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About Mt. Scott herald. (Lents, Multnomah Co., Or.) 1914-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1922)
«-INDIAN DRUM iW'illiarn A\ucH(il »| Edwin Bulmer There was as Instant's allenes. “1 shall go myself," her father said. Rhe hung up the receiver. Had Alan found Uncle Benny? Ho bad found, apparently, some one whose rrwrn blauce to the picture sb« had showed him was marked enough to make him believe that person might bo Benjamin Corvel; or he hsd heard of some one who, from th« account he had received, be thought might bo. Rhe read again the words of the telegram . . , "even If greatly changed!" and ahe felt star tling and terrifying warning tn that phrase. CHAPTER XIV (Continued from last week.) Alan had bean three than. Thia was wild, crazy speculation. The ship wns loot with all hands; only the Dram, hollered In by the superatltloua and the moat Ignorant, denied that. The Dram aald that one soul had been eared. How could a rhlld of three hare been eared when strong mon. to the last one. had pariahed? And. If he had been eared, he wan Htafford’a eon. Why should Uncle Benny hare aent him away and cared for him and then eent for him and. himself disappear Ing. leare all be had to—Htafford'a eon? Or waa he Stafford's eon? Her thought went bach to the things which had been aent—the thlnga from a man's pock eta with a wedding ring among them. Rhe had hollered that the ring cleared the mother's name; might It In reality only more Involve tt? Why had It come back like thia to the man by whom, perhaps. It hsd been given? Henry's words cams sgaln and again to Constance: “It's a queer con cern you’re got for Ben. Leare tt alone. I toll you I” He knew then something about Undo Benny which might hare brought on some terrible thing which llenry did not know but might guess? Constance went weak within. Uncle Benny's wife had left him. she remembered. Was It better, after all, to "leare It alone?” A telegraph envelope addressed to her father was on the table In the hall. A servant told her the message had coma an hour before, and that he hsd telephoned to Mr. Rherrill'a office, but Mr. flhsrrill was not In. There was no reason for her thinking that the mes sage might be from Alan except his presence In her thoughts, but. she went at once to the telephone and called her father. He was In now. and he directed her to open the message and rend it to him. "Hare" ¡torn# one." ahe rend aloud; she choked In her excitement at what came next—"Hare some one who knew Mr. Curvet well enongh to recog nlse him, even If greatly changed, meet Carferry Number 2ft Manitowoc Wednesday this week. Alan Conrad." Her heart was beating fast. "Are you there?" she said Into the phone. "Yea" "Whom shall you send?" Old Burr of the Ferry. It waa In late November and while the rosl carrier I'ontlac. on which he was serving as lookout, was In Lake Superior that Alan first beard of Jim Burr. The name spoken among some other names In caausl . enveraetlon by S member of the crew, stirred and ex died him; the name James Burr, oc curring on Benjamin Corvet'a list, had borne opposite It the legend "All dis appeared; no trace," and Alan, whose Investigations hsd accounted for all others whom the list contained, hsd been able regarding Burr only to verify tbs fact that‘at the address given no one of thia name was to be found. He questioned the oiler who bad mentioned Burr. The man had met Burr one night In Manitowoc with other men. and something about the old man had Itnprveeed both hie name and Image on him; he knew n<> more than that At Manitowoc!—the place from which tVptsln Htafford'a watch had been aent to Constance Hherrlll and where Alan bad nought for. but had fulled to find, the sender I Had Alan stumbled by chance u | ms > the one whom Benjamin Curvet had l*ro un able to trace? Alan could not leave tbs Pontiac and go at once to Manitowoc to seek Burr; for be waa needed where be «11 It was fully a week later and after the Pontiac had been laden again and had repaseed the length of Lake Superior that Alan left the vessel at Sauli Rte. Marie and took the train for Manito woc. The little lake port of Manitowoc, which be reached tn the late afternoon, was turbulent with the lake season's approaching close. Alsn Inquired for the aeamen'a drinking place, where hla