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

! Rowland; II sailed in her one yoy-
age. Yes. certainly"
NJ SeIfrIdge. more interested In
Myra than in the coming account,
! carried her over to chair In the
4 corner and sat down. where he fond
led and talked to her after the man.
ner Of grandfathers the world over,
| and Rowland first looking steadily
! into the faces of the two men he had
| come to expose, and whose presence
hes had thus far ignored. told, while
| they held their teeth tight together
!, and often buried their finger nails In
! their palms. the terrible story of the
cutting In half of the ship on the
first night out from New York. fin
ishing with the attempted bribery and
his REFUSAL
4 We'll. gentlemen. vwhat do you
think Of that? q asked Mr.. Meyer, look
ing around.
"A lie. from beginning TO end"
stormed Captain Bryce.
Rowland rose to hts feet, but was
pressed back by the big men who
had accompanied him--who then
faced Captain Bryce and said. quietly:
.r saw a polar bear that this man
! killed in open fight. / saw his arm
afterward. and while nursing hin
away from death ] heard no whines or
complaints. He can fight his own
| battles when well. and when sick I'll
do II for him. If you insult him again
in my presence I'll knock your teeth
down your throat
CHAPTER ~II.
There was Il moments silence while
the two captains eyed one another.
broken by the attorney. who said:
Whether this story is true or false,
It certainly has no bearing on the
.xE ~
pened. II WAS after the policy attach
ed and before the wreck OF the
Titan"
But der concealment-der conceal
| ment," shouted Mr.. Meyer. excited
~.
HAS no bearing either. II he con-
cealed anything II was done after the
wreek. and after your liability was
confirmed. II was not even barra-
try. You must pay this insurance"
will not bay it.. l. WILL NOT
| will fight you in der courts" Mr..
| Meyer stamped up and down the
floor In his excitement. then stopped
| with triumphant smile, and shook
his finger into the face Of the attor-
ney.
And even II der concealment will
not vitiate der policy. der fact that
he had drunken man on look -out
I when der Titan struck der Ice berg
Will be enough. Go ahead and sue
! l will not pay. He was part owner"
You have no witnesses to that ad-
mission" said the attorney Mr.
Meyer looked around the group and
the smile left hts ace.
Captain Bryce was mistaken" said
Mr.. Austen. This man was drunk at
New York like others of the crew.
But he was sober and competent
when on lockout. l discussed theo-
ries Of navigation with him during
his trick on the bridge that night and
he. spoke inte.ligently''
| But you yourself said. not ten min
utes ago. that this man was In state
Of deifrium tremens up to der eollI-
sion." said Mr. Meyer
What ! said and what will admit
under oath are two different things"
Said the officer. desperately II may
have said anything under the excite
rnent Of the moment--when we were
accused Of such an infamous crime l
/ say now. that John Rowland. what
ever may have been his condition on
the preceding night, was sober and
/ competent lookout at the time of
the wreck OF the Titan
| Thank you" said Rowland dryiy
| TO the first officer, then. looking into
| the appealing face Of Mr. Meyer. he
/ said:
Il do not think 1t Will lie necessary
/ To brand me before the world az al,
inehriate In order TO punish the COM
pany and these men. Barra,ry, as
understand II. La the unlawful At OF
captain or crew at sea. causing
damage or loss. and ii only applies
when the parties are purely employees
Did ! understand rightiy-thAt Cap.
tain Bryce WAS part owner OF the
| Titan"
Yes" said Mr.. Never He owns
stock. and We insure against barra-
| try: but this man. as part owner.
could not fall back on it,"
And an unlawful act" went on
Rowland. ''perpetrated by a captain
who is part owner. which might
cause shipwreek. and during the per-
petration of which shipwreck really
occurs will be sufficient to void tho
policy
Certainly said Mr. Meyer. eager
~. you were drunk on der lookout
you were raving drunk. as he said
himself You will swear TO this. will
you not. my friend" II Is bad faith
with der underwriters. 1t annuls der
insurance. You admit this. Mr..
| Thompsin. do you not?''
That Is law" said the attorney,
coldly.
WAS MIR. austen part owner.
also?" asked Rowland ignoring Mr..
Meyers view of the case.
"One share. IL 1t not. Mr.. Austen %
asked Mr.. Meyer. while he rubbed
his hands and smiled MIR, Austen
made no sign Of denial and Rowland
continued:
Then, for drugging a sailor into
stupor. and having him on lookout
cut Of HIS turna while Iii that al
ton and at the moment when the
Titan struck the iceberg. Captain
Bryce and Mr.. Austen have. as part
owners. committed an act which null
lilies the insurance on that ship?'
"You internal. lying scoudrel,"
roared Captain Bryce He strobe To-
ward Rowland with threatening face.
Half way ne was stopped by the Inn
pact OF a huge brown flst which sent
him Keeling and staggering across the
roon, toward Mr. Seffridse' ana the
i'ehiid. ever wf,pn Re 'ffoundereds 10 the
fioor--a disheveled hean-while the
big Captain Barry examined teeth
marks on his knuckles. and everyone
else sprang TO their feet.
II told you to look out" said Cap
tain Barry. Treat my friend re-
spectfully" He glared steadily at
4. the first ofhcer. as though inviting
him to duplicate the offense; but that