The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-26

(
Are you aware, Rowland. he ask
ed quietly that YOU VIII stand al5u"
that you will be discredited. lose
/ SUuf berth and make enemies?
! Il am aware OF more than that
| answered Rowland excitedIy. II know
of the power vested In you as captain.
! / know that you can order ME into
/ irons from this room for any offense
! YOU wish to imagine. And / know that
an unwitnessed. uncorroborated entry
| in your official log. concerning me
| would be evidence enough to bring me
! life imprisonment. But l also know
! something Of admiralty law: that from
| my prison cell can send you and your
| first officer to the gaiiows.
| You are mistaken in your con-
ceptions of evidence. I could not cause
| your conviction by log book entry:
| nor could YOU, from q prison, injure
me. what are you. may ] asian ex-
lawyer"
| "a graduate of Annapolis. Your
| equal in professional technique.
| And you have interest at Wash
| ington?''
None whatever"
| "And what Is your object in taking
| this stand-which can do YOU no pos
| sibIe good. though certainly not the
| harm YOU speak of.
THAT I may do one good. strong ACT
| in my useless life-that l may neip
| to arouse such sentiment OF anger
| IN the TWO countries as will forever
/ end this wanton destruction OF life
| and property for the sake OF speed
| that will save the hundreds OF hsn-
| ing craft, and others. run down year
IN, to their owners, and the crews 10
their families"
| both men had risen and the captain
! was pacing the floor as Rowland. WIN
/ flashing eyes and ciencned hsts' oe
| livered this declaration
| "a result to be hoped for, Rowland
| sstd the former, pausing before MIN.
| ..but beyond your power or mine to &C
| c,n,pltsh. II the amount. named
| large enough? Could you I'LL position
| on my bridze?"
| 81 can MI a higher. and your COM
| pany is not rich enough to buy me
You seem to be man wHnout
| ambition; but you must have wants.
Food. clothing. shelter-and whis-
| kex said Rowland with a bitter, self
| contemptuous laugh. The captain
| reached down a decanter ana two
! glasses from swinging tray ana
said as he placed them before him:
| Here Is one OF your wants. FIJI
M" Rowiand's eyes glistened as he
! noured out a glassful, and the cap
| tain followed. "a,
IT will drink with you Rowland"
he said: here is to our better UNDER
standing" He tossed of the LIQUOR:
| then Rowland, who had waited, SAID:
II prefer drinking alone. captain.
| and drank the whiskey at suip.
The captains face flushed at the al
| front. but he controlled himself
| go on deck. now. Rowland. ne
| said. II will talk with YOU again be-
| tore. We roach soundings. Meanwhile,
! reauest--not require, but request
that YOU hold no useles conversation
with your shipmates in regard to this
matter
! at eight bells the captain said: he
! ia a broken-down wreck with tenn
| porarily active conscience; but 1t not
| the man to buy or to intimidate: he
knows too much. However, we've
| found HE weak point. IL ne Gets
/ snakes before We dock. his testimony
| In worthless. Eth him up and III see
! the surgeon. and study up on drugs
/ When Rowland turned out TO
| breakfast al seven bells that morn
ing. he found a pint flask In the
! pocket OF his pea Jacket. which ne
! felt Of but did not pull out in sight
| of his watch mates.
| We'll captain" he thought. you
are. in truth about ~ puerile, ansipid
| a scoundrei as ever escaped the law.
I'll save you your .drugged dutch
COURAGE for evidence But It was
| not durgged, as ne learned later. II
| was good whiskey---a ieader--to
| warm his stomach while the captain
was studying.
CHAPTER V,
| x--sA~~s ronnrroH that n,orninV
which drew Rowland's thoughts far
| from the happenings OF the night. A
few hours Of bright sunshine had
| brought the passengers on deck like
bees from q hive. and the two broad
promenades resembled. in color and
life, the streets Of city. The watch
was busy at the inevitable scrubbing.
and Rowland. with swab and bucket.
was clearing the white paint on the
starboard taff-rail. screened from
view by the after deck-house. which
shut OF narrow space 1t the stern.
A little girl ran into the Enclosure.
laughing and screaming. and cluns
to his legs. while she jumped up and
, down In an overflow Of spirits.
II wunned way" she said: Il
wunned way from mamma"
T. Drying his wet hands on his trous-
ers. Rowland lifted the tot and said.
tenderly: Well. little one, you must
rum hack to mamma. You're In bad
company" The innocent eyes smiled
into hi6 own. and then---a foolish pro-
ceeding. which only bachelors are
guilty of--he held her above tho rail
In Testing menace. "ShallsI drop you
over to the fishes. baby?" he asked,
while his features softened to an un-
/ wonted smile. The child gave little
screaYn Of frieht and It that tnnta n
young woman appeared around tAa
corner. Che spran8 toward Rowland
Hike I tgrean, suAtched the child
stared at MIN for monument With III
lated sysas and then Disappeared,