tiniged for any evidence o ‘The Phantom Shotgun?" I in, Larkins nodded, “If friend shotgun bs up on the Bacchus after this,” ea faded, “L will indeed begin to be- lieve in faire He took up an advantageous posi- tion at the head of the ship's ladder, where Woodruff directed the disem- The sea was as smooth as a mirror, and the moon was shining brilliandy as th crew lowered the boats from * Gavits, while from the huge sister ship the small boats were already sep way to assist In the transfer, With the arrival of the Bacchus the spirits of the passengers revived won- derfully, and when the transfer from gig to ship was started they were in extellent humor, The men and women laughed and called little pleasantries to each other as they went down the ship's side to where the boats rode lightly on the water, A short hundred yards away lay the Bacchus, and the Ymall boats covered the distance quickly, leaving the tale of their pas: faye ia a swift, sparkling streak of phospliorescent foam. Woolruff, the chief steward, the purser and Larkins closely inspe every passenger that left the ship. Very litle was allowed to be taken In she way of personal effects, and, ns rkins expressed it, under thelr combined scrutiny it "would be ditt. cuit for any one to safely conceal a toothpick, much less a shotgun, T was in the boat that carried Elizabeth—Courtlandt and Larkins coming over to the Bacchus with the fast _lowl of passengers, “What about the battle of the ele- ments you foretold?” I asked the re- porter as soon as he gained the deck, and the four of us leaned over the rail, looking a: the smoking ship we had just deserted—the ship that had been the setting for so many puszling and baffling myateries. “There's your answer,” cried Lar- kins, and as we looked we beheld the tern of the Minerva slowly sinking ito the sea, A gasp of astonishment went up ‘all op board the Bacchus as the * pumped out, paste) li ship that carried us from New York continued to settie until the entire stern was submerged. The threo of us turned to Larkins, plying him with questions, | “It's just a little scrap to the finish, between fire and water, As it became evident to Capt. Loyd that the fire! could not be absolutely extinguished without completely soaking the cargo compartments where the conflagration raged, he has had the sea gates opened. | When the compartments where the blaze has been confined have had a} few hours’ soaking the gates will be closed again and the compartments That's all.” | “Do you think the fire has finished the shotgun, or will the water attend | to tha asked Courtlandt of the re- porter, “Search me!" replied Larkins. “If} that blamed gun shows up again Ij) if shall certainly fecl like the fellow that| aw a giraffe for the first time and exclaimed: ‘Aw, there ain't no such thing!’ | “Why, Mr, Bobby Larkins!” chided Eligabeth, rather indignantly, “Do you mean to try and tell me that you| —you are beginning to credit this ab- surd theory of @ supernatural agency?” | “Well, figure the whole business for} yourself,” he responded wearily. "Not! @ pussenger or member of the crew’ loft the Minerva with anything fainuly regembling a shotgun. A shotgun is lightly bigger than a mustache comb ‘Then, thank goodness, the terrible thing is not aboard this ship," I ex claimed; and both Blizabeth and urtlandt echoed my words. Jon't be too sure, little ones,” T kins rejoined. “Did you ever have hunch?” He paused and surveyed us gravely. “Well, I've got a big bealthy one, and it's that the Phantom Sho gun is aboard the Bacchus this very | minute.” We laughed. “The last thing I heard | you say before we left the Minery i reminded him, “was that no so’ should leave that ship with a tooth, of his person unbeknown to you. that’s #0," he admitte a hunch is a huneh for all that.” Staterooms were assigned to all the; passengers from the Minerva, and al ! most every one sought bunks without delay, the long siego of wakefulness out after and excitement | A roaring crash awakened every- body about 4A. M., and I joined the| crowd of half-dressed passengers who J out on deck, A number were 4 around a prostrate form on | deck, and as | approached | 1 beard a sailor's voice ery out: i “& man has been shot, sir! His Larkins, IT understand!” CHAPTER XIX. The Shooting of Larkins. EFORE noon we had all been | retransferred