The Holly chieftain., 1902-08-29
cnAPrER VIII.
BARRIERS Burst Away.

Barriers Burst Away.
Merrick came to his senses with .
dim consciousness OF what had
passed, He found he. vas In state
room. thrust into . lower berth.
clothes and all.
His head has been slightly cut,
proving that It nad been cudgel OF
some sort through which his downfall
had been brought about.
Looking out of the small opening
he could see the many lights along
the shore that indicated Nice.
He tried the door.
OF course II was locked. but, a. he
had fully expected this. It gave him
no additional uneasiness.
The door was solid enough to resist
any ordinary attack. but Merrick's
quick eye detected one weak point
about 1.-THE brass hinges were on
the inside, a. the door swung inward
ly.
Given screw driver. and the Job
was one at which he could laugh.
He chose the thickest blade Of his
knife, and had removed one screw
when the steel snapped OF short,
- This seemed at first to prophesy
calamity, but upon Investigation he
discovered that the broken blade an
swered the end he had in view ad-
mirably, and after that the work pro-
ceeded rapidly.
And 70 the last screw gave way be-
fore the magic Of the broken blade.
Then Merrick set out upon tour of
investigation.
His hope lay in the chance Of .
boat dangling from the stern. which
he could quietly enter and cut loose,
~ b carried away upon ths tide,
still gently on the Aood.
That was what took him TO this
part Of the craft. and not desire 70
spy upon any of those who might
chance to be in the cabin.
At the same time. In passing near
the open skylights through which air
and hight were admitted into the sa-
loon, fashioned much after that Of :
sailing boat. what was more natural
|. than that he. should lean oyer to
glance downwardf
It was move that had 4 decided
bearing upon his destiny, for what he
saw gave him q tremendous shock.
while at the same time he felt a hand
laid roughly upon his arm and he was
jerked rudsly back 80
He was tust on the point Of opening
his batteries upon this unknown cap
tor. who still maintained his. rigid
clutch, whsu be was thrilled 10 hear
his own name whispered. s15s MI
It was Jones. no one else but the
ubiquitous and irrepressible Jones.
Mark reached around and seized the
hand that had held him 10 tightly.
seized 1t with burning zeal and proved
by his. forcible. pressure what he
thought Of Joneses in general, and
this one In particular-they were all
strumps.s { ~ s
s'Fm awful dad to see you" he
whispsred
"It1 Just grand luck I'm in-hard-
" got aboard before run ACROSS YOU"
came from the other. sottosvoce.
"Of course you have = boat?"
Close BY the stern. and held BY
Corsisan I've bought. body and soul.s"'
He made - though to urge Mesr-
rick IN the direction he indicated, but.
strange to say. the late prisoner, who
had erstwhils appeared 10 eager to
quit the steam yacht for the shore
that he would have exchanged his
Kingdom for stanch boat, now &c.
tually resisted this friendly pressure.
n. Hold on" he said.
why delay-it's dangerous, l tell
Jon, my boy" persisted the Yankee
eagerly.
Then you hsven.t looked9"
Well. I wanted to. but considered
the chances q being seem: cautiously.
Bother. Take just one peep. and
then tell me II you think It sdvisable
to leave here without making further
Investigation"
Something in Aerrick's mysterious
words aroused the others slumberinE
curiosity.
: What he saw seemed to astonish
him 20 much that he acted ~ though
paralyzed-indeed. Il was Mark who
now had to take hold of his arm and
drag tAe unwilling Jones back.
Jones gave . low Missing sound, In
tended for whistle-it was his meth.
od Of allowing the surplus steam 70
escape. and doubtless served y :
safety valve.
"JerusalemIn he sur~ied shn~,r~