The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-04
.(Continued.l

: !
 (Continuad.)
 'tHe understands who Is master of this boat now. He attempts to give me orders, to bribe me to force you to give up some papers, to threaten me-
 What do you want of meF' Even as she spoke thrill of conscious tri- umph surcharged her as she realized the tremble had left her voice.
 Wetheren halted uncertainty, held back by her charge. Then her help nessness gave him courage and he moved closer.
 'eWant?'' he repeated, then with short. barking laugh, ssI want the papers and want you." H
 He leaped forward, clasping her about the waist with his great arms, the right hand moving toward her mouth, closing over the delicate lips and smotherfng her cry of wild alarm.
 He sprang back with low toned oath of surprised zzeredulity even as her brittle laugh echoed through the cabin. Slowly, a step at time, inch by inch, Lucille forced the man to- ward the door. In smothering her screams he had freed her right arm and her tiny fist, fighting against his, ! his \ revolver, which she deftly Sb- stracted and had pressed against his. chest.
 '"The papers are quite safe where they are,'' she murmured sweetly. the glint in her eyes belying the tones. "Come, captain; let's see how the men you have buIlied like the sight of you noW.'','
 Wetherell opened his lips to curse, bat there was an expression of icy de termination on the girls face, in the tense lines of her figure, in the tremor- less feel of the gun against him that made him do her Bidding. Only when he felt the cabin threshold beneath his feet and knew another step would bring him in sight of the crew did he halt.
 It was a scantt fifteen seconds the man and girl stood there, their eyes challenging. But the eyes of Lucille were steady, determined5 those of the captain were truculent, defiant Wetherell finched and dropped his murderous expression. Then he march ed across the threshold and upon the deck before his men, while Lucille felt the joy of such a triumph as she had never KnOWn D0IOE0-
 As the sailors looked up and saw Captain Wetherell sullenly marching under the impetus of the revolver in Lucille's hand they strengthened and stared, open nouthed, unable to be deve the evidence of their own eyes. Gradually it dawned upon them that the tyrant, the brutalizer, the man they all hated and feared, had been sub- F. -lSy <OR or4rl Whispers grew louder, louder, and she caught the approval in the eyes that constantly drew closer to her own un- til she was surrounded by cordon of sailors.
 Only through winning the crew to her side could she maintain her posi-. tion. Backing away, but still holding the revolver level upon the captain, she cast an appealing glance about upon the men.
 Friends she whispered. then, sur prised at finding how low her voice was, swallowed the lump in her throat and continued braveIy: Friends. am just a weak girl and I need your help. I have two enemies upon this ship One of thens was more afraid of than anything or anybody in the world until a short half hour ago. He will do any thing to steal from me some papers have rescued from him after he stole them from my father. My sweetheart, the man to whom I am engaged, was accused of the theft and arrested. And have fought so hard to keep themY" Her voice broke a uife, but she strengthened bravely, tears still glisten- ing on her lashes. I'm so tired-so tired of fght1ng.''
 The murmur of sympathy from the men died down before a still more menacing silence, a silence that broke before a shout from one on the out skirts of the crowd. All eyes were turned in the direction of his pointing finger, and from out two great smoke spiraIs that seemed to come from the other side of the ocean rose slowly, majestically, the thin outlines of a huge boat. The girl, scenting disaster from that sight, read it on the Sneer- ing face of her victim.
 'tBut am more afraid of your cap tain, men," she cried, her voice thrill ingly vibrant. He came to me in my cabin and demanded the papers. He threatened me, seized me in his arms and tried to make love to me. He did this to a weak girl, men. He would treat me as he has treated you. ask you all to protect me and yourselves from this mans brutality. You see what coward he is. You see how he does not dare''-
 Her voice was drowned in the chor. us of shoEts that rose at the welcome announcement. WetherelPs shoulders sloped still more, while his eyes darted from face to face. triumphant, cum. ming, ferocious. A faint booming sound reached out to them across the waters, aistra cling their attention. Someth;nc