back to the Minerva. The stern of the vessel had been submerged in thirty-five feet of water, completely soaking the burning cargo, and then, with the compartments pumped out, the ill- fated boat was again in trim for the continuation of her voyage to New Orleans, Larkins was not killed, but near it. He was no quitter, however. b threatened to swim from the Bacehy when it was suggested that he be taken back to New York on that steam ther than risk the chance of further or greater injury should he return to the Minerva. Accord to the reporter, his wou @ triv but when a man hag a pumber of leaden pellets in bis body—ranted they did not stray into fatal spota—he is not all he should be, so Larkins was tenderly ferried from the isaceh to the Minerva, where he Was put to bed in one of the best staterooms, Propped up in his bed, Larkins re- ceived Woodruff, Courtiandt, the cap- tain and myself, “Welcome to our city!" greeted the reporter gayly. Glad to see you, cap- tain, I wish you would direct my nurse’—-here he patted Elizabeth's hand—"to furnish me with an uniim- ited supply of cigarettes. I'm fam- ished for a smoke.” “L don't like cigarettes,” sald Eliza- both with decision, “Quite proper,” rejoined Larkin “butt do, Besides, smoking cigarettes doesn’t hurt a man.” “Tl never saw a man smoke one,” flashed Elizabeth, Larkins dodged and threw up bis hands, ‘Taking advantage of « dying martyr,” ho groaned, “If | hadn't had my brains investigated by 4 lead muck-raker you couldn't get away with it.” “Yos, but let's talk of other de the ocean th- dealing Implements besid igar- ettes,” I broke in. arkins, we came here to’ “Find out bow I plied the reporter, much to tell “T had just finished a wireless de- aspatch to the Ledger telling of the events of the day and night that had passed and was out on deck taking an early morning view of the Miner- va as she lay in the water, looking for all the world like a wounded duck. I heard no sound as { stood there except the continued lapping of the water against the boat's hull “Without the least warning, a roar seemed to shatter my eardrums, and 1 was aware of a sharp stab, such as I imagine a lightning bolt might give and’ - He paused in his recita and closed his eyes for a brief sec- ond. “Well, that's all there w: to it. Thero I was, and here I an Capt. Loyd was the first to speak after Larkins had finished his atory. Whet puzzles me is" “The spook shotgun," Larkins for him, The myster had, indeed, grown The shotgun, that mysterious imple- ment of death, was still the great un- solved problem. T got a mighty surprise when word reached me that you had been laid low by that~that Thing.” The cap- taln's volce actually faltered as he endeavored to name the mysterious weapon, “Yes, the old mystery hi t mine,” sup ‘Well, there isn't furnished certainly chirked up some,” agreed Larkins cheerfully, ‘I watched every boat~ load that left the Minerva, and T didn't see anything like a shotgun going along. The captain nodded. “And I'll stake my life that the Thing didn't aome aboard this noon, I bad every pas- The Evening senger searched when they returned from the Bacehu ‘ap’—Larkins's volee was a trifle raspy—"'ll bet you a dollar to a doughnut that you're a dead one.” ‘Bless my soul! What do you mean?" the tain queried anxious- ly, every wrinkle in his ruddy coun- tenance forming inte minute interro- gation points. ‘Just this friend shotgun, like the old black cat, came back, and is now aboard this ship. ‘Is that mere guesswork, or have you found out something?” asked Courtlandt, who up to this time had said nothing. His volce was a little anxious, | thought, and at the time 1 wondered why. Figure it out for yourself" te reporter parried, “Hey, how’ ts it you a the brig, being fed on t bread and Water? You don't mean to tell me that they haven't you of shooting me There was « pause, and then Court- lanat, laughingly shortly, spoke up: ‘They have, Hobby, Some one de- clared that after you were shot they saw me near the after deck, flitting away like @ frightened sparrow—or something like that. A\h-ha--another reporter aboard!” rking grinned, He looked like a nd with his grin connecting the swaths of lint bound around his head, “Well, Van, you certainly are a Jo. Don't fret—you didn’t shoot me, “Who did?" usked the captain quickly, “The shark, 