Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-07
copyriehs A. c. xcclurx 4 Co.. lsoa
CHAPTER x'.

CHAPTER M.
In Which I Explain to Her ladysh'p.
gazed directly into his bullying
eyes with depth OF contempt made
no slightest effort to disguise. Then
arose deliberately to my feet.
Anderson, pluck that knife out and
put 1t back In your belt"
I'm damned IT,"
do as say quick, you surly brute"
l interrupted, sternly. Not another
word. I'm in command here yet, and
you'll obey orders. or I'll make you"
He understood l meant it. with his
innate cowardice plainly apparent, yet
did not yield until futile interfered
with a sarcastic laugh.
THE captain isn't exactly the sort
to be handled in that kind O. way,
Bill he said, smoothly. Hes a
deep-water sailor, not land-shark,
but guess he's likely ready enough
by this time to say what he's willin'
to do"
The entire situation seemed to I'M
stood there, hastily making up my
mind for action. was afoat on the
high seas, absolutely powerless to re-
sist the set purpose of these men sur
rounding me. all rendered desperate
by greed Much as despised Anderson,
l comprehended that his threat was
no idle one; nor did possess single
comrade on board who would stand
at my back l was utterly alone; nay,
worse even than alone-with two
women dependent upon me. If I out
wardly agreed with these rascals, and
thus retained semblance Of command
over them. might possibly preserve
all our lives; could, at least for the
the present, protect the women from
insult. perhaps from danger.
well, Mr.. Tuttle," I said. quietly.
II may as well return you my an
swer one time as another. don't give
a tinker's damn for Anderson's
threats. and l don't altogether PUT
much faith in your yarn. But per-
haps it's worth taking a chance at.
What is to be my authority on board,
providing | agree to go with you"
You're the captain"
Absolutely in commando"
He shifted about, appearing trife
disconnected under my rapid ques-
tioning.
We'll, yes: in everything concernin'
the discipline an sailin' of the yacht"
he explained. There won't be no
fuss about that job, sir. But we amt
we're all here on shares in the enter
prise, an SO, as regards the purpose
of the voyage, It'll have to be decided
by majority vote. However, that don't
need make no trouble"
What is to be my share II you find
the treasured"
He thrust his head out of the win
dow nearest him, looking up and down
| the deck; then he leaned across the
| table toward me, lowering his voice
until it was little more than whisper.
you get one-fifth, sir; the four of
US here get one-fifth each; the other
fifth is to be divided among the crew.
ALL lQdL ldlF BIZ
at would appear so: yet there IL
still another matter Of some impor-
lance to be decided first There are
two women on board; how about
them?"
What" The vibrant excitement
Of his high pitched nasal voice was
echoed by the others.
This steam-yacht we have stolen
was the property Of the earl Of Oar
iington," explained. Lady Darling.
ton and her maid are still on board, in
the cabin aft"
This unexpected and undesirable in.
formation seemed fairly to stan the
fellows. their eyes meeting blankly.
heard Bill Anderson swear.
The question is, how can we best
dispose Of them? This is no excur
sion for ladies, no pleasure trip of an.
kind, we've started on. Shall we hal
some passing vessel and trans-ship
them, or shall we run in to Juan Fer
nandez and put them both safel,
ashore?"
None Of the three men ventured 4
glance toward me, and for lon
moment no answering voice spoke
Then futile gave oily utterance t
words of compromise.
Blame il this don't sort o knocl
me all out, sir" he acknowledged.
don't exactly cotton to either of thos
iaee. n9 yours. an ! de.'t know wha
} is best. / guess I'll have to talk
over with my mates here first, but 20
can tell them ladies that we'll get 'er
out somehow before We turn soutl
Anyhow. they don't need to worr
, none bout bein' ill-treated. Then
take 1t, sir, that you mean to sail wit
us?"
"There doesn't appear to be an!
thing else can do"
You're about right there. Wei
l let's shake hands on it,
did so. deliberately ignoring bot
: the others, and feeling my des
. witch when touched his dabby pain
, futile chewed savagely on the toba
! co in his cheek.
8 Damn the women!" he comments
in sudden anger. Better give tn
e crew their breakfast. Anderson. M
Stephens. I've sent Dade into tn
cabin to attend things aft. He
make q good hand at that sort
job"
We passed out together into Il
bright sunlight nm deck and I r