Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
!. CYNTHIA-OP-IHE-
MINUTE
By
LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Author Of THE Brass Bowi'-'.No
Mans Land" etc.
Copyright, 1911, by Louis Joseph vanoe.)
CHAPTER XV.-Continued.

"Who else" demanded the old lady
tartly. do you think I'm going to give
her a holiday by way of reward for mis-
behavior? She tattles-yes: she always
tattles. ought to be accustomed to that.
you'd think. And as for stealing-well
it isn't proven Yet, and il 1 cast her of
l may never be able to fasten anything
on her. There's method in my madness
1t gets my hair attended to, at least.
So, naturally, when woke up this morn
ing / rang for the creature, and she
came and We had a fine set-to. or course
she denies everything. and. Of course.
won't believe her under oath: but you
may believe shall work her till her fin
gers callous. And keep my eye on her.
besides
Nine. Savaran tossed her handsome old
head and paved the deck with her cane
muttering indistinct but unquestionably
malignant something's presumably be-
cause she didn't consider her state OF
mind regarding Sidonie fit for utterance
in the hearing of Cynthia.
But" pursued Cynthia. pertinacious to
the main issue, "Sidonie said Mr.. Crit
tenden-'
"Oh, SO We are interested in the fate
of the gentleman who's nothing to US.
Ell? Sidonie said simply this-that the
Crimson rambler
who? OH" calculated Cynthia. in
successive surprise and comprehension.
Precisely, my dear; 1 have found the
name for him now The Crimson
Rambler. Perez and Lobb went ashore
half an hour ago to interview this per-
terest whatever. l dare say IL you hurry
down to breakfast you'll be on deck by
the time they bring him back with gives
upon his wrists and ball and chain on
one leg, and cast him into the iazarette.
or whatever they call the dungeon vile
on shipboard; where you'll be able to
visit him by stealth. disguised as the
warder's. daughter. and minister to his
wants, and. finally. bride the catiff hire
ling who guards him to connive at his
escape, and ride away with him on a
milk-white palfrey-or, l dare say, a
motor boat would seem more sensibler'
With this, and final lift of her chin,
Nine. Sayaran concluded her harrangue,
seized Cynthia by both arms and drew
her close, presented her with two quick.
warm pecks, one on either cheek, gave
her affectionate shake and released
her. accomplishing her exit into the ad-
joining stateroom with surprising celer-
ity and a final ACCOMPLISHMENT as to the
need for haste to breakfast.
AS moved and diverted as madame had
intended her to be (who had entered in
suspicion and retired, she believed in full
possession of Cynthia's secreO the girl
waited an instant-lOng enough to reas-
sort and gain control of her harassed fac
ulties-then pulled her self together and
left her room widely different woman
from her who had but lately been as a
Tyre high-strung eolian to the breath of
passion-a woman, at least outwardly.
her emotions. So much for the stimulat-
ing properties of Mime. Savaran's mental
cocktail
There was fresh color in her face, and
to spare, and a brave light in her clear
eyes. when, with an air of alert and Wig
orous dignity, Cynthia swung out of the
alleyway and through the door to the
deck. steeling herself against whatever
reception she was to undergo on this
her first public appearance since the
events of the night just passed. What
She would be called upon to endure and
ignore in the way OF covert sneer and
secret smile and overt innuendo she
dared not surmise; only the day would
declare 1t. But whatever might transpire,
she was determined to suffer with a face
Of courage. unfiinching. She owed as
much to Crittenden 40 less than to her
SELF he had risked his life i'm vain en-
deavor to seal the lips of Claret, and
bring help to her and Nine. Savaran from
the outer world. She must prove herself
worthy Of his seff-sacrifice and devotion.
notwithstanding this spirit of chal-
lenge and contempt with which she made
her appearance in the light of day, it
was with RELIEF that she discovered
promenade deck and bridge alike de-
serted, the work OF the hour absorbing
completely the energies and attention of
every man on board both vessels.
Forward and abaft the superstructures
of both the Cynthia and the Orion. the
decks presented scenes Of stirring and
unresting action. Between the bulwarks
and the dark. yawning. cavernous hatch
ways men swarmed like ants. men
clothed only within the limits of de-
cency, sweating. struggling. swearing,
running to and fro as il blindly to the
behest Of interminable whistlings, pulling
and pushing and attacking with steel
hooks and stern fury and naked hands
a myriad articles-huge bales and bum
dies. crates and packing boxes-that were
being hoisted out OF the hold of the Gym
thia to the tune of grooming winches
engines, whining cranes, and
greaseless tackles to be de-
posted In the hold of the Orion.
Over the process of these furious Ia
bors hung a veil, tenuous but distinct, a
haze OF sunlit dust and dancing, heated
air; and from 1t rose in heavy, sitting
gusts, q reek compounded of the odor OF
humanity. and the dank and
tainted eff1uvia of the holds.
From all OF which 1t was apparent that
the pause at Coffin Cay was to be made
As brief as the will of those in authority
could contrive.
BY its sights and sounds and smells
deferred from attempting even the most
casual inquiry into this proceeding. Gym
.hia gave her heed all the more willingly |
formed it's incongruous ketting: to the |
NV thar cnfoldod them u ifs hospif n hla