Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-07

way"
Il think know how you feel, sir.
But walking the deck will do no good,
and if you could calm yourself enough
to talk it over quietly, we might get
down to something that would guide
us, so to speak,
Guide u.s." d repeated.
eyes, sir. It's not impossible, you
know, sir, that when he went over
board he was Acked up"
The light from his cabin porthol5
illuminated us both, and now as he
looked at me he must have seen my
perpleXity
"You said yourself, sir" he ex-
planned, that you thought you heard
the exhaust of some sort O. craft not
far away"
1t was this reminder, think, which
brought back my wool-gathering wits
and steadied me to perception of the
real importance of the captains plea.
or one thing, at least, l was assured:
Cameron was not suicide. How he
could have gone over the taffrail with
out my seeing or hearing him, should
never be able to understand. But gone
he was, and it lay upon me to dis
cover by whose assistance this mar
yelous disappearance was accom-
plished And SO it came about that,
controlling my futile unrest, I was
presently seated in MacLeod's swivel
chair, while he, from place on the
side of his berth, fired pointed ques-
tons at me, which | either answered
as best | could or returned In kind
Now maybe it's none of my bust
ness, Mr.. Clyde, but in view Of to-
nights occurrence | think it's peril
nent to know why there was such a
thorough inspection Of the Sibylla be.
fore we sailed, and such lot Of eau.
ton regarding the crew" That was
the first of his volley, and for mo-
ment it staggered me. l recognized,
however, that this was not a time for
clubbing, and as Macleod had been
for years staunch soldier in Gamer
on's army of employees, l saw no
harm in letting him know the truth.
'I'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.
Eyes. Today, the letter stated. Mr..
j., 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 it was mine"
II did not mean to be enigmatic, but
4 'suppose | was, for Macleod showed
plainly enough that he failed to I'M
derstand.
you See" went on, in elucidation,
"Mr. Cameron did not know about this
last threat He was i'll when the let
ter came, and we kept it from him !"
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" answered.
Simply that on certain fixed days the
writer's would demonstrate theiy
power"
And did they?"
"Alost marvelously"
Again Macleod was silent for a
space.
Under the circumstances, Mr..
Clyde. don't you think it would have
been. better If you'd told me about
this 2"
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 if I'd
a known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and l
resented it,
What could you have done?" I
asked. u vas with him almost con-
tinuously."
There cane strange, half-medita-
tive, half-b0ld look in the mans eyes,
and | Was wondering what it 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 bust
ness to be bungled because l am only
captain of this yacht and you are the
owners friend. SO, if l speak plainly,
sir, you'll understand why, and not
think me disrespectful
| smiled to reassure him, still puz-
lied, and added:
Go straight ahead, captain. You
are perfectly right
Well he began, "Ill tell you, Mr..
Clyde. Your story, as you told it to
me, has some weak points in it. You
say, for instance, that you We're with