Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-06
-the-Minute
CooyrigA 1871 By Louis Joseph VonOc


darkness and captivity II all
/ worked upon me. unnerving me for the
moment. I was a little afraid.
You can DO something" she added with
an uncomfortable shive-, which, ohw-
ever. he did not suspect. since he no
LONGER retained her hand. You can tell
me what Il an mesns-lift q little OF
the black mystery, Bruce-reassure me,
n you can. 80 ~
steady Ee cautioned her. ions
minute more.
IN deck. just outside the port, foot-
steps were sounding. and voices IN
guarded exultstiqn. some one laughed
slyly.
Crittendeh cast furtive glance
through the opening The light in the
Cuished. Near the foot or the com
panion ladder two men were pausipg
evidently having Just reached that
SPOT Thurlow's shspely head was vis-
IDLE. dark against the sea Of stars.
Thank God. that's over, he said
distinctly. II didn't like the job, but
it's not a bad one, now that It's done
with" -'
The face OF The other showed a flash
OF fine teeth. Excellent" agreed Perez
with his compiacent chuclle. After YOU
senior" ..a
NO: you drst." Thurlow stood aside,
politely.
with little formal bow Perez ran up
the ladder, the wireless operator fol-
lowing.
Crittonden drew a long breath Of re-
lief. grateful for the evidence that Meth
er man had overheard the girls nervous
breakdown. Seemingly the story was not
vet common TO the company on the ship
n Tt-gq
still possible on the face OF the situa-
ton. TO save it by smuggling Cynthia
back to her cabin and giving Claret the
lie direct, If he dared attempt to re-
tail his gossip.
If only Acklin o..
Crittenden was thunderstruck TO think
that they had agreed on no signal. He
had all the while subconsciously been an
ticipating something's tap, a heavy
stamp on the deck, a whistle-any thing
to apprise him that Acklin was ready TO
lower the screwdriver in front OF the
starbOard port; without pausing to re-
fleet that any such proceeding would be
incautious to an extreme and that Ack-
lin probably counted on Crittenden him.
self being on the alert.
Cursing himself TO himself, he turned
hastily to the opening in the side. neel-
ing on the berth, he looked out. then crust
a hand through and clutched the op@ect
that had been hanging there-Hes~ IN
knew how long-dangling from the end
of a cord secured to the upper railing.
a single quick jerk broke the fastening
Crittenden gave over berating himself
and .breathed a prayer of thanksgiving
for the screwdriver I'm his grasp.
AT lastr' he cried. triumphant, turn
ing back into the stateroom and cross
ing to the door. i've got it at last!
In five minutes, now"
But Cynthia gave him pause, as he
stopped to kneel and examine the lock
anew. Can't you make IT Six?" she
begged in a broken voice. Give me one
minute to comfort me, to satisfy my Gu
riosity. 10 make me understand"
I'm sorry,'' he returned gravely. II
am thinking only of your good. even II
apparently .orgetful"
Then tell me -
at is nothing wonderful" he said
hastily. with disdain for the subject in
his tone; "a cheap and commonplace
swindling game. in the final analysis
You remember l told you, the first day
out, l had suspected an attempt to sink
the vessel for her insurance, and had
rejected the suspicion as unlikely be-
cause OF the quantity and value of her
cargo?'
Of what he said. thinking only to keep
him there little longer. to lose him
no sooner than she must.
We'll, then, it turns out my first
guess was right. after all-according
20 Rhode" Crittenden continued, think
ing only to have done and make an end
Of this equlvocal complication. Perez
proposed the plot. Savsran (madames
husband) and Rhode entered into il
willingly. each putting up all his avail
able capital Perez took a half share.
il appears. therefore has the most
voice. Savaran and Rhode shared the
other half. Savarans interest being the
lesser. They bought this vessel, con-
denned by its former owners, for a
song, paying part cash down; tricked
half a dozen marine insurance concerns.
including Lloyds, of London, into con-
tinuing as her underwriters--but at d
pretty stiff premium. 1 guess; assem-
hled the richest cargo they could come
by, partly on credit, partly on consign-
ment, and insured that UP to the hilt.
DO you follow me?"
Yes" said Cynthia softly.
$50 now the plan is this: legally the
Cynthia passed out of existence just
now. when the news Of her sinking was
sent out by wireless. In another day
or two she is TO be sunk in actuality
In the meantime we are making for a
little, isolate, desolate cay on the south
ern boundary of the Bahamas: Coffin
Cay. so called. There we're to make
junction with this tramp steamship
Thurlow just named, the Orion; in that
seclusion-the waters are travelled
only by ignorant sponge fishermen-the