Berea High School - Prima Luce Yearbook (Berea, NC)

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PRIM A LUCE one little minor clue. A jobber told me that he had seen Miss Webster standing in front of the bank on the day of her disappearance, talking with a fellow named Mahoney. He further stated that he was not well acquainted with this gentleman, that he was a hunter and trapper from across the Sound. “My purpose now was to learn more about Mahoney. From every indica- tion he was not well known in Beaufort. A couple of days later I went across the sound to Swan Quarter. In this little town Mahoney was better known, but nothing could I learn of his inner life. In company with Mr. Sawyer, who was connected with the police department, I spent an evening at the home of Mr. Crawford, a retired merchant. As supper was nearly over I mentioned lightly the name of Mahoney. My host immediately took up the conversation : “ ‘Mahoney is supposed to be one of the wealthiest men on the Sound. He has had a rather peculiar history. About nine years ago he moved down from the central part of the State with his wife and two little chldren. During the first two years of their stay in this community, his wife, who was several years younger than he, taught school, while be peddled fish. Mahoney was intelligent and carried himself well. He was once a student at Wake Forest College. The people considerd him eccentric and secretive, for he would never divulge his personal affairs. But, notwithstanding this, no one had the reputation of being more prompt to pay a debt or more accurate in keeping a promise. He cared little for associates and friends, but always defended his rights with the utmost energy. Some intimated that he was a very undesirable citizen, while others said that he would never bother you so long as you did not molest him. “ ‘During the third year of his residence in this community, Mahoney built a sloop. He did it in a rather spectacular way. He went to the swamp alone to cut the junipers and worked out the timbers with his own hand. The craft was a good piece of workmanship. The man took great pride in his constructive ability. With the aid of the sloop he became a trapper. Soon he was considered the best otter trapper on the Sound and his associates would try to induce him to reveal the tricks by which he caught the cunning animal, but not once would he unfold his methods. Each following spring his stock of furs was large and rumors about his wealth were circulated. Some said that he accumulated this money by following the trap-line. Others intimated that he had inherited it and would not talk about it because he was covetous and wanted the honor himself. One theory had it that he had found a treasure on the Banks — perhaps that of Kidd. Another that he had obtained the money by foul means. In fact, none knew how he made it, but all seemed to know that he had it. “ ‘With prosperity came seclusion. He isolated himself more and more, and about fours year ago he bought a place on the Banks. This purchase stamped him as more mysterious. Along the banks, between Cape Hatteras and Beaufort, there is an abundance of sand that has been washed up by the ocean. This sand makes the region worthless, for the Southwesters of March carry it over every- thing. It you were caught in one of these storms the skin would be pelted off your face. I would rather be “henpecked” than sandpecked any time.’ [ Page 63 J