1 guess,” reporter, Winking at the rest of us. Ho's the only one with a guilty enough conscience to have run away,’ Despite his flippant words I realized with # start that Larkins was holding something back, ‘Then Elizabeth took a hand and, claring that her patient needed ud rest, sie drove the three of us out of the stateroom, paying no heed to the frantic protestations of the injured man, The captain and | walked leisurely along tne deck, Bteadily the Minerva pounded forward on the bosom of the Gulé. Ahead to the northwest lay the mouth of the Mississippi and the end of our voyage. On this point bques- iloned Capt, Loyd. “We should reach Port Eads about midnight, and will tle up before 10 ‘clock Tuesday,” he said, “And thank i for it,” he added in an undertone, “Bame here, captain,” | said, “It has been a trying trip, indeed, 1, for one, must congratulate you on’ the manner in which you have handled aed hip and the untoward happen- ng! He thanked me warmly, “I don't know what 1 would hatg done with- out that young newspaper chap," he added, “He is a bright, clever fellow, ind if his accident had proved fatal 1 would have really felt it a personal loss, lte’s a frat-rate fellow," I agreed heartily, “but did it ever strike you, capiain, that that youngster knows more about al this mystery than he has told us?” “Indeed, no!" the ship's nraster has- tened to assure me. “I believe Mr. Larkins bas been perfectiy frank aud open in everything he has done and said.” It is not thwt, captain,” I returned: “it is what he has not said-unless, of course, he has privately confided to you all he has learned toward clear- ng up the mystery of the murders and the elusive shotgun.” “No; you have heard everyth) has said to me," the captain rep! “What has prompted you to Thi otherwise?” He put the question bluntly. “I don't know,” J sald. “I somehow accused ‘eturned the wet the vague impression that he al- ways knows a little more than he tells. By the way, did you know that when Capt. Peterson of the Bac chus ordered an investigation of his ship immediately after the finding of arkins's wounded body some one— who lt wap Twas unable r rted the rumor that Larkins had turned the spectral weapon on himself so as to end the whole affair in « blaze of glory?" “How ridiculous tain, “What next? But this evidently set him thinking, because he paced the deck with head bowed, uttering no sound. Suddenly he turned to me in a hesitating manner. “Mr. Marshall, will you come with me while [ question Larkins on @ few points?” he asked. I acquiesced, and together the cap- tain and I went to the room where Larkins was abed, zabeth Forbes was reading to him, and as we entered she laid the book on the bed with th pages open. The gaudy cover and ga! ish title bore lurid testimony to the fact that it was @ detective mystery story. I tapped the book with my came “Brushing up on theory and detail, or seeking a solution of our incompara: ble mystery?" I asked, laughing. “Just following my natural bent,” he snorted the cap- il they be saying retorted. “Besides, I like the dulcet tones of my nurse's voice.” He peered at the captain through his glasse “What's up?” he demanded. The captain seemed at a loss how to proceed with what he had to say. He drew his hand across his mouth sev- eral times and cleared his throat ner- vously, “Speak up, little one: laughed Larkins. Mr. Larkins,” began the captain, “L believe you once told me that when you investigated anything you suspected everybody, didn't you?” “Yep—the whole shooting match— from doork to the family cat. “Phen you will—ah—er" Not be offended if you ask me some direct quesiions as to whether or not 1 am the pliuntom behind the shot- gun?” Lackiy Hed. “Oh,captain!” Migabeth cried, Every bit of color had cone from her face as she turned to the commander, and her eyes were indignant. “Why are you on board the erva?” Captain Lioyd stood nearer the reporter as he put the question “Did your paper send you on this trip to cover—as you call it-—the honwy- moen of" He left sentence unfinished, waving his hand vaguely replied Larking with a sparkle in’ the gray eyes, “Even on yellow journals we have what is known as vecations, I'm having mine.” “Why on this boat’? “Hope you people won't laugh, said Larkins with a sheepish litte grin; “but some years ago | was 4 reporter