Informant had met Jim Burr; following the directions he received bo made his way along the river bank until be found it. The proprietor knew old Jim Burr- yes. Burr was a wheelsman on Car ferry Number 2ft. He waa a lakeman, experienced and capable; that fact, some month« before, had served aa In troductlon for him to the frequenters of thia place. When the ferry waa In harbor and hie duties left him Idle, Burr came up and waited there, occu pying always the same chair. He never drank; he never spoke to others unless they si>oke first to him. hut then he talked freely about old days on the lakes, shout ships which bad been lost and about men long dead. Alan decided that there could be no better place to Interview old Burr than here; he waited therefore, and tn the early evening the old man came In. He waa a slender but muscularly built man seeming about sixty-five, but he might be considerably younger or older than that. His hair was completely white > bls nose was thin and sensitive; bls face wss smoothly placid, emotionless, contented; hie eyes were queerly cloud ed, deepset end intent Those whose names Alan had found on Corvet’s list had been of all ages, young and old; but Burr might well have been a contemporary of Corvet . “You’re From No. 28 r Ho Asked, «s Draw Him Into Conversation. on the lakes. Alan moved over and band. then the mate of a tramp school) took a seat beside the old man. er on the lakes Alan, gazing at tbe "You're from Nuii»tivw28F he asked, old man. felt exultation leaping and to draw him Into conversation. throbbing within him. Thia life which “Yes." old Burr was rehearsing to him as hla "I’ve been working on the carrier own. was the actual life of Munro Pontiac aa lookout. Rhe's on her way Burkhalter, one of the men on Cor- to tie up ut Cleveland, so I left her vet’s list regarding whom Alan had and came on here. You don't know i.een able to obtain full Information I Whether there's a chance for me to get Alan oped below, when he was re a place through the winter on Number lleved from watch, and got out the 2ft?" dippings left by Corvel and the notes Old Burr reflected. “One of our boys of what be himself had learned In bla baa been talking of leaving. I don't visits to the homes of these people know when he expects to go. You His excitement grew greater ns be might ask.” pored over them; be found that he "Thank you; I will. My name's could account, with their aid. for all Conrad—Alan Conrad." that old Burr had told him. Old Burr’ll He saw no recognition of the name stories were not, of course, true; yet In Burr's reception of It; but he had neither were they fictitious They— not espectsd that. None of those on their Incidents, at least—were artuall Benjamin Corvet’s list hsd bed any Hee They were woven from the live* knowledge of Alan Conrad or ha.' of those upon Corvel's list I Alan fell heard the name before. Alan was silent, watching the old bls skin prickling and tbe blood best man; Burr, silent too, seemed listening Ing fast In hla temples. How could to the conversation which came to Burr have known these Incidents? them from tbe tablee near by, where Who could he t>e to know them ail? To men were talking of cargoes, and of what man. but one. could all of them ships and of mon who worked end be known? Was old Burr . . . Ben jamln Corvet? sailed upon them. Alan telegraphed that day to fiber “llow long have you t*en on the rill; hut when tbe message bad gone lakesF Alan Inquired. doubt seized him. Benjamin Corvet. "All my life." when be went away, had tried to leave "Do you remember the MlwsksF Old Burr turned abruptly and studied hla place and power among lakemen Alan with a slow scrutiny which to Alan; Alan, refusing to accept arhat seemed to look him through and Corvet bad left until Corvet's reason through; yet while his eyes remained should be known, bad fait obliged also filed oo Alan suddenly they grew to refuse friendship with the Hherrills blank. He was not thinking now of When revelation came, would II make Alan, but had turned bls thoughts poMlble Alan's acceptance of tbe place Corvel bad prepared for him, or would within hluiself. “I remember her—yes. Rhe wse loot It leave blm where he was? Would It In %»." he said. Tn lift." be repeated. bring blm nearer to Constance Sher "Did you know Benjamin CorvetF rill, or would It set blm forever