Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1904)
March 20, 1904. dense the smoke had rolled. He was as tonished because the damage had been no greater. The wheel was not burned at ail, and at the stern the bulwark looked fresh and bright In comparison to the amid ships' ruin. Forward of the great amidships gap, Par ton, as he peered, could see. the captain's big water tank still standing, but the after end was quite blown out, and as he looked at It he realized the signliic.nce of the leaser explosion which luid followed the great detonation of the Humeri to. It had been the noise of the bursting water tank that he heard. Heated until there was not room enough In It for both Its water and the steam which the roaring heat had gen erate, it had exploded, and helped to put the fire amidships out by pouring Its deluge of fresh water directly on Its heart through the very hole which the explosion had torn for it, as If with the Idea of offering means for undoing Its own fell work. Parton longed to run forward and below at once in order to find whether his dia monds were safe or not, but he curbed his Impatience for many reasons and went with the captain down into the cabin of the ship. Captain Sears gathered up some of the clothe which were still hanging against the bulkhead at the back of the captain's berth, and taking an armful of them car ried them over to the cabin table and laid them down on it. While he was taking the clothes from the berth Captain Sears noticed Captain Bur gee's big Bllver watch hanging against the bulkhead. "Well, If there ain't Captain Burgee's watch!" he said In great astonishment. Then he looked around. Hanging in Its place was the ship's chronometer. "Well, you must a' be'n in a hurry," he exclaimed. These valuables made his mind turn to the salvage he had given up and he sighed softly. "We were," laughed Parton. Then, going to his own berth, Parton gathered out of it such of his own belong ings as they found there. Among them was his watch. But the strain of working here In the cabin nt such unimportant matters was too much for Parton. He felt that it would be unwise to tell Captain Sears about the treasures in the hold, and he had resolved when he had come on board not to show his anxiety about it. He knew that his Interest In the cargo of the ship below decks would tic surprising to the villagers, and he had no desire to arouse their cu riosity. He hesitated for a moment. Then he said: "While you are In here I will take a look below, so that I can report to the captain about the condition of the hold. He will be anxious to know what shape his cargo's In, and I have a few little things down there I want to see ubotit myself." "I'll be with you in Just a minute," Soars Bald. "I thought I'd jest unscrew this here chronometer. Captain Burgee alius would have the best they was. This here one cost him pretty near W)0. He'll be right glad to see It ag'ln." It was easy to see that It hurt him to Have thrust upon his mind the bits of salvage which might have come to him, but which he had renounced. CHAPTER XXVII. The Matter of PnaUbnent. Ain't God clever! That's one reason why I think the Methodists Is all wrong in flggerin" out the details of eternal tor ment. They don't give God no credit for Ills originality an' brains. Th' Tuphet that their prea:her-men describe Is only what a very ordinary man, not over bright, would cook up for th' people that he haled. God knows 10.0UO ways of punlshin' th' wl'-ked that beats their hell all holler. An' as for rewardtn' of the good, man gits heaven right here on earth when his wife is lovin", or a woman when her husband re'lv cherishes and In a rood provider Such thins'll go s Medndlst paradise at least a dozen better an' not try more'n half. The I-og Hook of The I,yddy. When they reached the hatch and examined it by lantern light, a detail attracted Parton's attention and worried him. He felt sure that the hatch had been battened down and clamped when he had left the ship. Now he observed that the clamps were gone and the box edges of the hatch were not fitted closely over the raised edges of the opening. The batch had certainly been tampered with, either when the mate had returned to the ship while the Are was In progress, or by strangers after the Lydta had been abandoned by her crew. And Captain Bears declared that none had been below since he had found her. It sent Parton's TIIE ILLUS' blood rushing to his feet and made his heart beat fast. What a sarcasm of fate It would be If It should turn out now after MaclTarren's claim had been overcome and he had gone home like a whipped cur, after Parton had escaped all the perils of the eventful and disastrous voyage, and after tho I-ydla had been brought to the very port which was nearest to the place, where he had been sent by fortune after his disaster, if tho muto had succeeded after all and borne away the diamonds. The fact that the mate's bout had never been reported made his mind turn quickly to this gloomy view. Both the other bonis had been reported as having been en countered by passing vessels. Parton had charged this in Ills mind to the effects of the explosion. He had thought that the concession had shattered the Iydla com pletely and that the mate's boat, which had been close to the wreck as he knew at the very moment of the explosion, must have been overwhelmed and lost In burst of fire and crash of falling spars, but now the circumstances that the hatch had so certainly been tampered with after his own flight from the apparently doomed vessel came as a great shock to him and Beamed to upset nil his theories. Then the thought came to him that If tho mate had really gone below, secured the diamonds and escaped, he would scarcely have taken the time and trouble to replace the hatch before leaving the burning vessel, and