Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1908-03-16

| tern with her, but that seemed to
make no difference to Mr.. Collier. Bid
ding Seton stay at the foot OF the lad.
der, he went from one stateroom to
another He tried the doors, opened
most OF them without difficulty, salts
! fed himself by brief inspection OF
each that no one was within. until he
came'to the room in which the women
| had retired to rest. This door was
locked He felt for q key. There was
none there. He shook the door, beat
upon It with his fist, called out, but
there was no answer
They'll be there he said, "or per
| haps In the captains room which
should be aft"
lie turned to the door of the thwart.
ship bullhead and found il too was
| locked.
Wen go on deck, II you please,
! Sir Charles" said the officer, and
! interview the captain again"
They found Tuggles waiting by the
companion hatch. His curiosity had
drawn him to point whence he could
see and hear the expected explosion.
Captain, began the lieutenant, "all
| the cabins but two are unlocked. We
want the keys for those two.
q haven't got no keys answered
| the captain, curtly. IF they're locked
which two be they?"
! "One is the after cabin on the port
side; tho other is. ] take 1t, your own"
Ny own amt locked"
| Il beg your pardon, I've just tried
| the door You can go below and see
| Cor yourself Perhaps you'd better
bring us a light"
| Captain Tugales would have let
| them grope in the darkness forever
had II not been for the complication
of his own locked door
! light was brought from the galley
| by the cabin boy and the three went
below again. Captain Tuggles plunged
| TO the door OF his own cabin, turned
the handle confidently. Sure enough
| 1t was locked.
You seeg" said Mr. Collier.
Il see, but don't understand" said
the captain. Those two females went
into this cabin. | showed them In
! there myself"
He pointed to the locked door.
"And that's locked, too. Now, cap
| tain, we are determined to get in
| those two cabins and we don't want
| to do any unnecessary damage to your
ship. Have you a carpenter on
| board?'
! Yes growled the captain
"Then you'd better send for him, for
| IL you don't, | shall be under the pain
| full necessity of blowing open the
| locks
| The captain ran up the ladder and
| babe the second mate--both mates
had been on deck during the episode
send the carpenter aft with some
| tools for forcing locks. Presently a
| grizzlcd old veteran presented himself
| in the cabin and by Captain Tugglcs'
/ direction soon forced the lock of the
| stateroom Taking a lantern Seton
! went into the room which had been oc-
| cupied by the young women. 1t was
| empty Both hunks had been slept in,
| however. and on the floor lay Ellen's
sword, belt and pistols where she had
| left them.
They were here that's certain,
| he said. turning to Mr. Collier.
They've probably gone into the
captain's cabin
What for. wonder" growled the
American
"Well soon see,' returned Collier.
| "Have the carpenter open that door
| also"
After fumbling few moments the
carpenter forced open the last door.
! Again Seton entered, followed by the
| other two. There was no one there.
The captains eye was attracted by
the open stern window. He started.
| opened his mouth to say something,
! thought better upon 1t and stopped.
But there we're two pairs of eyes in
the cabin just as sharp as those OF
worthy Master Tuggles. One pair be-
longed TO the sailor. Collier, too,
noticed The open stern window and he
at once pointed II out to Seton.
II see it all now he said. Some
thing must have alarmed them They
left their own cabin, locked ii to keep
us busy and give themselves time,
came In here and went overheard
through the stern window"
Overheard into what?D cried Sir
Charles in dismay. You don't think
they've committed suicide?"
Collier lauphed
Certainly not. Didn't you notice
just before dark when we were over
hauling the ship that she had small
boat trailing astern. It's pounds TO
pennies chat they've gone In that.
Here. wait; III find out"
IIe wriggled out, Of the window
himself. dropped down the Jacobs
ladder and peered anxiously aft There
was mo sign OF boat II was dark
and he couldn't see very well, bat he
could see enough to know that from
whatever cause, the beat that Had
been dragging asterr was gene,
You've lost them again, Sir