Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-04-08

you the main points TO chew on. IsyouIi
step down into the charthouse. Mr..
Stephens. I'll fetch some things I
want 10 show you. an be along myself
In jiffy. Then I'll spin a yarn that'll
cause you to come with US willin'
enough. or else you're a 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 small. plainly built structure
painted 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 urol one OF
ihese. filled and lighted my pipe and
waited I'm silence. gazing idly az the
chart pinned fiat on the table. II was
map Of these waters hing OFF the
Chilean coast and a vessels course
had been pr.cked upon II from Juan
Fernandez to VALPARAISO This did
not particularly interest ne. and my
! though: drifted naturally 20 the wom-
an impatiently awaiting my return in
the cabin. What a distressing situa.
ton for one OF Lady Darlingtons birth
and refinement And yet with what
dignity of manner had she met the
unexpected II was plain TO be seen
that hers was a heart OF courage. not
easily broken under adversely.
And how could hope TO serve her :
What would this crew OF hell.hounds.
these merciless sea.wolves. permit me
| 20 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 IL would be
according 20 their decision. and not
mine. | had been plainly informed
how little my control extended over
their dc sires. And whittier were we
bound Into what strange seas, Into
what species Of wild adventure, The
utter impossibility OF keeping those
two concealed below for any length O,
time was clearly evident. Ship life was
FAR too restricted. Both futile and
DE Nova would naturally expect to
lodge aft. and II was a 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
II was all a deep. unsolvable mystery
yet out of its mist constantly dsatsl
the appealing face OF that woman
awaiting me below. could net desert
her. could not consider anything
except how I might best serve her IN
terests. best protect her from the cor.
taminstion Of this hell aAoat.
Three shadows suddenly darkensd
the doorway. and futile. accompanied
~ De Nova and the big seaman named
Bill Anderson. entered. The second
officer nodded 70 ne In genial fasA'
ion. ms white teeth cleaning. ou
Anderson slouched surlily past an
dropped heavily on beach, his coar''
bulldog features de, Old OF all exprci
sion, his square jaws munohins IN
tobacco In his cheek. took notice o
his eyes. staring straight out OF IN
window opposite. dull. dog like, teepi
sunken under matched brows, his ski
like brown leather drawn tight. hi
short red neck. and gnarled hands. A
together he appeared repulsiv
brute. no more easily subdued than
Jungle tiger. futile sidled along Z
the opposite side Of the table. upo
which he placed a tightly rolled. 70
lowish- backed paper. evidently a nav
eating chart. As | watched him cur
ously. he suddenly pressed the poin
OF his thumb down upon the paper.
There's our Arst port. Mr.. Stepf
ems" be announced dogmatically
There. where you see that red cross.
bent over. startled cut Of all a
sumed indifference as | studied IN