Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-30
Cynthia-of -the-Minute
Coeyneht 1911 By Louis Joseph Vance
fcoaauuasacn OF Chapter xL)

a word: Listen"
He rolled. nearer. dropping the pitch
OF his voice Got a gum
Crittenden nodded.
"on your
no: in my statsroom-"
'sThatd help a Iot-woukdn't itg-h
you happened to need it now? G'wsn
and get it. before you look Aelklin up.
I'm heeled already"
Right" agreed crittenden. He ran
lightly down the steps. with quick
and comprehensive survey determined
that the dining saloon was deserted. an6
swung aft. into the darkling alleyway.
lighted BY a single lamp. on which
opened the once and sleeping quarters
OF the purser. the chief steward and
minor officers OF the ship.
Entering his room, Crfttenden shut
the door and shot the bolt TO provide
against observation or interruption,
then switched on the light. dropped to
his knees and pulled from beneath
the berth his cabin trunk
In the tray. hidden in a tangle or
shirts. collars. socks and ties, he
found the automatic pistol which in
stinct-and the coincidence OF catch
ing sight OF II in the money-lender's
shOw-window-had prompted him to
purchase out OF the proceeds OF the
hypothecation Of his cigarette-case.
the day before the Cynthia sailed.
As his fingers closed upon IL he was
conscious OF 3 feeling Of reinforced self
confidence: and he smiled a little
nervously. TO remember how he had
how he had hesitated and haggIed with
his conscience
Even though Rhode had overdrawn
their jeopardy land Crittenden in his
saner moments little doubted such 10
be the case; this was the Twentieth
Century not those days when bucca-
neers haunted those Bahaman waters
through which the Cynthia was forg
ingl-sven though Rhodes fears hOd-
hled his judgment. still IL was COM
forting TO know that one was armed.
equipped for defense And
even as he thought in this wise Crit
tenden heard a succession OF sounds
that left him scantily in doubt as TO
the soundness OF Rhodes most evil
apprehension
he heard FIRST cry. deep and
hoarse with anger though dulled by
distance and the Rnfractuous route il
Travelled to reach his ears: then noise
Ike that made by bringing two pIanks
smartly together; and finally a con-
fused noise OF voices and rough-and-
tumble scuffling: All. apparently, en-
anating from the upper deck. where
he had left Rhode. where Cynthia ami
Madame Savsran had their state
rooms
Alarmed. he closed his trunk. showed
Il hack beneath the berth. thrust the
pistol into his pocket jumped up and
ran out into the corridor. as he opened
his stateroom door hearing the noise
more distinctly, and. with an addition
20 its volume. the believing of a heavy
voice. Enthusiastically that OF the Red
Alan. a sustained gush OF wrath as in
coherent and mathematician as the
rearing Of an fll-tempered child.
Then. bursting headlong through the
swinging door at the end OF the pass
age. Crittenden pulled up in the middle
Of the dining saloon, watching with
amazed eyes the gradual downward
progress on the companionway Of an
apparently inextricably interentangled
mass OF arms. legs. heads and bodies.
belonging 70 a knot OF struggling men
-four or five Of them. at least, al
clinging tooth-and-nail to a common
center Of devoted interest. as II In
concerted effort TO smother and silence
the source II that incredible efflux Of
sound.
Through interstices in this coil OF
contention. glimpses Of Rhode were 20
be had-spots and splashes OF huge
red shape. squirting. heaving. quaK
Ing. a formless thing Of sanguinary
color. that wrought like a devil in
WIFI a forcible thud the writing
heap struck the landing. where the
steps from port and starboard united
20 a single flight down 20 the main
deck. and one OF the attacking party,
stunned by the impact OF his head
with a baiuster. relaxed and fell away.
Hfs handicap thus frightened. Rhode az
erted himself magnificently. Monen-
tarily the snarl Of struggling men was
aEitated as by a selsmal shock.
Crittenden. with pistol poised. but
fearing 70 fire. saw the Red Man uo-
heave. first gaining his knees. then
with a terrific effort his feet. shedding
the human bodies like garments. Men
seemed 10 fly from him as though
some singular phenomenon OF cehtrifu-
kaI force veritable eruption Of
limbs and torsos elouded the air about
him and subsidized. leaving Rhode mo-
mentarily free and erect
He stood so. collecting himself, for
a bare moment: an accent of triumph
emphasizing his uninterrupted below.
his great red face empurpled with ex-
ertion. eyes protruding like knots of
blue stone. huge limbs quivering so
that he seemed almost TO dance with
fury.
crfttendsu carried through life
rneAagl 9hotograph OF the scene. he
>lE%=aberet later the background OF
IA sse-er acnpsnionwsy: on the one
haE4 ~, waite shape OF Cynthia stand
ing al the head Of the steps. astare> IN
fascinated terror; on the other, two
figures. Perez watching calmly. Clarst
gathering himself together with the
concentrated intent OF an animal about
20 spring.
Presently he did spring. with neat
calculation launching himself from the
topnost step through the air TO land
on Rhodes head and shoulders.
WeTnigh before he had time TO re-
alike his fugitive moment OF ascenden-
cy. Rhode was stricken and carried OF
his feet, as by a blow OF sledge-
hammer. Claret on top. he went 20 the
bottom OF the steps in a manner as
iffelsss as that Of a log.
Then. while stfil confused by the alb
ruptness OF the attack-fOreseen by
Rhode as little as by nimself-and won
derinE how most wisely he might con-
duct himself for the good Of Madame
Eavaran and Cynthia. Crittenden heard
a light step in the passage behind him.
with the whine OF the swinging door.
Before he could move he was seized
from behind. one stout arm caught
him round the neck. its elbow crooked
N.,..tr hfe chin while the other shot