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


quibbling, and as Macleod had been
for years staunch soldier in Gamer
on's army Of employees, I saw no
harm In letting him know the truth.
"l'll tell YOU" returned, frankly,
but it's not to go any further. In the
past nine weeks Mr. Cameron has
been receiving a series of threatening
anonymous letters. The last one came
week ago today; and In 1t this was
named as the date for the climax"
Climax" he repeated, questioning
ly.
Yes. Today, the letter stated. Mr..
Cameron would disappear"
The calm, phlegmatic young captain
did not start. He simply narrowed his
eyes In thought.
That's DID," he said, gravely,
damned odd" And then, after sec
ond's consideration, he asked: WAS
that--but Of course 1t was--why he
took this cruise"
NO" told him. "That was not his
reason; though 1t was mine"
did not mean to be enigmatlc, but
suppose was, for Macleod showed
plainly enough that he failed to un.
derstand.
"You see," I went on, In calculation,
"Mr. Cameron did not know about this
last threat. He was Ill when the let
ter came, and We kept 1t from him I"
1t was evident to me that the cap
tain disapproved, but he held his
peace.
"What were the previous threats?"
he asked; presently.
Nothing Definite" I answered.
Simply that en- certain flxed days the
writer's would demonstrate their
power"
"And did they?"
"Most marvelously."
Again Macleod was silent for a
space.
Under the circumstances, Mr..
Clyde, don't you think 1t would have
been better II you'd told me about
this%
"Mr. Cameron was very anxious
that no one should know"
The captain comprised his right
knee with his locked hands.
"All the same" he said, he'd never
have been spirited off this yacht II I'd
a. known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and |
resented 1t.
what could you have done% !
asked. 81 was with him almost con
tinuously."
There came a strange, half-medita-
tive, half.bold look in the mans eyes,
and was wondering what 1t portend.
ed, when, quite ignoring my question,
he began speaking:
"You see there oughtn't to be any
Misunderstanding between you and
me, sir. This is too serious q bust
ness to be bupgled because am only
captain Of this yacht and you. are the
owners friend SO, II speak plainly
sir, you'll understand why, and NOT
think me disrespectful
| smiled to reassure him, still pug
zled, and added:
go straight ahead, captain. You
are perfectly right"
WELL" he began, an tell you, Mr.
Clyde. Your story, as you told It to
me, has some weak points In 1t. You
say. for instance, that you were with
Mr.. Cameron almost continuously
Now I'm not mentioning the little
while you were In here, early In the
evening, but during the last quarter
Of an hour before you gave the alarm,
you weren't with him, either"
stared at the speaker for an In
slant In absolute dumb amaze.
81 don't know why you say that"
said, at length, more hurt than an.
gered. 81 told you that from the mo-
ment last spoke to him, seated be-
side him there on the after-deek, I'M
til | turned from the rail and found
him gone, not more than two min
utes elapsed. And that was Gods
truth"
you said you were listening for
what you thought sounded like mo-
tor boat, didn't your"
81 did"
"And you were leaning over the taft.
rail, looking for It, weren't you?"
II was"
"But you didn't see it,"
mo, / didn't see It; and l couldn't
hear 1t after the first few seconds"
The captain had fixed a gaze on me
that seemed aimed to penetrate to my
souls fiber. After my answer he was
silent a moment. Then he said;
where were you, Mr.. Clyde. when
that boat-motor, tug, or whatever
she was-crossed within ten feet of
the dory we are towlng%
Had he struck me In the face /
could not have been more dumfound-
ed.
What do you mean?" were the only
words that came to me.
II mean that the craft you have
been talking about came up and went
astern Of us, ten or twelve minutes
before you gave the alarm that Mr..
Cameron had vanished under your
eyes. was on the bridge and saw 1t
myself-just a black shape, without
lights. and her exhaust mufled. lust