THE MAN WITH THE MARK

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13936, 19 December 1905, Page 3

THE MAN WITH THE MARK

(By NORMAN H. CROWELL.)

Bronzed and burned from qnr twelve months’ sojourn, Saltairs. and I bade farewell to India with a certain sense of satisfaction. Wo had been success--1 ful,. as success is reckoned in so indolent a clime, in exploring the wildest, braying the most perilous and witnessing tho strangest. But tho strangest things do not happen in India. Saltairs and 1, smoking our pipes on tho dock of tho good ship Weymouth, wot little of tho sights we were destined to seo ere wo placed our feet on tho blessed soil of our mother land. It began simply. We were live days out from Good Hope, knocking along at a fourteen knot gait. “ By the blue fetlock of Zingi,” suddenly ejaculated Saltairs, “there goes a sample of female beauty for you 1” Half rousing from my reveries, I glanced about. Apace down the dock I saw the tall form of a dignified gentleman, leisurely piloting a young lady about on a tour of inspection. Though too late to seo her face, I was able to conjecture, knowing my friend as I did, that beauty must indeed ee apparent to call forth so earnest a remark from him. In an instant a piercing scream rang out, bringing us quaking to our feet in apprehension and affright. A strange tingling sensation clutched at the roots of my hair, affecting me in most unusual manner. Dashing forward hastily we beheld tho young woman reel into the arms of her escort, whose face depicted surprise of the deepest description.

“What is it? What is wrong?” he gasped, as wo came up. Blank faces were his response, while we edged instinctively back a step. Saltairs and I had recollections of certain discomforts attending a too close association with mysteries not our own.

“My God!” he cried hoarsely ‘ Must she die? Call a doctor !”

He groped frantically for her wrist, trembling in his excitement. I glanced hopefully about the circle, utterly unmindful of the circumstance of the unending string of medical diplomas that adorned my offices in London. ■ A hand laid on; my shoulder and tho low, vibrant voice of Saltairs aroused me. “You refuse the case, Doc?” he said. A hasty glance into his cold, dark features and I shook myself together. Quickly stepping fox-ward, I made a rapid-.examination of tongue, eye and carotid. The symptoms were normal and,as I expected. ' “It is nothing,” I remarked, as nonchalantly as my nervous tension would .permit, “ a mere surprise—a trifling fright perhaps.', She will be herself in a very few moments—lower the head a bit—so.”

“But what—” The speaker arrested his query and scanned the circle of staring-faces. Finding no satisfaction there, he began chafing the lady’s wrists awkwardly, his eyes wide with fear. .

Presently tho blue lips parted and tho shuddering gasp welled up from the oppressed lungs. Tho circle pressed back discreetly, glad that the crisis was past. “Thank God—it’s over!” ejaculated the man • fpryently. In a moment ho was able, with my assistance, to lead the shrinking -and evidently terrified creature below. I At the state-room door I made bold to inquire, if he had formulated a theory, lie cast a. keen glance at the fair face of his charge and replied : “Theory? If I had formed one—a man would' have died, Do you understand me?”

His' eyes, glittered strangely and—l understood. I- crept away with an indefinable sensation of dread hanging over me. Saltairs seized me and dragged me away to a secluded- nook. “Did you smell anything?” he asked.

“Eh? Smell anything?” I glanced at him in amazement.

“ Then, I presume 1 , you hare no explanation to offer?” “Well—not yet,” I stated, dubious-

ly. , “I may bo pardoned if I venture to propound the result of my observations.”

