The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 104: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

458 THE ARGOSY. ‘What is very sad?’’ asked the girl. ‘This about the second mate—he’s missing.’’ ‘‘ Missing ?’’ she echoed, the scare passing as plainly over her face as a cloud crossing the sun. 3 ‘““Ves. He can’t be found anywhere. We are wondering whether he fell overboard or committed suicide.’’ ‘*Oh, no, no!’ cried the girl. ‘‘ He could not.”’ ‘‘T admit,’’ said Macshiel, with a queer smile, ‘‘that I would not have thought him capable of one or the other ; but how else are we to account for his disappearance ? ”’ ‘* Have you asked Mr. Gupp?’’ I ventured. He turned on me suddenly. A nasty glitter leaped from his sunken eyes. : ‘“Do you know,’’ said he, ‘‘I rather fancy you think we are not pos- sessed of a single redeeming feature, as though from one act you could de- duce a man’s character. Mr. Gupp has lately suffered too much at the hands of the second mate to care about confronting him again. I myself have questioned Gupp very carefully, and I don’t believe the poor beggar has left his bed since the fight. JI admit the sadness of it,’’? he continued affectedly, ‘‘and also, from my point of view, the inconvenience. As it is, we have none too many efficient officers on board.’’ From sucha generous tribute we could not dissent. Captain Macshiel imay have been privy to the mystery, or he may not have been; though from the nature of the man it was always difficult to tell the real feelings which animated him. The girl, whose eyes were full of anxiety, shook her head and gazed wistfully out across the sea; while for want of some- thing better to doI filled my pipe and otherwise trifled with the subject. Yet no sooner had Captain Macshiel left us than the girl’s eyes sought mine with a truth compelling look. ‘*T don’t for one moment believe that Hayling either fell overboard or committed suicide,’’ I said, replying to that look. ‘‘ He was not stupid enough for the one, and there was no immediate reason for the other. Be- sides, he was not the man to shuffle out of a trouble.’’ ‘‘T don’t believe he was,’’ she replied. ‘‘ And yet—if not ‘“‘He has many enemies on board, and one in particular. If he were surprised, the rest could easily be done.’’ 3 “The rest ?’’ she gasped. ‘*T fear we can only put one construction on his disappearance. Poor Hayling must be quite a hundred miles astern by this.’’ She did not answer ; but as I looked into her face I saw it grow white as death. Fearing to speak, I turned about and fumbled for a match, and just then I beheld the sea through a strange mist. ‘* Poor fellow !’’ she said. ‘‘ I wonder whose turn it will be next ?’”’ I hadn’t much doubt myself, but seeing her so distressed I tried to make the best of matters. It would be time enough to weep when the blow descended. Then we walked slowly up and down between the main hatch and the Eomichbooks.co