The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-13

y
ana.loWti Insist Upon some rnoNledgo
sofsyour plan and On explanation re.
sglrdlng my future authority ON board
.oh, you are the captain ! sneering:
] III. What more can you vant!ss
Then; ~ i an, We will head direct:
I ~ back to Valparaiso. - y + I.
Oh, j rather guess not; and Tut
ties eyes became instantly hard and
ugly. Nevertheless you're. captain all
right, Just SO long as you keep the
nose Of the old Girl pointed the way
we want her to 60"
THAT Is It. is it'" ~ Il
Yes, that's exactly the ticket"
1turned partially aside, glanclng to-
ward the wheelman. The fellow was
leaning forward over the spokes, evi.
IDENTIFY deeply interested in our contro;
versy and endeayoring 10 hear all we
had to say. futile followed the direc-
tion OF my eyes. but with apparent In.
! difference.
"oh. they all understand about IT,"
he remarked, carelessly. "And now ]
guess maybe It's about time we gave
you the main points to chew on. Ifyoull
step down Into the chartbouse. Mr.:
Stephens, I'll fetch some things I
want TO show you. an be along myself
In lily. Then I'll spin yarn thatll
cause you TO come with us wlllin'
enough. or else you're dam fool"
There was nothing else to do, and
followed him down the bridge steps
to the main deck. The charthouse
had Its single door opening aft, and
was a small, plainly built structure
painted a dingy gray, with two narrow
windows on either side, and Just
enough space within to contain a
deal table, locker. and three rude
benches sat down upon one Of
these. filled and lighted my pipe and
waited In silence, gazing Idly at the
chart pinned fiat on the table. II wac
q map OF these waters lying of the
Chilean coast. and a vessels course
had been prlcked upon 1t from Juan
Fernandez to Valparaiso. This did
not particularly interest me, and my
thought drifted naturally 10 the WON.
an impatlently awaiting my return In
the cabin. What q distressing sltua.
tion for one OF Lady Darllngton's birth
and refinement! And yet with what
dignity OF manner had she met the
unexpected! II was plain 10 be seen
that hers was heart OF courage, not
easily broken under adversely.
And how could hope to serve her?
What would this crew OF hel.hounds,
these merciless sea.wolves, permit me
to do? Trans.ship them upon some
passing vessel? Put into some iso
lated Island port? This was scarcely
likely. for either act would involve
the danger OF an exposure they would
be little inclined to assume. ! com.
pretended already that It would be
according TO their decision, and not
mine. had been plainly Informed
how little my control extended over
their desires. And whittier were we
bound? Into what strange seas? Into
whatNspecles OF wild adventure? The
utter impossibllity of keeping those
two concealed below for any length OF
time was clearly evident. Ship life was
far too restricted. Both futile and
De Nova would naturally expect to
lodge aft, and II was q privilege they
could not easily be denied. Yet what
would they say, how would they act,
when they finally discovered these two
unwilling passengers aboard? What
was my duty In all the circumstances?
1t was all deep. unsolvable mystery,
yet out Of It's mist constantly Roated
the appealing face Of that woman
awaiting me below. could not desert
her. could not consider anything
except how might best serve her In.
terests. best protect her from the con.
taminaticn OF this hell afoat. p
Three shadows suddenly darkened
the doorway, and futile. accompanied
by Do Nova and the big seaman named
Bill Anderson, entered. The second
officer nodded to ME in genial fash.
Ion, his white teeth cleaning, but
Anderson slouched surlily past and
dropped heavily on bench, his coarse
bulldog features devoid Of all express
sion, his square jaws munching the
tobacco In his check. ! took notice Of
ht, aroo orinp straight mt OF the