on a New Orleans paper and T aspired to be the star man; the boss decreed otherwise, so I abandoned the paper to its fate, A few months ago T read that this same paper had doubled its oireulation, and it rather spoiled my appetite for a week, Stil a little sceptical, % started for the land of magnolias, ereole beauties, Ramos's gin flzzex and the statue of Gen, Jackson to see if it flourishet as its circulation manager sweareth ‘As luck would have {t, this mystery broke right under my nose--and there you are,” He eyed us blandiy as he finished, and as if there was nothing more to be sald. “Did you shoot yourself?" asked the captain bluntly. ‘I should say aot; ‘be not afraid,” Min- " petorted the re- WV out the way to dot « Not guilty.” fire Of course, but A general brought the farce of cross-question- ing Larkins to an end, ne durderer is on aia boat, and we will have to find hit, her or it be= the Minerva lands, or will never senger USt sc of the world. is the way The beautiful a up, and many wer aink into the | 8 weapon of th manufactur the murderer Excuse me extinguished. window wide o. tropics made Phantom captain deck with my K World Daily Magazine, Witartay. orld.) porter emphatically regard for the Robert L. Larkins, “Did you shoot Forbes?" ot that I can recall.” tend the shot that brought their senses?" why. shot! tinued the captain colorle Questions poured in on me, and I ynystery of the ages from the Sphinx, “You ought to be able to guess the answer to that, captal pleasantly *Wuy do you advise that “Do you think it is useless? “L think it a waste of energy. In this problem the shotgun is X. That 1 am figuring, wraith of a weapon, learn how, if you it could be carried to the Bac- without it being seen by us who wanted & t kind, how would you one? crowded the social be -_—_——_ CHAPTER XX. The Lincoln Penny. pre Larkins, you int quarters: ed by ruff and half "don't know back im wy bunk, aud burying ma) a dozen excited others I answ “1 have too much r feelings of one Larkins re- remember 1 was soaking Cubans in the p in particular, ing to find the spac fourtn and fifth ribs with a long knife, ‘That all took place on deck in your plain sight, paper man ‘I would do « whole lot for we reporters always Line at murder, laugh who was try- + between aso up, which the pas- tters to the four parts ‘The captain sighed as he realized the task before him, “Don't waste Ume looking for the jerer, Capt. Lloyd,” said the re- pose yourself in the place and go over the all qvents of the past few days, and dope way you would do such @ at thing if it were up to you, as old boy Punch sa I shook my shoulders, from such calculations, cold-blooded That's the enough for th certainly Courtland, 4 ¥ ¢ By Maurice Ketton ead in mY hands. “Am 1?" bulb, “It whiskers!" hi nee what he pointed to, back of my look it—— doesn't cOn~ answered thom as best I could, “Were you as! 1 had explained made it impossible. “Hurrah! that your You saw him, then? news- 6 shut. my August You ought to know," snapped tho reporter, ax he switched on the electric Gee ai added, and I turned to they finally agreed to follow orders. The wooden | | bunk was riddled with pt” Larkina asked. the heat had . ead,“ Mrs. SL seat ae Pineda ds jut the number Larkins chose to wit- was the awful roar, and as | scram- ee Spe ii: A WaT i NEXT WEEK'S “Glad to hear it, old boy—you need lit" TL eatied to him as he made his | Way across the social hall He seemed to Walk quite spry too. Most of the passengers were on deck when Port Eads was reached, and Larkins, propped up in a steam- er chair, hailed with delight the small army of reporters and camera men from the different New Orleans papers who came aboard off Pile Town. These good-natured and im. pertinent young fellows questioned everybody on board Indiseriminately, and Larkins was enjoying the novel« ty of being interviewed for, the first time in his life—"Just like a rea jperson,. as he put it. It was a steht to reporters clustered about him, lie ing to his fantastic recital of the mystery that was engaging the Jattention of the whole country. Aw he talked, Larkins wrote rapidly on the pad that lay in his lap, and performed the feat of talking about jone thing and writing about another at the same time. To the curtow he said that he was getting bis cop: loff to his distant