The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-08
CHAPTER XIV.
A Triumph and a Defeat.

- HERE was a chronometer in her
cabin which Susan kept carefully
i regulated by that belonging TO
the ship. AS the hands ap-
preached the hour Of 2 O'Clock in the
morning she arose and made her final
preparations.
For the first time since she had met
Mornington she was dressed in mans
attire. She had bIushed and sh.vered
with shame as she put it on, ana her
changed emotions well typifed the great
transition through which she had
passed, but she rightly judged that
skirts would hamper her in what she
proposed TO do.
The mates note had allowed her five
minutes That would be ample. she
thought, and she resolved not 10 begin
until the bell struck l. She stood, there
fore, at the door Of her stateroom, hold
ING it slightly ajar, waiting until the
Two couplets came family to her ear in
The night Then she slowly opened the
door and entered the cabin.
There was light burning dimly in
the cabin, but II was so placed against
the forward bulkhead as not 10 throw
any rays into the sIateroOm she was
about to enter. A step brought her TO
the door of the starerOOm occupied by
MCrnington. She had il her hand a
stout piece of Whaleline, with which she
intended 10 try 10 lash the door in case
She should find II locked. During the
first watch, while the lieutenant was
on deck and Mr.. MeTyfeld was asleep
in his room, she had taken the preCau-
ton to oil the hinges and locks, so that
The opening OF the door would give no
warning She knew that NUTningtOu,
like most sailors, was a light sleeper.
With her ear against the door. she
thought she could make out the sound
OF his deep and regular breathing, but
she was by no means certain. She
turned the handle softly, and with an
exquisite delicaCy Of touch she opened
the door a few inches and listened
again. This time she was sure she could
hear his breathing.
To her great relief he was sleeping
soundly. She reached her hand around
the side Of the door. and there was the
key in the lock To withdraw 1t was
the work Of an instant So far she had
been brilliantly successful Nothing re-
manned now but to close the door and
turn the key. A man would have done
that without hesitation, but, for all heI
clothes, she was not a man With the
key in her hand. she opened the door
farther and peered In.
II was doubIy foolish, because she
could see nothing except the dim out
liens Of a figure in the berth, and If the
sleeper had Glanced 70 wake everything
would have been discovered His good
angel must have been sleeping also. for
he did not awake.
Full of disappointment that she had
not seen him, she carefully closed the
door, inserted the key and turned II IN
the lock. There was a distinctly audibl-
click as the bolt shot TO- Again SIZE
waited a moment. her heart in her
mouth, TO learn II he had heard the
sound. although, now that the door had
been locked, II would be impossible for
him to break It down in time to be OF
much service.
OF course, II his pistols had been II
order, he could have blown the lock e
pieces but she had reasoned that II
would take few moments for him tC
discover what was happening, a few
moments more TO find the door, some
time to get his pistols and discover that
they were unloaded, and stiu more time
to light his lantern and charge them
again.
BY the time that was done the at
tempt would have succeeded or failed
and he might do what he would in
either event so far as she was con-
cerned. He did not wake up, however
his continued breathing assured her OF
that
Laying the key down on the transom
she opened the outer door and stepped
out on the quarterback. A halt-gale
OF wind was blowing, a fine rain was
falling, and IL was as black as pitch
She had not made a sound in opening