The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-03-14
CHAPTER X.

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The eighth day was characterized
by events which discouraged the pas
sengers, who were anxious to end
their long confinement to the ship.
A heavy fog had fallen during the
night and the vessel, with deafening
shreks of the foghorn, was cropping
her way as slowly as great raft. A
delay of not less than IL hours might
be counted on, declared expert judges
OF nautical matters.
Mrs. Goddard and Mrs. Nolan were
as usual on deck sitting side by
side when the second officer passed.
He was hailed by an anxious voyager.
How long is this going to last, real
ly?' asked the passenger.
oh, it's lifting rapidly" was the
answer. You won't hear the fog
horn much longer. In fact, we are
running into quite a gale. 1t will
strike us about dark
Mrs. Goddard nudged her compan-
ion, and when the speakers had
walked on, she said in a Whisper
Things are working beautifully"
beautifully" echoed Mrs. Nolan,
whose heavy conscience had intensi-
fled her natural dread of dangers at
sea.
Yes, bad weather is exactly what
I want" And the plotting woman at
once set herself to the study of storm
indications.
By eight o'clock that night the sea
was rocking, frothing, tossing in fury
The two women shut themselves in
their room and held whispered con-
ference over their final movements.
During his rounds over the slippery,
spray-washed deck the captain raped
at their door. Mrs. Nolan went to it.
passengers are forbidden to go on
deck he said. Everybody below
will stay downstairs. The wind is
strong and the sea high. Keep your
door locked How is Mrs. Goddard?"
Thank you, sir, she seems little
excited, but I think she will soon be
asleep and she closed the door as he
walked" away.
THAT was a splendid reply" said
Mrs. "Goddard, approvingly Every
thing is working we'll; the deck will
be entirely deserted. To be on the
safe side, wait till ten o'clock. Re-
member, you are to do it all now. It
depends on you. If they press you
too hard for explanations. go into hys-
terics. You surely can do that
Il presume l can; but oh, my Lord!"
Don't begin that; we are here for
battle. Do you remember every de-
tail now2"
"As if they made up my whole life
and my life depended on my knowing
! Them
We'll, 1 think you'll do. Don't for
get to yell at the top of your lungs,
and if they should want to open the
closet don't let them do it, if you
have to knock somebody down."
III prevent it if l can. It would
be awful for us to be caught in this
We must carry it througlf''
BE sure there is no one looking
When-when l am supposed to make
the plunge Mrs. Goddard made a
peep-hole at the side of the window
curtain, which was always drawn
down, and peered out on deck ITS
as dark as Erebus out there" she
said.
Then they sat down and remained
silent till the bells struck the hour of
ten.
''Now, lock me in Remember, when
the coast is clear for me to come
out, you are to signal three times
softly-so!" And Mrs. Goddard raped
on the door of the closet with her
knuck.es.
Il understand" said Mrs Nolan,
firmly. "Now get in and let's have
it over WITH
You needn't look so excited"
smiled Mrs. Goddard, as she sat down
on the stool in the closet and drew
her skirts round her ankles.
Il am not any more so than you
are" retorted Mrs. Nolan. 1--WE seen
you in good many tight places, and
have never seen just such funny
look about your mouth"
Mrs. Goddard made failure of her
next smile.
Il actually feel as if 1 were being
buried alive; ugh! Shut me in and
act your part as If your salvation de-
pended on it,
Mrs. Nolan made no response as she
shut the door; she seemed to have
lost her voice. She turned the kew,
drew it from the lock, and put it into
her pocket. AS she did so her fingers
touched its duplicate. This gave her
an idea, and she raped on the closet
door and then opened it,
"Well?" inquired the prisoner, with
a white, startled stare
Il have both the keys" explained
Mrs. Nolan. perhaps you ought to
keep one. If anything should hap
pen-any accident-to me you would
be in fix. This morning I found
that the door could be opened from
| the inside'
Lucy, you are sharper than I am;
l never would have thought of that"
The ship rose on great swell and
rolled far over on it's side, throwing