he decided that it must be that the man had only made an effort that ho had returned to the ship with the intention of searching the hold, and had gone so far In his work as to achieve the removal of the clamps, but had been driven away by fear of the fire before he had accomplished anything more serious. At last, through their combined and powerful efforts, the hatch was slid further to one side. But as the dark hole yawned In front of them, Captain Sears, with an exclamation of disgust, recoiled before the foul air that poured out of the opening. "Bats!" said Captain Sears. "They say they alius leave a sinkln' ship; but I reckon from the smell that they didn't calc'late that the Lyddy was a-goln' to sink. I guess they ain't got no special ability to tell when the vessel that they're sailln' on Is goln' to ketch fire. Phew!" It was evident that to descend into the hold would be Impossible for some time, and during tho period Of waiting, Parton gave much thought to the matter of Captain Sears relinquishment of all salvage claims. Finally, Just as they were starting toward the hatchway again to se if the air had sufficiently cleired so that they might go down into the hold, he 8oke to Captain Sears. "I ought to tell you that I hope that there Is certain property of mine there In the hold, which I value very highly. Cap tain Scars." he said. "I realize that I shall owe Its recovery to you If I find It safe, and despite the fact that you have resigned your salvage. I shall he certain to make some suitable arrangement for paying you for what you have dune for me." "Don't you worry about me," said Cap tain Sears, still buoyed up by the g-sndtl-oqiicnce of his recent speech, and anxious to maintain his position of exilted generos ity. "I guess you and mo won't quarrel. I ain't one to take ndvantsge of no m.m's misfortunes. People done n lot o' talkln' about my askln' for tome pay for towin' In Cap Briscoe's body, but I ain't so mean as some would try to make me out." "All right," said Parton. "If you are willing to leave It all to me, I think that we shall be able to arrange It so that we shall both lie satisfied." "I'm wlllin'," said Captain Sears, "nnd if you've re'ly got nnythln' down there, I guess th' air's clean enough so's you can go down now and look for It." Then they went below. The unbearable- odor had to a very large extent departed from the hold when they entered It. There was In the hott'm of the pussageway between the plied mahogany about three feet of water, and they stepped Into It cautiously. There were few evidences that the ex pliwiun had had any definite effect In this part of the ship. As is the rase with many high explosives, its effect had been mostly upward. The Iydla had been built with strong transverse bulkhenHs of sturdy oak. and Parton rould see that that one which formed the after wall of the hold into which they had entered hnd been wrenclwd and strained, for thin glimpses of moonlight which poured through the ragged hole In the deck lievond gleamed faintly, but the forwsrd bulkhead did not urm even to have been strained. Indeed, had It not been for the presence of the water nnderfoot. and that renetrntlng. dreadful odor, Tarton might have Imagined PRATED BEE. that he was again in the hold during that eventful voyage which had led to so ninny strange occurrences occurrences of which this midnight exploration was not the least unusual. While Captain Sears went forward to see how badly tilings were damaged there. Par ton turned Into the narrow alley which of fered access to the lug wherein lie had con cealed bis treasure. He made the count which located it, more by feeling than by sight, nnd when he had found It, flashed his lantern on it so that he might, by finding the Impression of the key which he had hammered Into It, be sure that he had made no mistake. He found this without dlfll culty, but he drew his breath In quickly when lie saw that the earth which he re membered to have rubbed over the log's end was quite gone. It showed as clean of It as If it had lieen intentionally scoured. Instantly the thought came to him thnt this meant that the mate had been there, and In working nt the cavity had rubbed It off. He could feel that his face hnd paled with this suggestion, but an Instant Inter, when he thrust Ills linger In, he could feel the plug which the cnptaln had whittled for him, tight In Its place, nnd he was re nssured. It was only after nt least Ave minutes of work with the augur that ho succeeded In dislodging this. In the meantime Captain Senrs wns ex amining the hold forward, and from time to time shouting comments on Its condition back to Parton, who replied, although not always, with great Intelligence. It would be difficult to dcscrllc the emo tions which thrilled through him us each one of the little wads of crumpled paper fell Into his scooped pnlm at the hole's mouth. He almost laughed audibly as his fingers pressed the paper wads nnd felt the hard Irregularly shaped core In eaeli of them. At last the cavity was empty, nnd he had his fortune in Ids pockets once again. This accomplished, he shouted to Captain Sears. "Find what ye wanted?" nked that sea man In a low, bass rumble from the dark ness forward. "Yes," said Pnrtnn. "Well, lei's git out o' this, then," said the captain. "Th' air down here Is staler than a hist year's newspaper, nnd It smells a darn sight wuss!" The two men met Just beneath the open hatch. They were then standing In a good three feet of water, which swung with tho gentle motion of the ship us she felt the slow heaving of the long swell from the Atlantic. Just as he was about to put his foot upon the ladder to 'climb to the open ulr above, Captain Sears noticed somctiilng which the lantern light showed white lying belienth the water close behind the ladder. He stooped over to look nt