The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-09-03


authorities II they were still on
board when we reached Panama.
IL was pitiful to see how they
clutched at every straw of hope.
We'll. sir, what do you mean
by that if2 VIII he stand back
and let us escape2"
All of you but Boutwell,. Mind,
| don't promise this. Why not
send a deputation TO the captain
and ask for terms?"
Fortunately IL won't be neces-
sary to send the delegation, since
your captain has come down to
join you"
The voice was Bothwell's.
immediately l recognized de-
feat for my attempt to end the
mutiny at stroke. For though
he had brought them nothing but
disaster, the fellow had a way of
impressing himself without APP
pearing to care whether he did
or not.
The. men seemed visibly to stiff
en- Instead of beseeehing looks
/ got threatening ones. Three
minutes before | had been dicta-
tor; now | was a prisoner.
Bothwell's eye gave a signal.
Before 1 could stir for resistance
George Fleming an Gallagher
pinned my back to the table.
Boutwell, stepped forward and
loobad dawn at me.
"You're the rock I've split on
from the first. You stole the map
from me--and you tried to steal
A. n -, n.
I'm going to find out all you
know. Before I've done with you
I'll make you wish you'd never
been born. There are easy deaths
and hard ones. You shall take
your choice"
With that fiend's eyes glitter
ing into mine it was no easy thing
to keep from weakening.
raised my voice SO that all
might hear plainly. you threaten
to torture me. You forget that
this is the year 1913. The inquisi-
tion is a memory. You are not i'm
Russia now. American sailors
even .mutineers-will draw the
line at torture"
His face was hard as hammered
iron.
Don't flatter yourself, Mr..
Sedgwick. I'm master here. When
I give the word you will suffer.
From his vest pocket Boutwell,
drew three little cubes of iron.
You still have time, Mr.. Sedg-
wick. The mapi"
/ flushed to the roots of my
hair. Never, you Russian devili"I
He selected the hand pinned
down by Fleming. Between my
fingers close to the roots he
slipped the cubes. His fingers
fastened over mine aud drew the
ends of them together slowly.
steadily.
An excruciating pain shot
through me. l set my teeth to
keep from screaming and closed
my eyes to hide the anguish in
them.
s.You are at liberty to change
your mfnd-and your answer, Mr..
Sedgwick," he announced suavely.
Again | suffered that jagged
belt of pain.
Boutwell, released my hand. 1
saw flash of subtle triumph light
his eyes.
"A wilful man must have his
way. Mr.. Sedgwick," he nodded to
me. then whispered in the ear of
George Fleming, who at once left
the room.
They pulled me up from the
table and seated me in a chair.
Boutwell, whfstled until he was in
terrupted by the entrance of theA
engineer with Jimmie WEIGH.
in a flash l knew what the man
meant to do, and the devilish in
genunity of IL appalled, me. He
was going to force me to tell what
knew in order to save the boy
frem the pain | had myself found
almost uncomfortable. ,
The boy gave a sobbing cry Of |
relief when he saw me and tried |
to break away to my side He was
flung on the table just as I had
been Gallagher looked at me I'm
plorInsly while Boutwell, fitted |
the cubes.
Eeidlinger stole a step nearer.
His fingers were working nerv-
ously. Harry Fleming had turned |
auax % as not to So what would |
follow.
DR.. Sedxwfck. ~haI are they
eoznx - do vita me- TIE fright 4
e1ed little fellow called u terror.