away from her? Alan asked. Old Burr stared at him uncertainly. CHARTER XV. "1 know who he la. of course." “You never met himr A Ghost Ship. "No." "Did yon receive a communication Officially, and to chief extent tn ac from him some tltud this yes»—a re tuality, navigation now bad "closed’ quest to send some things to Miss Con for tbe /Inter. Further up tbe har stance Hherrlll at Harbor PointF bor, beyond Number 28, glowed the "I never heard of Miao Constance white lanterns marking two v c reels Sherrill To send what things F moored and "laid up" till spring; an “Hcveral things- among them a other was still tn the active process of watch which had belonged to Captain “laying up." Marine Inssrance, as re Stafford of tbe Mlwaka.” garda all ordinary craft, bad ceased; Old Burr got up euddeutly and stood and the government at sunrise, five gating down at Alan. "A watcb of days before, bad taken tbe warning Cfeptalu Htafford'a?—no," be aald agi lights from the Straits of Mackinaw, tatedly. "No I" from Ile-aux-Caleta, from north Mani He moved array and left tbe place; tou, and tbe Fox Islands; and tbe light and Alan sprang up and followed him. at Beaver island had but five nights Ho was not. It seemed probable to more to burn. Alan now. the James Burr of Corvet's Having no particular duty when tbe list; at least Alan could not see bow boat was In dock, old Burr bad gone he could be that one. Among the toward the steamer “laying up." and names of the crew of the Mlwaka Alan now was standing watching with sb bad found that of a Frank Burr, and sorption the work going on. There bls Inquiries bad Informed him that was a tug a little farther along, with this man was a nephew of tbe James steam up and black am»ke pouring Burr who had lived near Port Corbay from Its short funnel. Old Burr ob and had “disappeared” with all bls served thia boat too and moved up a family. Old Burr had npt lived at Fort little nearer. Alan, following tbe Corbay—at least, be claimed not to wheelsman, came opposite tbe stern have lived there; he gave another ad of the freighter. dress and assigned to himself quite dif • “They're crowing." tbe wheelsman ferent connections. For every member aald aloud, but more to himself than of the crew of tig Mlwaka there had to Alan. “They're laying her up here," been a corresponding, but different be jerked bis head toward the Stough name upon Corvel's list- the name of ton. “Then they're crossing to Mani a dose relative. If old Burr was not towoc on the tug." related to the Burr on Corvet's list, "What's the matter with thatF Alan what connection could he have with tbe Mlwaka. and why should Alan's I cried. Burr drew up hla shoulders and questions have agitated him so? Alan would not lose sight of old Burr until ducked hla head down as a gust blew, ft waa cold, very cold Indeed In that bo had learned the reason for that He followed, as the old man crossed wind, but the old man had on a macki the bridge and turned to hla left naw and. out on the lake, Alan had among the buildings on the river front seen him on deck costless tn weather Burr's figure, vague tn tbe dusk, almost as cold as thia "It's a winter storm," Alan cried. crossed the railroad yards and made Its way to where a huge black bulk, “It's like It that way: hut today's tbe which Alan recognized as the ferry, 18th. not the 8th of December F "That's right." Burr nrgeed. That’s loomed at tbe waterside. He disap peared aboard It Alan, following him, right" The reply was abaent, as though gazed about. A long, broad, black boat the ferry Alan had stumbled upon what he was waa, almost four hundred feet to the thinking and Burr had no thought yet to wonder at It. tall, bluff bow. “And It’s the Stoughton they're lay Alan thrilled a little at hie Inspec tion of the vessel. He had not seen ing up. not the—" he stopped and close at hand before one of these great stared at Burr to let him supply the craft which, throughout the winter, word and. when the old man did not. brave Ice and storm after all—or near he repeated again—“not the—" “No," Burr agreed again, as though ly all—other lake boats are tied up. He had not meant to apply there when the name had been given. “No." "It waq the Martha Corvet you laid be questioned old Burr about a berth an the ferry; be had used that merely up, wasn't ItF Alan cried quickly. aa a means of