I received this challenge in silence. I had ruffled ray friend on more occasions than one by rallying him on his “propounding'” propensity. But just now I felt in a mood to hear what he might have to offer—for, though I hate to confess it, my mind was a blank. “ What particular emotion, Lamson,” said .he,. “ did that scream suggest to vour mind? Joy? Surprise? Hate? What?” I could see that he was reading me intently. “ Fear —most undoubtedly ! was .my reply. J felt a triflo nettled to think he could question my powers of observation in so palpable a style. “ Ah..- now we’re in the right direction,” said he warmly. I failed to see the thing in any sense other than an impenetrable mystery, as yet, and candidly said so. “ Exactly—of i course.” remarked SaltairSj beaming upon me, “but knit

your brows and tell me who occupied the chair exactly opposite tho spot where—where she screamed out. Do you recall?” I remembered passing a man that position, and after a moment’s earnest thought I was able to focus him in my mind’s oye. . _ Tho fellow in the tan panama?” “Ho merely frightened that girl out of a year’s growth—that’s all,” said Saltairs firmly. “How?” I demanded feebly. “ That’s whore I break down,” he said. But I hoard his teeth click together, and I know that his okl-timo enthusiasm had him again in its grip. In fact, it bubbled over, and I, too, felt tho throbbing desire to stretch out a hand to seek into the hidden thing. Later in tho day the tall man led his charge on deck again. She was still pale and weak, and clung to him closely. Ho carried a heavy cane, and his piercing eye roamed furtively about —facts which Saltairs brought, to my attention. “Prepared!” said he, in a low tone. I nodded without removing my gaze from the strangely assorted pair. “ What does he fear?” queried Saltairs, presently. “Or has she told him? I will find out!” The two were coming toward ue. Saltairs leisurely arose, stretched his lean, frame and confronted them. “ Beg .pardon, sir. I am pleased to note you r-—or —daughter’s recovery from her—-from the shock. it was most unfortunate. May I inquire as to your deductions in tho case?” Saltairs held his hat in afi attitude of polite, though intense expectancy. The fall man scrutinised him keenly, while - e lady shrank away from Saltairs, visibly. ‘ ■' 1 “ Felloe cannot explain,” he said, “and I have no theories.”

“ Thank you,” said Saltairs bowing. " But,” added the man significantly, “ I hope to have one shortly.” Ho gripped the cane suggesively, and his eyes glittered savagely upon my friend.

Saltairs was in the midst of a polite reply that was to me indistinguish-able,-when, from the depths below, a pistol-shot rang out, followed immediately by a crash of glass. A hoarse bellow of pain or terror ensued,- and instantly we were dri our feet, groping blindly to guess, what new danger threatened us. Saltairs ejaculated hoarsely, and darted toward the com-panion-way. Ere he reached it, howover, the spare form of the ship's steward came bounding up the steps to run blindly into Saltairs’ r outstretched arms “What’s up, man?’,’ roared Saltairs. “ He’s dead ! He’s dead I I shot him—he dropped like a beef 1” wailed the frantic fellow, as he squirmed in Saltairs’ iron grip. “.Who’s .dead? Quick, or over you go!” Saltairs dragged the fellow toward the rail. “ The man with the panama I The man with the panama! I caught him trying to swallow other—he lifted the bottle—l fired to break it. He fell—oh—oh—it’s awful!” The wretch groaned miserably. “-Don’t let him get overboard!” commanded Saltaine, suddenly launching the man into my arms. “ And don’t let them follow me!” - Saltairs sprang down the steps. A moment we listened—from below we heard the fierce slam of a door—then dead silence. Fifteen minutes ticked by. Then Saltairs appeared, strolling leisurely toward ns, wearing an air of utmost indifference. I stared at him wideeyed, in astonishment. Was the man cr.azy ? The steward sprang forward, searching ray friend’s face eagerly. “The corpse? You found it?” He fairly hissed, the words. Saltair’s lip curled slowly in an allembracing sneer. •

“Pooh! You are excited, man I Beyond a few bits of broken glass and a peculiar odour, which I judge is given off by the drug you mentioned, I find nothing. You were simply dreaming. I would advise more fastidiousness' in your libations hereafter, my dear sir.” “You mean to say ” The steward, strove to grasp his meaning—his face flaming. Saltairs lifted his hand with a gesture that said, far more plainly than words: — ‘ That is all—it is ended!”

The angered man glanced about and beheld a hundred eyes laughing at him. “ Lamson,” remarked Saltairs, when we were again alone, “It thickens. That steward was no fool—if I did impose upon him.”

