Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20

movement on the part Of the enemy, who
occupied position in the opposite gangway.
Moving aft, they discovered the entire party
OF Klcketts on the point of descending the
after companion stairs AS the men filed be-
low, all of Lofty's followers gathered about
him."
This is our chancen exclaimed the rum
away commander excitedly. Now we can
manage 1T without fight. Secure that batch!"
Two OF the mutineers sprang to obey. One
OF the Detwiler brothers marched in the rear
OF RICKETTS, party. The minute he disappeared
IN the ward room the hatch was clappeH on
and secured
Now the engine room door!" said Lofty.
Then we'll have them penned up in the after
part of the boat. Lively, before they discover
what we're up to!"
The engine room door was securely closed,
as the alter companion had been. and Ricketts,
and MS four companions were all fairly trap
| ped. Gamble, having gone below with the
others. was also shut off from interference at
the engine, and Brophy was correspondingly
jubilant.
Lofty was astonished at the ease with which
the capture" had been effected He listened
several minutes for some disturbing sound
from below, which should apprise him that
kicketts had discovered the trick that had
been played and was making an effort to gain
the deck again
/ No such demonstration made itself manifest,
and ne hurried forward to apprise his Heuten-
ant at the wheel of what he had accomplished
fight" said MCPHERSON. aThe next &c thing to
do is to get rid of the rascals entirely"
We got that all planned out" Lofty de-
cared lie was anxious now to go ahead with
lout any suggestions from his subordinate, for
he could not but feel that his authority and
leadership had been for some time at low
ebb I'm going to let them find out that
they are prisoners, and give them a chance to
try their hands at freeing themselves. Well
come about and return to Petoskey and hand
them over to the authorities. There's no ques.
tion IN my mind that they have been up to
some rascality there-a burglary. or some
| thing of the Sort
Chats it, exactly!" agreed Mcpherson. 1T
have had time to think the matter over, and
believe know what they have been doing"
Before Mcpherson could go on to tell what
| h. believed Ricketts, and his gang had been up
to, one Of the lesser mutineers appeared be-
fore the pilot house door and saluted.
MIR. Even directs me to report to you that
Ricketts, and his men are engaged in an ear
nest consultation in the ward room." said the
mutineer, his salute having been recognized.
''They have just begun counting over big
pile of money"
THAT money came from the Petoskey saw
ings bank" assured McPherson confidently.
"Our friends, the enemy. are bank robbers;
nothing less"
Lofty nodded acauiescence to this deduc-
tion.
"The threat of handing them over to the
officers will bring the robbers to terms" he
said. "We1 soon be rid of them now. Pll
give them half an hour to finish counting their
spoils and to find out that they are prisoners.
Then I'll give them their option of going over
the side into the quarter-boat, or going back
to the village. have no doubt that we can
bluff them into submission"
Mcpherson thought So too but in this, as
in two or three other essential points that had
arisen during the past twelve hours, the mu-
tineers reckoned amiss as we soon shall see.
Ito Be Continued)