Mexico Missouri message., 1913-01-30
BY
HORACE
HAZELTINE

Mr.. Cameron did not know about this
last threat. Ho WAS Ill when the let
ter came, and we kept It from him "
It 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 It would have
been better If 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 II I'd
a known what was in the wind"
This statement annoyed me, and !
resented It.
What could you have done?" !
asked. q was with him almost con-
tinuously."
There came a strange. half-medlta-
tive, half-bold look in the mans eyes,
and l was wondering what it porteRd-
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 busi'
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 Gisrespectful"
| smiled to reassure him, still puz-
| lied. 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 1t. 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"
stared at the speaker for an in
slant in absolute dumb amaze.
Il don't know why you say that" !
Eaid, at length, more hurt than an
gsred. q told you that from the mo-
ment l last spoke 70 him, seated be
side him there on the after-deck, I'M
I'll 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 you?"
"I did"
And you were leaning over the taft
rail, looking for II, weren't you?"
Il was"
But you didn't see it,"
No, ] didn't see It; and I couldn't
hear # after the first few seconds"
The captain had fixed a gaze on me
that seemed aimed to penetrate 10 my
souls fiber. After my answer he vas
silent q moment. Then he said;
Where were you, Mr.. Clyde, when
that boat-mOtor, tug. or wFltever
she was-crossed within ten feet Of
the dory we are toWing?"
Had he struck me In the face l
could no. have been more dumfound-
ed.
What do you mean?" were the only
words that came TO me.
4 mean that the craft you have
( been talking about came up and went
astern OF US, ten or twelve minutes
! before you gave the alarm that Mr..
Cameron had vanished under your
/ eyes. I was on the bridge and saw #
myself-just a black shape, without
/ lights. and her exhaust mufFed, just
! as you say. You tell me that you and
/ Mr. Cameron had been sitting there
/ for three hours, az least; that you
/ heard seven bells strike; that II 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,
and 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 a mo-
ment suspect me Of completely"
He stood up, too; imperturbable.
Il just want those things explained,
that's all, was his reply.
And / can't explain them" told
him, candidly. You say you saw the
! hpaf I didn't YOu say g. y.,as ,ft1.