“Eh?” was my suave interpolation. “ I’ve simmered it down to this. Tho steward enters his precincts below suddenly, and discovers a man in the act of removing a battle from a shelf. The intruder dees not see the steward —he is too intent on securing the bottle for that. The steward recognises the

bottle °as one containing' other. Too amazed to cry out, and too weak physically to hope to outwit the thief, lie grasps his pistol and shoots—at the bottle. Tlie man falls—steward flees, and I catch him on the fly, as already observed.” A momentary silence ensued that might have grown painful. “ The question now is.” began Salta ire, “ What did that fellow want with ether?” I laughed gently, thinking I detected a weak spot. “ Rather, the question is, did he know what the bottle contained?” I looked at Saltains triumphantly. He smiled coldly. Then ho slid his hand into a pocket and brought out an ordinary apothecary's sticker, to which clung small bits of broken glass. Brilliantly displayed thereon I scanned the ominous legend : SPIRITS OF ETHER POISON. I stared at the clinching evidence silently while I could imagine Saitairs chuckling at my confusion. The feeling that we wore on the verge of some strange, uncanny revelation stole over me. I felt a peculiar helplessness—-a weakness that craved to meet the danger and have it done with. In Saltains’ strong personality I experienced a certain satisfying dependence,’yet the gaunt nakedness of the unseen, unfelt mystery unnerved mo. ,Tho day passed, and the next. The steward had apparently regained his equipoise, though he eyed Saitairs narrowly at times. On the evening of the third_day he casually told mo that the man with the panama hat had called on him and offered profuse apologies for. his late intrusion, tendered handsome remuneration for the damage, and had so far established himself in the steward’s confidence that he had purchased the remaining stock of ether—a small phial of the fluid. ‘‘.What did .he say he wanted it for?” I asked. . “I don’t know—something on Ills back, I guess,” replied the fellow. “ How much did you let him have?” The question was from Saitairs, who came up suddenly from nowhere. “Ei- —about a tablespoonful, I

think.” “No more than that?” “ No, sir.” “Um-m,” was Saitairs’ meditative remark. The steward took Ms departure, mumbling to himself perplexedly. “Lamson, old fellow, I would not be surprised if something happened around hero about—about ” He screwed up his eyebrows in-. thought. - “When?” I prompted. “To-morrow afternoon,” said he. “Yes, it won’t he later than that.” “ What have you found “Not a thing. But you might have your trinkit-kit handy as a matter of rare foresight—we might have use for it.” '

I was becoming more thorougMy mystified then ever. Try as I would, I was unable to get an inkling to his meaning. I dismised ’ the entire subject at length with the broad decision that my friend was, in tins brazen manner, concealing his own dense ignorance. But the thought , was not a comforting one to go to bed with, and I passed a dismal night. The afternoon was warm.: The tropical .sun beat down upon us, rendering the scant protection of stretched canvas doubly welcome to our sweltering bodies. • For upwards of an hour we had been idly dreamingr-dreaming and thinking. Aroused by a nudge from Saitairs, I glanced up to see his eyes snapping expectantly. “On: your guard,” he whispered tensely. At once I became very wideawake, my nerves atingle with the indescribable prickling that comes' of a knowledge of the near presence of the Unknown. Out of the corner of my eye I presently beheld the lean figure of the man in the, panama hat—he was regarding us, intently from, a point up the deck. After a moment’s hesitation, he thrust his - hands into Ms pockets and stalked towards us,_ humming a peculiar little air as ho did so. “A thousand apologies, gentlemen,” said he, bowing first to Saitairs then to me, “I am searching for a doctor. I fancy I detect medical skill beneath those features. Tell me, am I right?” His remarks were directed at me, and I lamely admitted their correctness. “ Good. I thought I’d recognise a doctor’s face in any corner of the globe. Have you your travelling cases with you?” “ I have the oases, but I venture to predict, that my stock of drugs-is sadly depleted. It has withstood severe usage.” - “I merely desire,a small quantity of ether —you have that, of course?” “A bare wliiff, I am afraid,” said I.

