Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-27
SX Fighting for IBIS Own SY

present occasion, but was considering in what
manner could make my escape from the
clutches of the consprators. AS looked the
cabin over | saw heavy stick secured by a
leather loop TO the mizzen mast supposed
IT was used for raising the skylights by which
the apartment was lighted. 1t was painted
and ornamented, and | concluded that it must
be made Of hard wood
While | was looking at it, and arranging in
my mind how l could get hold of it at the
right moment, Pallingrove opened the door of
state room near the stern of the vessel 1t
was lighted, and | could see that 1t was fitted
up with the same richness as the cabin.
his will be your room, my dear Gay. If
you don't wish to go into it at present.. come
aud take look at the inside of it, said the
spy, with his most cheerful smile.
lhank you; can see what il is, and moth
ing better could be desired | suppose there
Is lock on the door" replied.
Certainly there Is a lock on the door. How
else could a guest secure his own privacy |?
Come and look into the room"
NO, L thank you. You can inform Sir
John Dorgan that | am entirely satisfied with
my room, and he need give himself no uneasi-
ness on my account"
You must excuse me, my dear Gay, but I
must be on deck when the owner comes on
board, and shall have to insist that you take
possession of your state ROOM"
I on must excuse me, my dear Palllngrove,
If l decline to do So" / answered, rising from
my seat on the divan, and walking toward
the mizzen mast "But beg you will not dis
turb yourself on my account l will make my
self at home here while you are on deck"
think you forget, sir, that you are a
prisoner. ] really think / am wasting polite
ness upon you" responded Palingrove, nettled
by my replies.
81 think you are, and | don't appreciate
your politeness," l retorted, tired of soft
words when l actually hated the ruf6an before
me.
You will forgive me, then, if l insist upon
your entering your state room"
Il forgive YOU, but 1 won't do it," I re-
piled, coolly.
Then | shall be obliged to use force"
With these words he came toward me.
snatched the stick from the loop, and retreat
ed to the other side of the cabin, in the hope
that Pallingrove would not persist in using
force.
Pallingrove seemed to be a little startled
when he saw me seize the heavy stick, and
he paused for a moment
He evidently believed he could handle a
boy like me, though / had before given him
some evidence that L was not without both
pluck and muscle He came toward me again,
and brought down the stick, which weighed
enough to be of solid oak, upon his head
devoted all my strength to the blow, and
he dropped motionless upon the floor of the
cabin.
Grasping his form by the shoulders, I drag
ged it into the state room assigned to me, and
closed and locked the door. / put the key
into my pocket.
But l had not yet regained my freedom.
though | had struck down my most active
enemy. l was still prisoner on board of the
Olivia
l moved toward the companonway at the
forward part of the cabin. l listened at the
foot OF the stairs for a moment, and decided
to walk boldly on deck. If no one noticed
me, l would drop into the water and swim
ashore, if l could not get possession of one of
the boats at the swinging boom
was about to do so when Sir Morgan Cav
worthy, descended the stairs. He saw me, and
still in my hand.