The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-05-06
CHAPTER XII
(Cnpfip,rodl

III not be bounced by every
longshore scallywag. that chooses
to face me out with laundering
lies" he shouted "On board my
own ship, too. British government
be hanged! What have l to do with
it IN mid-Atlantic, and with sol
fathoms of blue water under my
keel? Besides, it's what you say.
How are We to know it's true? You
admitted you were sailing under
false colors. What's your real
name?"
That moment had intended to
tell him everything. but now did
not trust his discretion.
you shall know all in good time,
when it suits me. Meanwhile, hold
you responsible"
You're worse than a sea lawyer,
lacking and veering all round the
compass. Answer my question. Did
you steal those papers?"
What papers? Whose?"
"The dukes, larry Grada's, you
know. You were seen near his
stateroom."
That's untrue, for I never went
there, and don't know where it is.
But as for the papers-well, yes, I
have them here" l touched my
pocket, land l mean to keep them"
The skipper all but bounded from
his chair
II think you must be stark, star
ing mad; raging lunatic, no less.
7 ,hnh %O al tvN C
and send you down for safety to
Sand alley. HAM them over now, in
brace of shakes, or I'll"
He rose menacingly.
keep your distance. Don't lay
a finger on me and don't touch
those papers. No one must see
them. They belong to the British
government"
"Then how came they in the pos
session of this duke? Try another"
"He acquired them wrongly, and
will have to answer for that-and
other things-he and those with
him.
Including that millionaire youth,
suppose, Cap Wood, who seems
even more upset tat this robbery
your robbery"
could contain myself no
| longer
He is not Capt. Wool. He is an
impostor. l am Capt. Wood, Mr..
MFaught's heir"
The skipper here burst into an
| uproarious fit of laughter, which
the apurser echoed heartily.
by the everlasting lingo, this is
| too much. Quartermaster!" cried
the captain, and my friend ran in.
Call in couple of hands with a
ropes end and seize this chap
down. It's not safe to let him
range about the ship loose. But,
first of all, hoist those papers out
of him. They're in the inner
pocket"
Before they could touch me
made one step to the open portfolio
and with a quick movement threw
the parcel out into the sea.
The captain. in a rage, ordered
me imprisoned in spare cabin.
Il protest." | cried, land, as I
have already said, will hold you re-
sponsible. You will be sorry"
| At this moment an urgent mes
sage came down to the captain
from the bridge. The officer of the
watch reported that a large steam
err that had been overhauling the
Chattahoochee for the last few
hours was now within signaling
distance.
Signals she wants to speak us,
sir" said the fourth officer, who
! brought the message. Cant make
out her number, but she's a new
cruiser, British; and Mr.. Aston
says she must be steaming %
knots an hour"
She's after those papers, Capt.
Sherborne, unless I'm much mis-
| taken" | put in. with little laugh
of satisfaction. Perhaps there will
| be someone on board who knows
me-"
an settle with you later, my fine
fellow, and handsomely. You shan't
bluff me-"
eff l might suggest, Capt. Sher-
borne, your place is on your bridge.
don't presume to teach you your
duty, but a man is apt to forget it
when he loses his temper and his
self control. We can square our lit
tie matter later"
| could see fresh rage gathering
in his face at my words, but he re-
strained himself, and, with no more
than a parting oath and an order
to cast me loose, he floundered out
of the cabin.
| went on deck without further
let or hindrance, and took my sta
ton by the fore companion.
The Victrix lay half a mile off,
and her boat, looking like cookie
she'll compared to her great bulk
as Il left her side, came bravely
along, lifted over the long Atlantic
swell by the well-cadenced stroke
of IS oars. In the stern was group
of three, and as they got within
range of my glasses | saw that one
was a naval officer, no doubt in
command of the boat. aud two 9TH
err persons in plain clothes.
One was my colleague In the in
telligence office, Swete Thornhill;
the other-yes, there was no mis-
taking that rosy visage-the other
was Snuyzer, the detective.
| decided then aad there what |
should do. saw that it was posi-
BILE by acting promptly, to tell