«-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.
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