paper. | After we had passed qnarantine wa jwent down for the last breakfast on jboard; and Lark is, in high spirits, despite hin wounds, kept. the eap tain table and tho near by col vulaed with laughter throughout the meal “T want to know the meaning of all this hilarity,” lizabeth demanded, “For A woun hero, you are not leondubting yourself with becoming jaobriety.” ‘The presence of so charminy nurse has intoxicated me,” Larkins Jaughted éxultantly, ‘That and the fact that | have solved the mystery of the Phantom Shotgun!" A surprised hush fell over the ble ining saloon as the reporter made his startling annonneement, which was swiftly passed from mouth to two stewards dropped uth, One sir trays, and the clatter of broken china mingled with the sudden storm of questions that poured upon him from all sides. “Oh, I'm not dead sure," he shout- above the clamor, “but I rather guess I've worked it out. When © rend the vell of mystery we shall find lthe Phantom Shotgun in—@tateroom Other than this he would not say, merely going up to the wireless room, | where Sparks was sending the crasi ing of his instruments throughout the ship's length and breadth, When the news of Larkins's announcement reached the deck, where the local re- porters were gathered, they swoopd on him like a flock of hungry vultures. Hut he refused to Leh & word, de- claring that at 8 o'clock, fn the pres- ence of & number of witn: stateroom A, the myatery would be satisfactorily cleared. “And, say, you fellows,” he said to his brother scribes, “I don’t want you to use the wireless—you boys can wait a couple of hours until we land, And you, Associated Press, you give the others first chance, or you won't get in on the ple at all.” “LT suppose you want to use the wireless after pba shown the thing "said the Index man, don't worry, Emil ughed Lar- My story is going out now— +a while is too late for me.” I suppose it was because Larkins was himaelf a geribe that he could handle the newspaper men the way he for despite their first objections after an effort, managed to get Larkins alone; but, though I tried to wheedie the solution from him L might as well have tried to coax the He merely winked at me. ‘At the specified hour Larkins, after speaking to the captain, asked Wood- ruff to summon Courtlandt, the purser, the chief steward, the face ogpeettiys , the different newspaper re ‘orbes, The captain rounded ness the dramatic disclosure we al looked forward to as we filed into bled to my fect the powder smoke gtateroom A. choked me La “It was fired from the deck, See, bullet marks show that it eam this direction. the au- Window. A hasty glanee up an he withdrew his he “Nothing doing,” be faced us, to be seric as the com t that ruff again went through the ment of death, Once me the Minerva thrown in a panic. attempt on my life, combined torpidity of the night, desire for further sleep. ar dawn, in y door, I ope King, the hailway. Just a question, Marshall, ch gruesome sald. “Were you in the lower berth, I'm afraid [im where the shot holes are, when the + shot was fired?’ with me, and he left for his tire of the ‘unceasing fusillade I followed shortly after, to par- questions. “Why do you ask?” a solitary and spend ~ “I'm trying to dope this thing out, rest of the evening parading the as long a¥ [can't sleep,” he sald, ina thoughts as the ship weary volee, leaning against the door drew nenrer and nearer the Crescent jamb. eit Gulf wax “Don't try, old man," f said, a6 soon as the moon came ing to his side, and throwing « to turn in porting arm about his shoulders ng after the deck lights Were fre sick—wounded--Larkins, and you are Killing yourself by the misuse of When I went to bed I left my deck the energy that you have left. Chuck n, for the heat of the it--forget It, Larkins, please.” sleep a doubtful issue, “Marshall, I'd never hold up and I lay awake for hours, unable to head again if 1 let this ship get bleswed oblivion New Orleans and | not solve while TL was wide awake that business.” In spite of himself, Shotgun apoke again, head dropped forward on his chest, Wy little cabin with w sheet of and f dragged bim Inside and dosed flame, a ne roar and Him with @ stiff shot of whiskey the stinging fumes of burned powder. “You go ,to slcep, my boy,” T was trembling and unnerved when The drink fevived him, and us } open