Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-09-10

fIGdnCQ. over SuOWGIBcQ tAcUeC anu ACCA
awash or along the pale shining beaches
OF the congregation Of islets,
Old, livid, and deformed, the wrath
of a world long cold, late moon hung
a little ways above the eastern horizon.
its spectral rays tempering with wan
pallor the starlit shades, manufacturing
in the vast. calm. night-enfolded void a
simulacrum of false dawn. The waters
glassed>i In darkly ...
An affection of suspense hung in the
atmosphere as If it we're impregnatei
with some strange, stimulating gas.
Crittenden himself was sensitive to It
He found his NERVES tense with expec-
fancy. as though he hung upon the issue
of some terrible succession Of events, his
every sense and instinct alert to probe
the meaning of each common but weirdly
significant incident and sound.
From the bows came the canorous
drone of the leadsmen; from the
bridge a soft scufIe of feet. theCwhine
of a steering quadrant wanting grease.
laconic directions (Clarets voice)-
"Sta board !y-''So!" -'Steadyr keep
her on!"-ntiphonaI the "Aye-aye, sir"
of the fellow at the wheel, occasionally
a brief subdued, mutter Of comment
from the bystanders; constantly from
the interior of the ship the hasteless
heave and rumble of machinery checked
to half-speed and less. obedient to the
jangle and clanking Of the engine-room
telegraph, as incessantly from under the
bows guggling. down the sides a sibi-
liant swashfs
After some time, wearying and grow
ing FESTIVE under thre strain of waiting
Crittenden took a turn down the deck.
Soft-stepping, he came to the rail
abaft the smoking-room, and stopped
to anaIyze the discovery that the yes
sci was being followed by another;
astern and far, a cluster of lights
thanked by green and red dogged the
wake of the cynthia, turning and twist
ing to the convolutions of the tortuous
trail she biazed-a way visible long
after she had passed, in the smoking
| phosphorescence of the waters.
1.-The Orion" he surmised.
Later, attracted by a humble of
voices behind him, he turned and him
self unseen acquired vivid mental
sketch of a scene revealed by the open
door of the smoking room; of three
men grouped round table. with bot
! tie and glasses before them; on the one
hand Thurlow, indolently smoking in
I differently amused; Perez on the other,
lleaning forward, his stout person ami
mated and his hands vivacious with
vehemence of argument and exposition;
Rhode5 between the two sitting with
folded arms in stony mutiny, like an
incarnate blush of humiliation due 70
the ignomy of the pass to which lack
of foresight and confidence misplaced
had brought him.
So, apparently, he was not yet rene
gade-won over, like sardonic. Provi-
dence. tosthe side with the heaviest ar
tilleryl :.
Thoughtful. Crittenden moved forward
again on the way he was passed by
an exhilarated person. one of the ship 5
| Greenaway--without attracting
his notice Then he heard the mans
voice at the smoking room window.
.'Thurlow? Shay Lobb vanish you
vanish send wireless's message to
Orion"
. CAL right Coming"
Crittenden drew back into the shad-
ow of an angle; the wireless operator
passed him, unseeing and needless;
Greenaway unquestionably yielded to the
allure Of the bottle and Joined the par
ty In the smoking-room.
watching Thurlow Chamber. to the
bridge slip hastily down again and.
turning, descend the companion ladder
to his box on the main deck, sugges-
( ton stirred in Crittenden's thoughts
and was Instantly forgotten in the dis
covery that Claret, too, was leaving the
bridge CONN Cay was now enfolding
the cynthia in widespreading arms the
FIRST officer had been relieved of his
sonerods duties as pilot, Lobb resuming
supreme authority; and as Crittenden
caught sight. of Claret the ship awaken
ed to a. volley of orders and commands,
the scurrying footsteps of seamen on
the forward deck. the expiring groan
of the engines as they ceased to turn
the screw, and the rattle and clank of
the lower chains.
Within five minutes the ship swung
at anchor, still and peaceful save for
the splitting crackle of wireless and the
iubilant voices of those gathered in the
smoking room for a final toast to sue
cess before seeking their berths.
TO both circumstances Crittenden was
equally indifferent He had pursued
Claret down the main companionway
and halted him as he turned to go aft
10 his cabin ta
"Claret!" he cried in an arresting
voice as his feet found the deck of
the dining saloon.
Startled, the first officer wheeled; and
recognizing that they were alone, lost
little of the color beneath his sallow,
brownish skin.
''well?" he demanded, with an ag-
greSS1Ve 1e1nt. w nat DO you want!
His glance travelled from Crittenden's
dark and immobile face to the hand
that presented to him the muzzle of
Madame Savaran's beautiful little re-
volver Still more alarmed. he made an
instructive gesture toward his coat.
pocket, but thought better of it.
You're armedT' demanded Critten-
den.
Nos said the other, transparency.
Turn round" Crittenden commanded.
''Now4-hands above your head" He
walked up to the man, thrust the nose
of his weapon into the back of his
neck, and coolly explored the pocket
Claret's, motion had betrayed. 1t con-
tanned a heavy navy revolver.
LIAR" observed Crittenden reflective
iy He threw both weapons, his own
as we'll as the first officers, across the
saloon table. Now" he pursued I'm a
level voice, were on even terms. Why
did you. lock Miss Grayce in the state
room with me?"
What's that to your" CIaret trieo 10
bluster, turning.
Answer my question:! Why"
II didn't mean" C1aret stamrnered
his face ashen. Joke"
Whom have you told about it? Tell
the truth, you contemplate houndr'
Plainly Claret meditated mendacity.
but from a shifty glance at Critten-
den's blazing eyes found reason to