The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-02-08
CHAPTER ix.-Continued.

CHAPTER IH.-Continueo.
There's no other explanation" he
decided, conclusively.
"You mean he committed suicide ?"
Call it what you like. sir"
But there was no reason for him
to do such a thing" objected.
Il understand he's been pretty Ill,
sir"
He was Ill, yes. But he was on the
road to recovery" And then, with the
realization that l was speaking OF
Cameron in the past tense, as though
1t were already settled that ! should
never see him alive again, shiver
of horror swept over me. know Mac
Leod observed 1t, for he said:
There's been a drop in the tenn
perature, in the last half-hour. It'll
be more comfortable in my cabin. sir.
If you don't mind coming in. and talk
ing the thing over Bit"
Good Heavens, Macleod" l ex-
claimed, turning on him with nervous
savagery, do you expect me to SIT
down and talk calmly at such mo-
ment? can't. It's all can do to
stand still here, for a minute at
i ltei 1 uAuoL w p3AhCAAAn6' - -
torture to have ones hands tied this
way"
Il think I 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." / repeated.
"Yes, sir. It's not impossible, you
know, sir, that when he went over
board he was picked up"
The light from his cabin portfolio
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"
It was this reminder. think, which
brought back my woolgathering wits
and steadied me to perception OF the
real importance Of the captains plea.
OF one thing, at least, I was assured: :
Cameron was not a 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 1t lay upon me. to dis
cover by whose assistance this mar
velous disappearance was accom-
plished. And SO 1t came about that,
controlling my futile unrest, was
presently seated in MacLeod's swivel
chair, while he, from place on the
side of his berth, fired pointed ques-
tions at me, which I either answered
as best could or returned in kind.
"Now maybe it's none Of my busi-
ness. Mr.. Clyde, but in view OF to-
nights occurrence l think It's peril
mont to know why there was such
thorough inspection Of the Sibylia be-
fore we sailed, and such a lot OF eau
tion regarding the crew." That was
the first of his volley, and for a mo-
ment 1t staggered me. recognized
however, that this was not tlme ior
ouibbling, and as Macleod had Deen
for years staunch soldier IN Gamer
on's army of employees, l saw no
harm in letting him know the truth.
"Ill tell you," I returned, frankly
.but it's not to go any further. IN the
mast nine weeks Mr.. Cameron mas
been receiving a series of threatening
anonymous letters. The last one came
a 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 MT.
Cameron would disappear"
The calm, phlegmatic young captain
did not start. He simply narrowed his
eyes In thought.
That's odd," he said, gravely'
damned odd" And then, after SEQ
ond's consideration, he asked: was
that-but Of course 1t was-why ne
took this cruiser"
mo" told him. THAT was not bis
reason: though it was mine"
/ did not mean to be enigmatic. but
..no.o 7 ~ss for Macleod showed