The Washington times., 1909-09-03
SAILING IN CIRCLES

room in order to get away from the
taunts of the two foreigners
He lost the drift OF their converse
ton from sheer WEAKNESS and lay
thinking blaukly until a remark louder
than the others was registered on his
ears.
Of electrical stuff in hts trunk when he
was searching for the captains watch,
said HiCke.
YES. He did. I wonder what he's
going TO use it for?'' answered the
lte ian.
Hes planning something, you can
bet on that" was HiCke's reply.
Eben started at this remark Evident
~ it was to mean more trouble for him.
He could not understand Just how, but
a premOnition possessed him that the
two men were going 10 cause him more
trouble In some way or other.
'The guard said the stuff he had in
the trunk had suspicious look went
on Hicke.
ibid he tell the captain about HIS
find?" asked the italian.
mo, / believe not
Eben felt that this conversation was
intended for his ears. but both the men
disrCEarded him utterly and went about
undressing and talking as though lie
were not in the room.
Suddenly Nash heard q low voice,
which he somehow felt was not intended
for his ears. It was Hicke speaking,
and Eben caught only the last words
Of his sentence;
60 says they expect fog tomorrow"
At that momernt a duivering blast
blew from somewhere above and the
tone vibrated through their stateroOm.
els that it2" cried PtCketZO. in
surprised voice. which made Eben rise
to one arm and peer down on his
roOmmates preparing for bed.
They were so absorbed with the
sound that both seemed to forget
. .'Tbat's iii The fog hornr' cried
Hicke. Earlier than we expected.
But so much che better"
1T means rapid work for US" said
yes. The cog horn. That's the
Another bias, was blown on the
"Goodl There st goes again. cried
Hicke, seeming to be beside himself
with delight.
"The fog must be thick. II blows
so often" commented the Italian.
"The thicker the better" said Hicke
At that moment he glanced Up and
saw Eben looking down upon them
with curious eyes.
"ShhhP cried Hlcke, sitting an ex-
clamatiOn on the Italians past. "Our
criminal friend is listening"
He approached Eben'5 bunk with a
mean look in his narrow eyes
Did you hear2" he demanded.
Hear what?" cried Eben.
yes. Hear what? Listen to him.
on know WnaL j meant do YOU
hear what we were talking about just
now2"
Il surely did," replied Nash
Then you'll suffer for it, Under
stand? If you breathe a word Of what
you heard IL viii be bad for YOU You're
sick and can't put UP much Of a re-
sistance. I say. II you repeat a word
. OF what you heard there'u be a slight
splash in the ocean and all will be over
That light spash will be you. They
can't save men that fan overheard,
especially in a fog. Moreover. they
mighS think you committed suicide from
| seasicAness. 1t has been done before
now"
IN Eben's weak condition the surprise
| OF these threats caused him TO break
/ out into cold perspiratiOn.
| Did you hear me2' beloved Hicke.
! annoyed by Eben's silence. IF you
| speak a word Of what you overheard
| Just now, by heavens! I'll.
Picketzo clapped heavy hand over
| Hicke's mouth at that moment and
shut off the remainder OF the sentence.
/ At just that moment the stateroom
! door opened and Mr.. Bonner walked IN,
/ with the surprised question:
! wei, what's the matter here %
| The Continuation of This story VIII
Be Found In TOmOrrOYy's
Issue of The Tines.