The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-13

ing, you certainly cannot for a mo-
ment suspect me Of completely"
He stood up, too; imperturbable.
II just want those things explained,
that's all" was his reply.
"And | can't explain Them" I told
him, candidly. you say you saw the
boat. / didn't. You say it was after
midnight when came to you. 1t
may have been. l don't know. It
may have been nearer twelve, when
went to the rail. My impression is
that 1t was not. Ill admit 1t is mys-
FERROUS. The whole awful thing is
mysterious"
Ny candor seemed to relieve him.
well, Mr.. Clyde" he said, with
equal sincerity. maybe was out
spoken, but wanted to know what
you'd say to the points that were
puzzling me-" b
you did perfectly right" told
him. "As you have said, there must
be no secrets between u.s." And them
as resumed my seat, asked: What
about the fisherman? He hasn't evad-
ed his guard, has hep
Macleod sat down again too.
Hes in where put him, Aow," he
answered with shade of reluctance,
"but-I'm not sure; it's almost as
mysterious as the other-but could
have sworn saw him come up that
for'ard hatchway and go sneaking aft
while | was on the bridge"
when was 'that?" | pressed, eager
ly.
about a quarter of twelve" (;
''What did you do?"
Nothing, just then. / waited. And
while l was waiting l saw that black
spooky craft come out Of the dark,
and go Swimming astern Of us. A
little after eight bells / came down
from the bridge-I stopped there for
Just minute to have word with
Brandon when he came up--and then
/ went myself to look after Johnson
and the man I'd set to watch him. The
fisherman was In bunk sound asleep,
and the man swore he had been lying
there snoring, for the past two hours.
Who was 1t came up the ladder TWEEN
ty minutes ago.? | asked. He looked
at me as If he thought was gone
suddenly loony. Before the watch
changed?" he asked. l nodded. Not
a soul came or went he said, since I
been here"
"And the boat without lights" I
questioned. did you inquire about
her? Who else saw herr"
II asked the lookouts; but--well,
no, strand that's very strange to me
neither of them saw her. l gave
them both rating. II they weren't
asleep | don't see how they could
have missed her"
The thing was growing more and
more battling. Macleod was the last
man to be accused of imaginative fan
cles. He was thoroughly In earnest in
what he had told me; and yet for
neither Of his statements had he the
smallest corroboration. For my own
part l was sure that, at the time he
mentioned, no vessel Of any descrip-
ton had passed anywhere near US.
What did you make the craft out
to be?"
well, sir, couldn't say exactly.
She was in sight only a minute, COM
ing In range Of our own lights. She
looked more like tug than anything
else; but she had more speed than
any tug l ever saw. She hadn't the
lines of a yacht"
"She wasn't pilot boat?"
"Oh, no, sir. New York pilots don't
cruise this far east, and the Boston
pilots wouldn't be 80 far away from
home either"
offered the captain cigar, which
he declined, filling his pipe In prefer
ence. When | lighted cigar myself,
asked:
Il suppose you have some theory,
Macleod. You don't seriously think
1t was suicide?"
AS usual he was slow to answer.
After thoughtful second, he said:
I'D be sorry to think that, Mr..
Clyde. Taking into consideration what
you told me about the threat, and
connecting that boat with 1t, 1t
looks" and then he paused, thought
full again. tits not in possibility" he
went on, after a second, that they
could have plucked him of with line.
But II that fellow saw going aft-Oh,
Lord, no, sir! It's past me to see a
way out. All the same, we are keep
ing that craft in sight, and II we can
only get thirty knots out Of the sibylla
again, we'll find out what she is and
what her business is, before morning."