The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-03
~,
HORACE
HAZELTINE

| MI. cameron did not know about TINS
last threat. He was i'll when the let
ter came, and We kept 1t 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 their
power"
"And did they?"
Most marvelously."
Again Macleod was silent for a
space.
Under the circumstances. Mr..
| Clyde. don't you think II would have
been better IL you'd told ME about
this"
"Mr. Cameron was very anxious
| that no one should know"
The captain compassed his right
knee with his locked hands.
All the same" he said, he'd never
have been spirited off this yacht IL Id
a known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and |
resented it.
What could you have done?" |
| asked. IL was with him almost con-
| tinuously"
There came strange, half-medita-
tive, half-bold look in the mans eyes,
and l 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 a bust
ness to be bungled because | am only
captain OF this yacht and you are the
owners friend. SO. IL speak plainly,
sir, you'll understand why. and not
think me disrespectful
smiled to reassure him, still puz-
zled. and added:
go straight ahead, captain. You
are perfectly right"
WELL" he began, I'll tell you, Mr..
Clyde. Your story, as you told 1t to
me, has some weak points in it. 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"
l stared at the speaker for an in
slant In absolute dumb amaze.
Il don't know why you say that" !
said, at length, more hurt than an
gered. II told you that from the mo-
ment last spoke to him, seated be-
side him there on the after-deck, un-
til l 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 a mo-
tor boat. didn't your"
IL did"
And you were leaning over the tan.
rail. looking for 1t, weren't you?"
II was
"But you didn't see it,"
mo, didn't see II; and I 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 towing?"
Had he struck me in the fac v
could not have been more dumfound.
ed.
What do you mean?" were the only
words that came to me.
Il mean that the craft you have
been talking about came up aud 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 II
myself-just a black shape, without
lights, and her exhaust muffied, Just
as you say. You tell me that you and
Mr.. Cameron had been sitting there
for three hours. at least that you
heard seven bells strike that 1t was |
not more than fifteen or twenty min |
utes after this that you got up and |
went to the rail, and that you only |
stood there two minutes"
Il told you all OF that, and every |
word Is the TRUTH" | insisted, vehe-
mently.
And yet" he retorted accusingly,
land yet-eight bells had struck be-
fore you gave the alarm"
/ had not thought of the time. In
my panic It had not occurred to me,
Of course to ascertain the hour and
minute. But Captain Macleod knew.
At sea they work by clock. At eight
bells the watch had changed.
MY dear fellow" exclaimed ris-
Ing, you certainly cannot for mo-
ment suspect me of completely"
He stood up. too; islperturbable.
Il just want those things explained.
hats all. was his reply.
And can't explain them" told
him, candidly. You say you saw the
boat ! didn't. You say 1t was after
midnight when | came to you. II
nav haVo ham \ Iruft |