The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-04
CHAPTER XVIII.
A DEATH WARRANT-OR
WORSE?


Captain Belcher's horrible words
mleft me rooted to the spot, so
charged were they with hideous
meaning. Who was the other pas
senger expected to join the ship on
the morrow? What was it that
was to settle" with him? Natur-
ally my fears reverted to Roger
Marske, and the prospect of being
again at his mercy was appalling.
But still more so was Belcher's
concluding sentence: After that |
come in A whole world of terrible
possibilities was wrapped up in
that simple phrase.
was consumed with an over
whelming desire to know the worst,
and that could only be done by
somehow obtaining sight of the
paper in Captain Belcher's pocket.
The perusal of it seemed to have
created a demand for his favorite
stimulant, for Antonio was climbing
the bridge ladder with the black
bottle and glass. The spectacle in
spired me with an idea. If only the
captain would get incapably drunk.
l might achieve my purpose in time
to be prepared for what was COM
ing on the morrow.
For the present, in spite of his
potations, Captain Belcher was
very far from being incapable. He
had taken the wheel himself, and
his dirty fingers clutched. the
spokes and twirled 1t with no UNI
certain grasp. Gradually the
steamer edged nearer and nearer
to the Sussex shore, and, passing
close to !Selsea Bill, bore round
toward Hayling island and the mar
) row entrance to the series of lonely
creeks that is dignified with the in
appropriate name of Chichester
harbor. had once spent sum-
mer holiday sketching at that art
lists paradise, Bosnian, and knew
the locality well.+Sy
In the gatherts dusk the Night.
shade slipped into the opening, and,
with a man taking soundings every
minute, threaded her way through
several winding creeks till the
shores on either hand hemmed us
in without sign of an outlet. We
seemed to be steanling in the mid
die Of cornfield ripening for the
sickle. Occasionally we Rugged the
land so close that the trees nearly
brushed our masts, and then, sud-
denly, we came to broader water
and cast anchor In a sort of lagoon
opposite a ruined custom house,
long since disused. l had a picture
of it somewhere, painted in happier
days.
Save for the Nightshade. that
bend of the creek was devoid OF
craft Of any kind. 1t was very sell
dom that steamer enters those
landlocked labyrinthine waters, and
the few sailing coasters that pass
through them seek anchorage still
further inland, at BOSNIAN or Chi
chester. A more secluded spot for
a vessel bound on a nefarious en-.
terprise to await mysterious pas
senger, could not have been found
in the British isles. Out of sight of
all ocean traffic, and even invisible
from the beats of coastguards, the
steamer would have no prying eyes
TO observe her.
When the ship had swung to her
anchor on the fast ebbing tide,
Captain Belcher came down from
the bridge, and his appearance on
deck was the signal for me to beat
hasty retreat below. His condi-
ton by this time precluded all pos
sibility of my sitting down to an
other meal with him in the cuddy,
and, darting through 1t into my
own cabin. shut the door and set
my foot against it. In a few min
utes my heart was set humping by
Relcher's voice outside.
Come out, missy. and have some
grub" he shouted.
THANK you. do not need any.
thing. have bad headache and
wish to lie down." replied,
THAT be id for a yarn. May
as well be civil first as last. Come
on out. or III open the door and
fetch YOU" beloved the captain.
Then | shot bow Mt n venture,
hating myself the while for invok.
Ing the MD OF that unknown ex.
pected passenger, who might be
bringing greater terror upon me
that this blatant ruffiau welded
"The person mentioned In Sir Gid
con Marshes instructions will
know BiNw to deal with you If you
attempt any such outrage made
answer, clenching my hands to
keep the tremolo from my voice.
Whether succeeded In that OIL
not. the hint was effective Ter the