my door to the furious on the edge of my bunk, his ¢ oh thous quickly ing robe wrapped about his long legs, he presented 9 pathetic figure. was ubsonily the shot holes when have make t will you," T urge doesn't mo reportera unmakes them." he said dryly, shoutec “1 don't think I'd like to be sleeping who cane limp in this bunk and have any one take “ pot shot at me” Then narrow al went to the door, all his follows ness jrone Wood “Take some of this stuff with you?" 1 asked . “No-0-0," be said queerly, “You ) Moe have given me enourh, Tam going to go to sicep now,” king limped over to the window. he cloned the door. the Into fn pockat, he drew forth a coin. a Any one on deck} d almost instantly. in afterward.” he muttered. Then ealn ta tain, this is wetting Angers and spun under the bed. The his in @ louder tone yeporter was on his knees in qn in- nder entered hurriedly 4 “Marshall here has had a narrow ea- A put to, cape from friend shotiun-+ had to tell my story all over again yive it to him he impatiently seized to the perplexed captain, and at the the stick and began rummaging un- end of an hour's consultation Wood- der the bed, finally recovering the ship, coin and passing it to me, making futile search for the imple banished Along with the Phantom Shotgun or the 4 swer to a knocking mystertous murders?” T asked. ed it, to find Lar- pale and haggard, standing tn Just as [ told you before,” [ an swered tartly, for | was beginning to of to this his 1 said, fingering one or two of 1 asked him to another drink from my flask iT ‘ay the last to enter, and Waoualine 4 Putting his hand “In this Hes the solution,” he ho sively; and I believe for a few yelled, poking iw head through the impremtn everybody thought he had own the boards seemed to satisfy him, for gone out of his head. Cy to Marshall fir Il show it to need feet br coin toward me, it slipped from his tant, reaching for It. weLend me your cane, Marshall, so T can hook tt out. 1 examined it eagerly. “Why, tt's a Lincoln penny!” I exctalt , at were the passengers of once perplexed and relieved. The Larkins nodded, “That's the solu- tion.” he naid, “What has a Lincoln penny to Wasn't it LAncoln who sald; ‘You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the he time, but you can't fool all of the ne all of the time?!" g “T don't see"— T began “Well, [ do!" he fairly shouted at me. A rapid movement of his hands broke the breech of my shotgun cane, nd as he started to extract the rtridee T sprang at him savagely. Swiftly he raised the cane and broueht {t down on my head. ‘Then Darkness took me in her arms and smothered me. CHAPTER XXII. Which Explains Everything. AVE we two souls? In the spirit self a tangible thing, merely a fow ounces of ) water and albumen, or t# there an actual soul with twin ruling powers hidden from the baffling the scalpel and m | f l anatom microne I killed Hamtiton Forbes, 1 killed Patton, or Hallaron, the ex- convict and deck steward, T also at- tempted the lives of Courtlandt and Larkins, and turned the Phantom Shotgun on myself to divert suapicton which I felt was finally centring on me. There I made the one mistake every criminal makes, otherwise that astute young fellow—Larkine—might have solved the mystery, For had I been in my bunk when the shot was fired, as I told him, three of the bullets imbedded in the woodwork would have had to pasa through my body—and I showed not a scratch. NOVEL IN THE EVENING Sinister Islanc — By CHARLES WADSWORTH CAMP MACS ENRAI R RBM RISER RRA NIN INNIS . in New And before I could Th Sitting In the narrow con my cell in the parish prison [ Orleans I have had plenty of oppa tunity to think over the events tha transpired on that fateful v c the Minerva. As it all happened ov 4 year ago, to kill time—you Anot wet over that habit of hilation~-[ have put the mystery of the Phantom Shotrun to paper, ta ing events exactly as they o ree as 4 disinterested and jnnog spectator might have done, al the reader to form his own I stona and to draw his own sions I suppose Tam just @ plain my er in every case but that of Fo tam glad L killed him--he it as much a# any venomous that crawis in the grass, Years swore to kill him, and I thank G if there is a God for such as L have kept that oath. “a With Hallaron it is different, 1 kil him playing safe—self- preservation the