The Washington times., 1901-09-15


# once he could be induced to deliver II.
SO / cornered the doctor, and put out |
the full power of my sex and age against |
him. Though he would never have listen |
ed to Jim. u made him hear me to the end. |
And when had done he gasped;
Miss Caurtenay. said he, please do |
not force me to be rude to you. But
really cannot hear any more.
There's no need. as you have heard
all that i have to say. Now you've got to
act
Impossiblel Your suggestion is pre-
posterous.
is it preposierous TO save the lives oil
], 200 innocent f1ik?' l asked hotly.
'BeiieseSme, you are under complete
illusion Captain Stocks is the best sailor
in the company s service
'Dr. ForIf6s.' said, the captain Is all
that when he is well. But you
are doctor, and it isn't for me
to tell you that a sailor is just as likely
to go off his head a landsman. 1t Is
your plGin duty to examine the evidence
for yourself
He fretted and fumed, but 1 stuck to
my point.
Get look at the logbook when the
captain isn't by and ask the first ana
second officers about the way in which
| this vessel is being navigated- liz you
don't, and the worse happens. you'll be
glad to die yourself to get the womens
shrieks o1t of your ears.
| "I'll think about it, said he. plainly
| reluctant. and with that l had to be con-
| tent.
He sought me out the next day, and
said:
I've done what you asked, MISS Cour-
| eff ed
"I'n be satisfied when this crushing
| load is off my mind | answered, for his
| look was not hopeful.
| 81 will be candid with you, Miss Cour-
! tenay l have seen the log anu l don't
| ike the look of il at all. AS FAR as II
| goes it affords evidence of religious
mania, though evidence of that sort can
| never be conclusive. The second ofiicer
declares that the ship is rushing on de-
| struction, but the first mate declines 10
take so severe a view. He says that the
| skipper Is a first-ciass seaman, and must
be keeping private log. We are appar-
| entity not much out of the usual course,
and the first officer feels in no way alarm
ed. He is strangely little impressed py
the logbook You see how l am placed
/ cannot in the face of the principle OH
GERS expert opinion, take the respohsi-
bility of declaring the captain non COM
pos
Thank you. DOCTOR said / sadly.
! understand. You're a gentleman and you
have honestly done your best can ex-
pect you to feel responsibility for the pas
/ sengers as / do. They are in my charge,
you see, and I'D give my life readily TO
| help save theirs
| They are in the hands of God, MISS
Courtenay said he
That's so. But 1 think God would be
better plesaed If we lent them a hand our
selves
| Jim was right. l knew, and believed
| the doctor knew, that all our lives were
being played with by a madman; yet be-
| cause he had cunning enough to murder
wholesale ins s.ead of by installments we
could do nothing to stop him. He was
the master of the ship, and there was no
authority afioat which could interfere
with him.
1.-THE passengers played and sang and
made love- the more eagerly as only
/ day or two was left Of the voyage. l went
among them with a cheerful face, ana
every laugh that / heard wrung fresh
drop of blood from my heart. was DOOM
ed to taste the bitterness Of death for
|, each one of them; and yet laughed, too,
and said we should soon all be home.
81 did not see the end. God is merciful.
| and as 1 was not to die, He did not put
uoon me more than ! could bear, Toward
| the last when Jim had whispered to me
| that the skipper was on the bridge, pay
ing no sort of heed to the shore lights, I
got my cork jacket and buckled 1t on
Then tried to persuade my ladies' TO put
ON life-belts The wind was high said.
and the coast dangerous 1t was no use.
They spoke to their men folk, and the
men laughed. There is no danger, said
they. is not the captain on the bridgeE
II went on deck and walked to the
, bridge ladder l am strong and l meant
to grapple with Captain Stocks ana 10
carry him overheard with me. 1t was the
last chance.
But 1 never reached the bridge. A
, huge sea tore me from the ladder, and
lifting me up by the buoyancy of my
a Jacket cast me far to leeward. Then a
= calm as of death came over me and fell
asleep"
, This Is a great yarn" said Fades
l bending over his shorthand notes.
I magnificent yarn 1t Is much too good tt
: be frittered away in lineage.
From that moment the destination o.
r Miss Courtenay's story was settled. Wher
n man like Fades has something reali,
first rate to sell, he goes by instinct Il
| the very best market-he offers it to th
T 'rTimes." The sole survivor of the Kor
y dofan." telegraphed Fades to the manage
( of the Times" has been rescued by me
t | have her most important story in he
e own words 1t runs to about three col
n umns. If you will pay fifteen guineas
: column / will send it tonight by raiiwa!
parcel"
n In reply this answer came: Your term
o are accepted, if the narrative is authenti
and absolutely exclusive
" Fades redeemed his promise by catch
t ing the $50 train to Victoria, but he ha'
y IN write a thousand words an hour fo
six hours to do it.
e He had lust returned after getting hi
valuable parcel safely off, and was medi
e tating a rest, when Mrs. Day broke ii
s upon him Miss Courtenay. after sleepin,
d all day, had been taken alarmingly Ill
shes calling out for someone to kill tn
skipper" said Mrs. Day, ''and 1 am mos
n frightened out of my senses"
.Au right" replied Fades cheerfully
l. "iust chain up your wits for half an hour
! and l will send you in a doctor and
: nurse" And ne did so.
|. Now" observed this resolute seeke
II after rest, 81 will return to the placi
d contemplation of my holiday"
re Miss Courtenays illness was happily no
n serious. The long night of exposure, fol
> lowing upon days and nights of sleeples
lie anxiety, had for a short time got the bet
ter of her saltwater constitution. Sh
> was delirious for two days, helpless 10
@ | two more and then she resolutely aros