It and swung his lantern so that he could see. He gave un other glance nt the thing which had ut ttacted his attention, and then lie gasped and stepped back, so that he collided sharply with Parton, who was behind him. "What Is it, captain?" Parton nkcd. He could see that Rears' face had paled, nnd Ills agitation was further evidenced when he dropped his lantern, which fell li.tc the water and went out. "Down there!" said Sears, pointing. "I almost stepped on it!" Am lie still pressed backwards, Parton made way for him, and himself advanced, holding bis lantern close to the surface of the water und looking eagerly to see what it was which had so disturbed the captain. Shining In the flickering rays of the yel low light Parton saw a pale, distorted face glen in up at him. He stooped a little lower over it and recognized it. It wus that of Brown, the mate. He must have returned, then, nnd. Ignorant of the explosive, im agined that the fire would give him time to fUid the diamonds. He rnuy have been dazed tiy the shock on tho very Instant whin he had reached the hold, and been drowned in the wuter which poured down . from the burstcd tank. Perhaps he had time to make a fruitless search for the hidden stones and wus Just returning to the ladder when the concussion came which laid him unconscious at its fiot, where the encroaching water ran in on him and 'smothered him as he lay senseless. At any rate, he lay there dead. Pnrtnn was very well satisfied to let Cap tain Sears take upon himself the telling of the grewsome tale, and hurried to the captain's group. Before he had crossed that shaky planking of the dock, Norah hud her hands clasped upon his arm. The captain gazed eagerly nt his face, which seemed to boh uncertainly about In the flickering of the lantern light. Norah was a bit paler even than the moonlight warranted. It was Mrs. l.uigee who spoke first In an anxious whivper. 13 "Hid ye git 'em?" she asked huskily. Ilirton nodded. He could see that neither? nho nor Norah had heard, or, at least, pull heed to what Cnpluln Scars had been say ing. All their eyes were for him, all their ears were for what he might say to them. When they reached the captain the old man smiled eagerly, but was evidently not enlightened by what he saw in i'arton's face. He leaned forward, with almost tremulous eagerness. "lie got 'cm!" I.yddy said, almost In a whisper. The captain's lips opened tremulously. They closed again. Finally they formed the words: "Well, by John yulncy Adams! Shake!" Parton reached over and took the old man's almost helpless paw In his witli a hearty cl.isp. A ft or ward. It may he interest Ing to those who have been good enough to read what has gone before to hear a hint of what came after. Kxamintttlou of the India's hulk by ex pcrts developed that the captain's Judg ment had been right about the effects of the Humberlte In cose of an explosion. It was much less daluaged that at tirst It had apiwnired to be. The concussion had. spent most of Its force in the center of the ship and Its impulse hud been upward. The I.ydin's bottom planking had not been so much as started. It was when t lie exami nation of It condition hud been completed und this cheerful announcement had lieen made that u plan was born In Norah'a mind, which afteiwurd bore much pleasur able fruit. "We nre rich now, aren't we, Henry?" she asked one day wlil.e she and her hus band were walking toward the house after an inspection of the ship. "Yes, dear," paid Pnrtnn. "Rich enough to let us do nearly what we please for the balance of our days and still have some thing over for the captain und for Dyddy." "I am glad you spoke ot th it," she said. "I had thought of II, and 1 am glad you spoke of It." A moment luler she questioned him again. "Could the I.ydla be rebuilt so that It would be sea worthy?" was her query. "It might bo. Its upper woiks are gone, but its hull Is quite as staunch ns ever. Why?" asked Parton. "I have a plan," fche paid. "The old ship In the dearest thing In iili the world to our old friends, except, perhupn, ourselves. Ws owe Hum much." "We do, Indeed," sulci l'arlon, heartily. "Then, If we are rb-h enough, why not Kiy a part of our debt by having it re paired?" "Noruh." said l'arlon, as he prosse.l her arm with satisfaction, "you are wonderful. We will do it." And they did. The lellltlng changed the I.ydla into something between mcrchuntmin and ynchl. lis first voyage vms notable, prin cipally becuuse of the nature of ltf pas senger list. They wire t-clectt d by Hie two women, and the choice wus mudc, not be cause of social Importance, but because of rial and cnrefully Investigated worth nnd need of hmg vacations. Its cruise, with the captuln In command, partially dlsibled, but Htlll proudly capable of stand'ng watch In daylight, will long live in the memory of all those who were on board of it. (The End.) Pointed Paragraphs Kven the prediction of the weather ma who waits come out. Kternal vigilance is the ptloe of retain ing a borrowed umbrella. A thorn In the hand is more trouble than a dozen in the bush. Girls who are pretty as pictures are sel dom ns pretty as their own. We give a man credit for being level headed If he Isn't above our level. It's surprising how sweet a homely girl's voice sounds through a telephone. Nothing makes a quarrelsome man so mad as the refusal of his wife to talk buck. If the average man had1 his life to live over again he would probably make more mistakes than over. Don't despise mall things, young man. A 19-cetit box of ciunly goes u, long dis tance with some girls. George Washington's reputation for truth fulness may huve been due to the fact that he never traded horsoa. Before marrying a title the American heiress should make sure that 0he has sufficient coin to lift the mortgage and 11 v happily ever after. Chicago News,