first law of nature, and he that I had shot Forbes, As for Larkins, he was getting warm,” as the children say playing bide and seek, and I e would be safer out of the and then again | took @ peculiar powers of mystification, and ad moment 1 decided to show the shotgun could go from one the other, no matter how watched, Hut [ have never been grateful for anything than that aim was &t fault, even though it him that I ultimately I was justified, at the killing of the mutineers, stands out as the only act for which I was aboard the Minerv As you may have guessed, ton Forbes-—-whose real name was Forbes—and I were far from gers, True, he did not recogni aboard the Minerva, but then years gince our last meeting, to say nothing of @ club-foot, effectually disguised me far as he was concerned be Forbes wrecked the innocence @f my only and well-loved sister. ¥ lust for vengeance smo: but ne went out. When the papers of the country exploited coming marriage of the Wall millionaire lustrated. In spite of thi had passed since I knew Fos knew I had my man, and the ~ to avenge sprang into sudden flame, My plan was to kill and get away, I valued my life, and di not rig @ trial. By chance, as I was a through N Orleans on m; way to N ork, | fan old Rue 0 - a picked up the ; Bhoteun Tt was a curious . “ ~to all outward appearance m stout walking stick, but cont all the devilish mechaniam of a ington, I had heard of aword but the shotgun cane was new me, and I realized I bad the thing for my contemplated: I planned the whole affair minute and cold-blooded exaetiti Shotgun shells found in my would incriminate me; a safe Place was imperative. Beeing a ple with his elevated shoe sole me an idea. My munitions of my sole defied the close search of tl firet officer and his men. The cipher arning was one my ter and’ Forbes used, nd 1 tt only other who knew the key. he saw it he knew I was so about, ready to fulfil my vow, method of serving it on Forbes simple, As Larkins and I passed ti window of stateroom A I i palmed, and when I tapped the calling the reporter's attention ne burning lights, I it withip; and when we were in the room gating Forbes with my hand behiné my back I scrawled the sign of 1 on the ws Th soak actual killing of Forbes not difficult. I alipped out of stateroom, and fired at the al man through the narrow ven slit above the door, My cane without a stock, so the thal “7a that of the muzzle was easy, al it so difficult for and the others to figure it out. I back in my stateroom in an fi and out again only when I aroused by the reporter. window wes next to that of A, 80 n Hallaron was directly j Forbes I fired throws - ‘or! t 4 tempts on Courtiatty and Lap. kins were just as simple, and it merely to peoullar circumstances others appeared in unfavorable The deeds of my “homanta’ have to comfort me—children iret soul”-—are shooting the who was about to knife Capt, and the firing of the shot that the mad rush of the ine crow ‘the hold was afire, I not! Lite the a thank you. ere you have it—the good baa. “st Larkins waa clover, was he not? 4 frat I felt a superior contempt for " eccentric fellow, but as affairs went on I realized that he would rend mystery @f its onveloping shroud expose me, At times I would feel crushing presentiment of being found out, and In the secrecy of my seaiae room I would battle with my nerves until the panic passed. ‘Then, as the days went by and Larkins acknowl: ¢_ edged his growing bewillermont, Fy «rew relieved, but never careless, To | heard Larkins say that the time he wpent in bed recovering from the shock of my bullets he employed - thinking, and he eventually thought out the solution, coupled wiih the dis: covery in my si room. And he di fool mo with his faintness and weal ness, and I never—alert as I was for” 4 single act or expression—caught the significance of his words to me as he left my stateroom saying that I m given him “enough.” And #0 ends the story of the Pham: © tom Shotgun ‘ For the last time I borrow from the | files of the Ledger. This appeared in an iswue of recent date f COURTLANDT PORBES, ~My Ws ven Juce I91L by Re So ae Shee eee (THE END.) + gah! Re GOING AWAY FOR A VACATION? Remember The | © Evening World prints each week | a complete up-to-date novela} week's reading! Have The Eve} ning World sent to your sum: } mer address,