“ Pray get it!” . His. remark was almost mandatory in its intensity. : I departed, and presently returned with the tiny pMal. Upon my approach the stranger shook perceptibly arid extended his hand quickly, almost snatching the glass from me. ' With an inarticulate cry that riveted me to the spot ho seized it and drew the cork. The next instant, while Saitairs and I stood motionless, powerless to thwart Mm, the man raised the phial and dashed its deadly • contents down— the back of his neck !

We gazed in horror at the inexplicable proceeding. Saltains found his voice first. “In the name of ”

The stranger smiled. ‘"lt’s'all right'—it’s all right!” he said hoarsely, then turned and walked away, leaving us breathless-bewilder-ed at the thing we had witnessed. I searched Salt-airs’ face, hoping to read his thoughts. He shook his head slowly, and—l groaned. With Saltairs baffled, I felt helpless. : Another hot, tropical day lay spread before our eyes. Great white birds hung in the dead,, sultry atmosphere, seemingly loath to?exert a piiikni. The deck was thickly dotted with' lolling, uncomfortable beings who suffered and ■waited patiently for the night. Saltairs sat eyeing the glassy surface of the water. I was occupied with my moody thoughts, and over all hovered a dull, leaden sensation of tenseness and expectancy. It crept into our bones and- drove conversation to the four winds. I could see that my friend was as highly strung as I myself was—though Ms dark face gave no sign. ■ The burly form of the ship s mate suddenly appeared on deck and came swiftly toward the group near which Saltairs and I were sitting. He was evidently in a hurry, and was glancing anxiously to right and left. “ It’s coming!” ejaculated Saltairs, getting to his feet. I quickly rose with a feeling of dread tugging at my .heart. “Is this Doctor Lamson?” cried the mate, approaching us at a swift pace. I bowed. “Come with me—quick!” The excited man wheeled and darted off rapidly, merely glancing over his shoulder to note that I had started to follow. I had taken three hurried steps, with Saltairs at my side, when I stopped abruptly. From the body of the ship there came a wailing cry that froze the blood in my veins and brought those on deck to their feet instantly. A long-drawn, hopeless cry .-r was that crushed one as in the grasp of some deadly horror.

Again it sounded—nearer. “He’s coming! Out of the way, on your lives!” shouted Saltair. An instant of terrible suspense and then the figure of the man of the panama, hatless now and dishevelled, leaped up the companion-way and sprawled on deck. Writhing horribly, with cries that tore at our heartstrings, he scrambled to his feet , and plunged frantically forward. He stooped repeatedly and clutched at the back of his neck peculiarly. Saitairs and I followed closely—hoping, fearing, wondering. ’ - Idlers on deck scattered like chaff as the hideous sight came within ; their vision. The wretched, man’s cries filled the air with a horror that held the spectators stiffly, stoically paralysed— Saitairs alone seeming to escape the impingement of overwhelming fear. Of a sudden the crouching .form crashed to the planking with a wailing, hopeless cry that smote in upon my inmost being. The body writhed horribly in contortions more grimly terribly than is man’s usual lot to witness with Unclouded senses. The malady—the influence that held him in its grasp was supreme and relentless. At moments the suffering victim hounded clear of the deck, to drop back limply, whistling'for breath and clutching wildly at his bared throat. •

