Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-27
over an hour. I guess"

Worse than you anticipated?'
mo; better. If anything. mean,
don't think you'n be in personal danger
OF any sort. But il things don't work
out precisely according TO Hoyle. every
body's going 10 get into serius trouble.
It's a penitentiary Offense, II were
caught and I am not mistaken about
the law"
He would have continued but for two
interruptions that postponed his revel-
alton Indefinitely. The first was the
slow, deep, mellow sounding OF bells,
telling the hour OF half-past eleven. The
second was the sudden temperance of
Rhode, who tumbled out on deck with a
show OF haste and agitation extraordi-
nary In him.
"Crittenden-that your" he called,
catching sight Of the young man, whose
chair was nearest the companionway en-
trance. Look here. 1 want" He broke
OF sharply, bending forwaru to stare
through the darkness. who's that with
your
Miss Grayce," said Crittenden, rising.
"Uhi" the Red Man grunted. We'll
gd-evening, Miss Grayce-perhaps it's a
good thing you're here. / gotta have a
talk with the Madum, and 1 stand no
show on earth Of getting away with
that, without the whole ship knowing
IL, unless you can clear the way D.
you mind trottipg below and askin' her IL
she'll give me a quiet hearing? Tell
her it's important. 1t is. It's damn i'm
portant-beg pardon-it's pretty near a
matter OF life and death"
Cynthia was already out OF her chair.
Rhodes manner no less than his words
impressed one with the conviction that
he made his request in no trihing
humor.
Certainly" she said quickly. III
go to her at once. If you'll come in
i've minutes"
Wen be with you in two" inter-
rupted Rhode brusquely.
Alarmed, Cynthia hurried to her state
room, the two men following at a little
distance.
Entering and closing the door, the girl
switched on the electric light. The door
to madame's cabin was open. a dark
oblong against the white-painted wood
work, and simultaneously with the
flood of light there came from the
farther room Madame ~Savaran's- clear,
incisive accents. in expostulation.
MY dear child. do you really need
that light? 1t makes everything seem
so hotl"
Before answering. Cynthia entered
the other stateroom and shut the door
TO the alleyway, which. for the sake of
ventilation. had been hooked back
against the partition. Then. while
Madame Savaran' was gathering togeth-
er her powers OF profane remonstrance,
in a hurried whisper made the neces-
sary explanations.
Her answer was instant, positive and
not unanticipated.
Certainly not! At this hour of the
night! Ny dear. you must be as mad
as he Absurd"
Cynthia had to exert all her talents
for persuasion. exhaustively and with
out stint, before she succeeded in over
coming the old lady's stubbornness and
educed a grudged consent.
Very well, my dear, If you insist.
/. wouldn't mind if it wasn't for
that damned wig. Go in your room
and wait-In turn on the light my
self. I'm surely degenerating into
second childhood when let a chit like
you make me do what 1 don't want to-"
Her grumbling would have seemed
laughable had not Cynthia's mind been
thoroughly imbued with the notion that
the Red Man was not discovering such
temerity without ample warrant
She waited, in a torment of anxiety,
listening to the hushed rumble OF
Rhodes voice as he conferred with
so unnaturally subdued that in itself
II gave rise to affrighting conjectures
until the connecting door was opened
and Madam Savaran, in her own time.
consented to show herself in dressing
gown and with her wig set jauntily at
just the most striking angle imagin-
able Out OF sheer compassion Cynthia
insisted on adjusting it properly before
she opened to the impatient men.
~
discovered him. fully carried out the
gravest misgivings. For once Cynthia
saw him when he was not wholly the
Red Man, with touch of pallor un-
deriying his sanguine skin, so pro-
nOunced that he seemed almost ghast-
ly by comparison with his familiar
habit Precipitation was dripping from
his checks and forehead and his stony
eyes were darker than their wont-or
seemed to be-and glittering. Between
passion and perturbation he was trem-
bling.
To see the man so shocked out of
his customary phlegm was in itself
startling. Or so thought Cynthia. TO
Madame Savaran. however, the vision
had only the effect of causing her lips
to curl slightly at the corners.
''Well?" she demanded grimly. Now
you've got me out OF bed win your
robustness, get on your chest, please,
and go away. II you've walked me up
for nonsense warn you. George
"Ah, bite that orr Rhodes inter
rupted impatiently. Il amt here to
hand you your daily fracas. This Is
business, and 1 gotta know the truth,
and 1 gotta know it now-if you don't
want to wake up in the mornin with
your foolish throat cut. Now, lisn to
me-" he pursued rapidly. giving his
mother-in-law no chance to break in:
that bonehead maid of yours, Sidonie,
has been talking to the men-I guess
il started with Lobb. but. it's all over
the ship now-and If it's true there's
going to be hell to pay, or ! miss my
guess. ] just found IL out. and"
What on earth are you raving about,
George RhOde?" snapped madame saw
agely. will you be coherent or do
you want me to turn you out of this
stateroom2"
None the less Cynthia could see that
Rhodes agitation had impressed the old
lady.
You turn me out now. and the
chances are you'll be sore on yourelf
the rest of your born days" replied the
man sulkily. Il wanta know II it's
true, what that idiot says: that you
were fool enough to bring that jewel
case with YOU. Don't tell me it's SOL
And what II it isg" demanded
madame coolly. though she was visibly
more pale.
rs it2" Rhode insisted.
Certainly Why mot p"