The Forrest City times., 1913-04-11

MT. Cameron did not know about this last threat He was i'll when the let ter came, and We kept 1t 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 writers would demonstrate their power"
 And did they?"
 Most marvelously."
 Again Macleod was silent for a space.
 Under the circumstances. MT ] Clyde, don't you think it would have been better if you'd told me about this?"
 MT. 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 if I'd a known what was in the wind" | This statement annoyed me, and resented it.
 l What could you have done" l asked. T was with him almost con l tinuously.'
 There came a strange, half-medita. ! 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 busi ! ness to be bungled because I am only l captain of this yacht and you are the owners friend. So. if I speak plainly sir, you'll understand why, and not think me disrespectful ] l smiled to reassure him, still pug zled, and added: Go straight ahead, captain. You | are perfectly right" We'll" he began, "I'll tell you, Mir Clyde. Your story, as you told it to me, has some weak points in it You say, for instance, that you were with l MT. Cameron almost continuously | Now I'm not mentioning the little while you were in here, early in the of an hour before you gave the alarm you weren't with him, either" | l stared at the speaker for an in stant in absolute dumb amaze.
 Il don't know why you say that" said. at length, more hurt than an gered. T told you that from the mo- ment I 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 God s | truth"
 You said you were listening for what you thought sounded like mo- tor boat didn't you?"
 "I did"
 And you were leaning over the taff rail. looking for it, weren't you?"
 'I was"
 But you didn't see it?"
 No, l didn't see it; 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. MT Clyde, when that boat-motor, tug. or whatever she was-crossed within ten feet of ] the dory we are towing?" | ' l could not have been more dumfound ed.
 What do you mean?" were the only words that came to me. "I mean that the craft you have 1 been talking about came up and went astern of us, ten or twelve minutes before you gave the alarm that Mir Cameron had vanished under your eyes. I was on the bridge and saw it myself-iust a black shape, without lights, and her exhaust muffled, just as you say. You tell me that you and | Mir, Cameron had been sitting there | for three hours, at least; that you heard seven bells strike; that it 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"
 T told you all of that, and every word is the truth l insisted, vehe- ! mently.
 And yet" he retorted accusingly, and yet-eight bells had struck be- fore you gave the alarm
 l had not thought of the time. In my panic 1t 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" l exclaimed ris- ing, you certainly cannot for mo- ment suspect me of complcity."
 He stood up, too; imperturbable.
 T just want those things explained, that's all" was his reply.
 And 1 can't explain them," told him, candidly. You say you saw the boat. I didn't. You say it was after midnight when l came to you. It may have been. I don't know. It