The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1913-01-03

official authority was evidently strong
In him, and felt that II Cameron was
aboard we should be able to effect his
rescue with minimum Of effort.
81 should like to see you In your
cabin, Captain" Hartley proposed, and
when we were closeted there, he con-
tinued: There is a report that you
have among your crew United States
subject who was brought aboard,
drugged, and forced to remain aboard
against his will. His government has
interested itself in his behalf. and un-
less he is restored at once to his
friends serious complications will un
doubtedly ensue."
The captain. despite his respect for
authority, frowned.
There's nothing to that report, sir"
he said, boldly. "I'm not shanghaiing
men in these days, sir. Every moth.
er's son I've got on this boat shipped
for Hong Kong, sir, Of his own free
will and accord"
81 dare say you fully believe that,
Captain Murchison," was Hartleys
diplomatic rejoinder, but this time
you happen to be mistaken. | don't
suppose you have any objection to our
inspecting your crew, have you? Sup
pose you have both the watches piped
forward, and We'll settle this little
business for ourselves. Mr., Clyde, here,
knows the man"
Captain Murchison's glance at me
was undisguisedly venomous. Reluct-
antly he rang for his steward.
Send the bo'sun here" he directed,
doggedly.
We'll begin at the bottom, Cap,
tain" Hartley suggested, when the
boatswain, zap In hand, stood In the
doorway First. want to see every
man Jack you have working in the
stoke hold"
Although the master gave the nee
essary directions mistrusted him. Be-
tween the boatswaIn a1d himself Ielt
that there was an understanding
which required neither yoicing nor
signal And as, little alter, we stood
on the forward deck, under lie bridge,
and by the light OF lantern viewed
one after another Of those swarthy,
grlmy laborers who had crowded up
from below, | was convinced of the
correctness Of my intuition. For Cam
eron was not among them.
And then a chill lear gripped me.
Could man OF his habits and train.
Ing, suddenly called upon to assume
such labor, survive its rigors? He was
naturally robust, but he had been
weekend by an 'llness Might he not
therefore have succumbed to the strain
died, and been buried at sea?
But one consideration sustained me.
In their cunning cruelty, the Chinese
who had arranged for his transporta-
ton must have stipulated that he be
delivered in China alive. Otherwise
their vengeance would not bs COM
plete. 1t was not likely that anything
had been left to mere chance. The
probabilities were that Murchison
knew definitely what was required Of
him and was to be we'll paid for his
services.
Upon his scanned face, now, there
was something Of sneer as, our ex.
animation concluded, he said:
What next, Mr. Hartley?"
But for moment Hartley, who
was standing thoughtfplly with brow
contracted. his lower lip ggIpped be.
tween finger and thumb, made no re-
Spouse, Before he spoke his attitude
changed Quickly he had assumed a
pose Of listening intentness. Behind
us, somewhere, clam0r had arisen.
Voices, excited, hoarse. fremescent,
yet muffled by distance, echoed duly.
"That man, next, Captain" he said,
coolly. "The man they're trying to
keep below"
II may have been that his hearing
was more acute than mine, or II may
only have been a guess. don't know.
But, whichever 1t was, 1t hit the mark.
1t scored a bulls eye at long range.
Captain Murchisons Indifference
gave way instantly to palpable uneasI
ness. His hands, which had been
deep in his coat pockets. came out as
though jerked by springs, One OF
them canted his cap from his brow to
his crown and the other clutched AL.
tatedly at his beard. And In that mo
ment the riot advanced, the voices
waxed louder and more distinct; sour.
rylng feet Fesounded on the metal deck,
| saw the captain start hurrledly
toward the starboard rail, intent evi.
IDENTIFY on meeting the rabble which
was approaching on that side, and !
saw Hartley boldly block his way.
And then, almost at the same instant,
| saw tall figure with naked torso
as black and shining as polished ebony
black with CRIME and shining with
sweat-come running backward
around the corner of the deck house.
Saw 1t with an iron bar held menac-
ingly aloft against It's pressing ppr.
suers; and even in the uncertain light
OF the deck lanterns. recognized It at
once, by Its outline and the character.
istIc set of its head upon it's Shout,
deFs, nude to the waist and eollled as
It was, as the figure Of the man !
sought.
1CcAnarontO oriaJ ohol,t,,uI,,