getting Into conversa “Tell me—that time on the 8th—tt was tion with the old man. But now he the Martha CorvetF Burr jerked away; Alan caught him meant to apply; for It would enable again and. with physical strength, de him to find out more about old Burr. No berth on the ferry was vacant yet but one soon would be, and Alan was tecepted In lieu of the man who waa about to leave; hie wages would not begin until tbe other man left, but In the meantime he could remain aboard. All that was kijown definitely about old Burr on the ferry. It appeared, was that he had Joined the vessel tn the early spring. Before that—they did not know; he might bo an old lakeman who, after spending years »shore, bad returned to the lakes for a livelihood. The next morning, Alan approached old Burr In the crew's quarters and tried to draw him into conversation again about himself; but Burr only stared at him with his Intent and odd ly Introspective eyes and would not talk upon thia subject A week pagaed; Alan, established as a lookout now on Number 2ft and carrying on his duties, saw Burr dally and almost every hour; hla watch coincided with Burr's watch at the wheel—they went on duty and were relieved together. Yet better acquaintance did not make the old mnn more communicative; a score of times* Alan aftempted to get him io tell more about himself, but he evaded Alan's questions and. If Alan persisted, “Answer Mo; It Wss the Martha he avoided him. CorvetF tin deck. ofi# night, listening white talned him. "Wasn't It thatF he de old Burr talked, excitement suddenly manded. "Answer me; It was the seised Alan. Burr claimed to bo aa Martha CorvetF Englishman born tn Liverpool. He had The wheelsman struggled; he seemed been, he Mid, a seaman In the British navy; he had been present at tbe suddenly terrified with the terror shelling of Alexandria; later, becauM which. Instead of weakening, supplied Infuriated strength. Ho threw Alan off of some difficulty, which ho glossed over, he had deserted and had come to for an Instant and started to flee back "tbe States;" bs had bean first a dock toward the ferry; and Alan let blm go. --------------------------------------------------------- —-, only following a few stepe to make sure that the wheelsman returned to Number 28. Because of the severe cold, the watches on the ferry had been short ened. Alan would be relieved from time to time to warm himself, and then he would return to duty again Old Burr at the wheel would be re lieved and would go on duty at the Mme hours as Alan himself. Benjamin Corvet! Tlte fancy reiterated Itself to him. Could he be mistaken? Was that man. whose eyes turned slternately from the compare to tbe bow of th< ferry as It shifted snd rose snd fell the Mine who had Mt In that lonelj chair turned toward the fireplace in rhe house on Astor street? Were those hands, which held the steamer to her course, tbe band* which had written to Alan In secret from tbe little room off his bedroom and which pasted so carefully the newspaper clippings con cealed In the library? HnWas a Man Lass than Sixty —yet he had to be led into Optical department because vision had failed. A pair of glasses properly fitted 20 years ago would have saved this man’s eyesight —Are you doing all you should for your eyes? —Have your eyes examined to day. STAPLES-The Jeweler-S™™8” 266 MORRISON STREET, BETWEEN THIRD AND FOURTH Successful Graduates (Continued Next Week.) Patronize our advertisers. ■ Are the Best Recommendation of Pearl Owings 318 Platt Bldg. Public Stenographer, Notary Public Phone: Office, Atwater 3281. Residence, East 8440. This institution offers a thorough, practical, and staudard educa tire at a coat within reach of the high school graduate. It offers training for collegiate degrees in: You worked hard for your ■ It offers training also in: Tbe School of Music, Physical Education, Industrial Journalism. m I MONEY I I ■ ■ ; ■ Agriculture Mines Commerce Pharmacy Engineering and Mechanic Arts Vocational Education Forestry Chemical Engineering Home Economies Military Science and Tactics Fall Term Opens September 18. For circulars of information and illustrated booklet writs to The Registrar, Oregon Agricultural College, Corvallis, Oregon B make it IWORKI | YOU | / Multnomah State Bank Lenta Station, Portland J ames A.C.T ait &C o . 315 HAWTHORNE AVE. d ;► 5 : s