Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-02-23
CHAPTER Y.

-.
A heavy fog had fallen during the
night and the vessel, with deafening
shrieks of the fcghorn, was cropping
her way as slowly as great raft. A
delay of not less than II 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
lie was hailed by an anxious voyager.
How long is this going to last, real
Typ" 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-
fed her natural dread of dangers at
sea.
YES, bad weather is exactly what
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 il.
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 a little
excited, but 1 think she will soon be
asleep" and she closed the door as he
walked away.
That was 4 splendid reply" said
Mrs. Goddard, spprovingly. 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 il all now. 1t
depends on you. II they press you
too hard for explanations, go into hys-
terics. You surely can do that"
Il presume can; but oh, my Lordi"
Don't begin that; we are here for
battle. Do you remember every de-
tail now?"
AS If they made up my whole life
and my life depended on my knowing
them"
well, think you'll do. Don't for
get to yell at the top of your lungs,
and IL they should want to open the
closet don't let them do It, il you
have to knock somebody down."
~In prevent it II 1 can. It would
be awful for US to be caught In this.
We must carry Il through"
"Be sure there 10 no one looking
when-when 1 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. s.It's
az dark a Erebus out there" abe
said. uI
Then they sat down and remained
silent till the bells atruck 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-soI" And Mrs. Goddard raped
on the door OF the closet with her
knuck,es.
az understand" said Mrs. Nolan.
firmly. ''Now get In and let's have
it over with"
'You needn't look 40 excited, Z"
smiied Mrs. Goddard, az she sat down
on the stool In the closet and drew
her skirts round her ankles.
Il am not any more 20 than you
are" retorted Mrs. Nolan. ave seen
you in . good many tight places, and
I have never seen just such q funny
look about your mouth" -,
Mrs, Goddard made q failure Of hes
next smile.
"I actually feel e. II I were being
buried alive; ughl Shut me In and
act your part a. II your salvation de-
pended on It."
Mrs. Nolan made NO response as she
shut the door; abe seemed to have
lost her voice. She turned the kew.
drew 1t from the lock. and put It into
her pocket As, she did 30 her fingers
touched itA duplicate. This gave her
an idea, and she raped on the closest
door and then opened 1t.
~Well2" inquired the prisoner, with
q white, startled stare.
II 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 6x. This morning 1 found
that the door could be opened from
the inside"
Lucy, you are sharper than am;
never would have thought of that"
The ship rose on q great swell and
rolled far over on its side. throwing
Mrs, Nolan into the closet. She
braced herself against the wall and
held on to the swinging door till
she ship had righted itself. Il
Don't lose any more time" said
Mrs. Goddard. ''Wait until we 90 over
on one OF those Swslls and then give
the alaYm," 71
Mrs. Nolan locked the closet again
and then went to the outer door and
opened itG A fierce wind blew upon
her and binding cloud of spray