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PRIMA LUCE shouted r Ir ' tea ch vo 1 VC ' y man ,ost control of his temper and snouted, x it teach you to know where you are!” passldand kmmheh! ' fu ft ft ° ther made for him - but missed and P he di d so “T ft ft ft T S W,th a Hght blow to the shoulder, and added as he did so I sometimes do tins not very far from home.” jumpedTnto ' his tu JtuS 1 ' ' ft P U ft b is mule, co a a r t prick f ed h ft hS appearance! WaS ° Ut by the wind resembling a jelly .fish in - Sstsr-r si- fro ; r 1 8 — Orlando Stone. The Moving Dune One fatal remembrance— one sorrow that throws Its bleak shade alike o’er our joys and our woes to which life nothing darker nor brighter can bring hor which joy hath no balm, and affliction no sting — Moore. aud lisfenhitr ftp “■ Judah Na , rrows watching the angry white caps on Pamlico west er 21 Vn fS lr Tftft Slappm F ° f r ° peS against the «nasts- The North- old oil SnL and r l E° r dUCb g and °« r only amusement was tinkering on the o an encouiuor 1 P 1 1 Capt Hugh ’ as b e concluded an account his weaEft fti tyft!. 1 ; 3 at lhe bead 0 Juniper Bay, twisted that yftftnftftft” ° f thC eXpCrienCeS Whkh y0U have had ‘ 1 know excellent remife ft? ' 1 ° ft! ° Ut W ’ tb Us f° r a Sticking trip, was a detective of Sendee In late vft had been once connected with the United States Secret known to himself u’ oucier ’ e had retired from active work for reasons best p left ire °i n hA terdn . tha t 5 ft UnaS ftT! g nlan a d always seemed to take more After ? listening than talking. Probably this was an effect of his profession After the second request, the detective lighted his pipe and began : ' P In the early ’90’s I was called from Baltimore hv the „,ti, „ , A young lady had disappeared under mysterious circumstances ' Her peoplftin a frenzy were confident that she had met with foul nbv r ,1 , ! Webster, the girl who had disappeared, was a chofti ft in the fttftchS and an active worker. In her personal relations I could discover no amours and 1 passed her as another E»a Mitchell. A week ' s mvestigatioTol? afforTed me 1 Page 62 ]

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With this remark, Mr. Crawford glanced at his wife and smiled. Then wiping his red moustache, he continued : In this legion there s only one house, a shanty which fishermen once used. Mahoney spent the spring of each year in this shanty. He said that he wished to avoid the chills, which are caused by the drying up of the ponds on the mainland.’ At this point my host halted, as if something held him in restraint and then he recommenced : Don t mention what I am going to say now to anyone. A couple of years ago, while his sloop was on the dry dock in Washington undergoing repairs, Mahoney went up on Capt. Bridgeman’s schooner to see about the work. We were all delighted to have with us on the voyage the daughter of Capt. Bridgeman, a brilliant girl of seventeen, who was attending school in Washington. She had spent the week-end with her mother and was returning. I noticed that she. was a bit melancholy, although she tried to conceal it by continually smiling. Evidently she did not want to leave her mother. “ Th . e wind was dull and the little that we had was dead ahead. As the sun was setting the Captain dropped anchor off Bath. We sat up late that night in the cabin enjoying the conversation of the school girl. At one o’clock I crawled to my bunk in the bow. I he next morning I was awakened by a low, serious conversation in the hole. Dressing rapidly I advanced out by the center board. Capt. Bridgeman, pale and excited, was running his hand through his black whiskers while the crew and passengers were standing around him, mum and silent. I soon learned the trouble. The Captain’s daughter was not on board and no trace of her could be found. The Captain confidently imparted to me that he thought. Mahoney was somehow connected with her disappearance. But this uncommunicative, subtle figure explained his ignorance of the girl’s where- abouts and expressed his sympathy without excitement or undue emotion. The girl has not been heard of since. That night as I was dreaming I thought I heard the water slosh against the boat as if something had fallen overboard, but I was not quite sure and said nothing about it.’ “At this point, Mrs. Crawford interjected : T he whereabouts of Mrs. Mahoney always puzzled me. Do you really suppose that she is with her people?” Yes, her husband returned, ‘almost a year ago Mrs. Mahoney went back to visit her people up State. She has not rejoined her husband and it is rumored that she is not with her people. Mahoney never mentions her name unless questioned. Lila, there’s the door bell!’ Two young people arrived and the conversation was broken off. That night I reasoned and pondered on the mystery. “ ‘Who is this Mahoney ? Isn’t he in some way connected with the disap- pearance of these women?’ I said to myself. “I determined upon two steps: first, to find out if Mrs. Mahoney was with her people or not ; and second, to investigate the desolate shanty. As the result of a hurried trip to Raleigh, I discovered without anyone knowing my purpose, that Mrs. Mahoney was supposed to be in the East with her husband. Now to the second project, to investigate the shanty without the presence of the occupant. [ Pagf. 64 ]