It was a living term of torture to me, now with my professional instinct asserting itself with. trebled power, to stand - helpless before such evidence .01 dire need, indeed, I involuntarily took a step forward, vaguely in that I . might, in some way, bring' relief tc the man. Saitairs restrained me forcibly. “Your skill is useless, here. Lamson!”- ne said, coldly. It' will end soon I” ‘ ’ I gazed into hi? ■ face, indignation swelling within me. “ Look!” said he. The sight that met my gaze was an astounding one. The .form lay on its face, pulsating feebly, and there, limned on its bared shoulder, in view of all who cared to see, was the repulsive outline of that most hideous reptile—the cobra. As the moved in its weakening throes, the swelling hood of the snake seemed to expand in the intensity of anger.,. The sight appalled me—l turned away. The circle of frightened faces was now many yards distant, yet my limbs refused to obey ‘my urgent iholiuation to join, it. At, length the crumpled figure flattened out in the last gasp of a merciful dissolution. _ : “ Back Laroson 1” It was Saltains’s voice, and I felt Ms hand on my aim. I may have . lost a few seconds of time there and I-do not doubt that my aotion was unsound. . Dimly, I--heard. Saltains call' for a pike. Its rattling, as a scared .seaman threw it forward on the deck, was also audible to my palsied sense. Delicately, yet sternly in earnest, my strong-hearted friend set about his V task of uncovering, the - mystery. Strip after strip—piece upon piece of. clothing was removed from the body. Presently the pike point became entangled 1 in the man’s upper garment, and with f a wrench Saitairs unbared the broad back. “ Strike! Strike!” called a dozen high-pitched voices. Saltairs’s lip, curled slightly. He passed the end of the pike firmly down the man’s body—across the snake’s out- . . line— 7-yet it moved not a hair’s breadth; Again lie did so, pressing strongly,' with like result. The truth was apparent—no snake was there ! ; Half audible sighs betokened .the intensity of, the moment. Saitairs bent low over the uncanny thing and studied it closely - while absolute silence prevailed. ■ v■ . . , In a moment he straightened up. and glanced back at us. V >1 : “It’s a{|attoo, men,” he said, “but I would) lose my right hand: rather-than touch it!’” ' ■ ’ In'some manner I found a deck chair and fell into it. I heard my friend’s authoritative voice superintending, the hasty burial—heard the smothered ; splash and felt" the sensation of relief that swept over the. entire ship. ' ; ‘ “It’s all over !” .'Saitairs told me. ' I looked into his eyes gratefully, and held my peace. r - Saltairs’s.pipe had gone out" three separate, times that evening before I ventured to speak. “Theory?” Hb repeated. “Yes,. ! . have formed one.” ’ . I waited patiently while he-puffed once, twice, thrice,/in. a most deliberate fashion. Then he thrust the thumb and finger of his left hand in an inside pocket of his waistcoat, extracted; two . small slips of paper, and extended them nonchalantly in my direction,. I took them from his hand, unable" to fathom his action. The papers were oblong, stiff, and ' of good quality, though badly crumpled.' The upper edges were torn, as if stripped hurriedly from a/book of similar pages. A desperate interest, seized me, and I bent low to examine the writing that appeared thereon. In the dull 1 glow of my cigar, I deciphered the fol- . lowing legend : . “Jeylpoor, August 16, ,1889. —Prisoner among the Sogis. Offer to re--lease me in return'for privilege of tat- > - toeing Sogi curse on my hack. Curse, indeed! Told them to bring on'their, expert. Soon bo out of this hole.— . Alexander Marclay.” 1 ; I paused : to study, Saltairs’s face; It was unreadable. Then I bent to scrutinise the remaining slip. It was a mere , fraction of a day’s awful record—yet it thrilled me inexplainably., “ • • • . going far too slow. It cannot last long. _ Ether ! My Qod! It must be had! This ship,—can it not:be hastened ? ■ Ah 1 One chance in a thousand! The •ship’s steward! I .will try again. No—no!'My God, —he has none left. The thing! The thing! It is——” . That was all. Between . those two pages had been recorded the history of an unfortunate being. What was. his misfortune? What was it that had fol-lowed-him so unremittingly all these years to hound him at last ,to this violent end? Had this man broken some hidden law of Nature back there among the Sogis of India? Or had his naturally , >. gay and sanguine temperament been beaten down and overwhelmed in the 'dread grip of, an unknown' and ,evergrowing fear? I fell into a deep mental discussion of the problem from which Saitairs presently aroused me. “I neglected to tell you, Lamson,” said he, “that those pieces of. paper . \ have been in my possession some time. I picked up Mr Marclay’s diary on the occasion of the broken ether bottle, and I saved those two pages.” r “Why not all of it?” I asked, /p amazement. “ Because he proved the better man,” said Saitairs simply. • ' We fell to smoking, and the good ship sped on into the calm tropical night. ; ,