The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-26
Continued

|
knew had told her what she want.
ed to know. ShH want below soon aft.
er. and warned Burns that he would
probably be approached in the same
way.
"Not that l am afraid" | added.
"But-keep the little Sloane woman at
a distance. She's quite capable Of mes
merizing you with her eyes and rob-
bing YOU with her hands at the same
| time"
The murders had been committed OH
the early morning of Wednesday. the
18th 1t was on the following Tues
day that Mrs. Sloane and l had our
little conversation on deck.
1t was on Friday that the incident
happened that completed the demor-
alization of the crew
The cook. taking down the dinner on
Friday evening, reported Mr.. Turner
up and about and partly dressed. The
heat was frightful. All day we had
had following breeze. and it had
been necessary to lengthen the towing
rope, dropping the jolly boat well be-
hind us. The men. saying little. or
nothing, dozed under their canvas; the
helmsman dropped at the wheel. I'm
der our feet the boards sent up SIM
mering heat waves. and the brasses
were too hot to touch.
At o'clock Elsa Lee came on deck
and spoke to me for the first time in
several days. She started when she
saw me, and no wonder. In the fren-
zied caution of the day after the
crimes | had flung every razor over
board. and the result was as villain
ous set of men as have ever seen
Have you been ill again?" she
asked.
put my hand to my chin Not
ILL.," | said: merely unshaven"
But you are pale, and your eyes are
sunk in your head
I'VE are very short handed and
no one has slept much"
The cabin is unbeara BILE" she said
We are willing to take, the risk OF
opening the after companion door
But | could not allow this. and !
tried to explain my reasons. The
crew were quartered there for one;
for the other. whether they were will
ing to take the risk or not. | would
not open it without placing a guard
there, and we had no one to spare for
the duty, | suggested that they use
the part of the deck reserved for
them, where it was fairly cool under
the awning, and after dispute below
they agreed to this. Turner, very
weak, came up the few steps slowly,
but refused my proffered help. lit
tie later he called me from the rail
and offered me cigar. The change in
him was startling.
We took advantage OF their being on
deck to open the windows and air the
after house. But all were securely
locked and barred before they went
below again. 1t was the first time
they had all been on deck together
since the night of the 11th. 1t was
different crowd of people that sat
there, looking over the rail and speak
ing in monosyllables-no bridge. no
glasses clinking with ice. no elaborate
toilets and carefully dressed hair. no
fash Of jewels. no light laughter fol.
lowing one of poor vairs salles.
At 10 o'clock they went below, but
not until | had quietly located every
member Of the crew. | had the watch
from to u that night, and at half
To
again. She did not speak to me. but
dropped into a steamer chair and
yawned, stretching out her arms. BY
the light of the companion lantern
saw that she had put on one of the
loose negligees she affected for un-
dress, and her arms were bare except
for fall of lace
AT eight bells (midnight Burns took
my place Charlie Jones was at the
wheel and Mcnamara in the crows
nest Mrs. Johns was doing in her
chair. The yacht was making perhaps
four knots, and far behind the small
white light of the jolly boat showed
where she rode.
l slept heavily, and at eight bells |
rolled or my blanket and prepared to
relieve Burns. / was stiff, weary, un-
refreshed. The air was very still. and
we were hardly moving. | took pail
Of water that stood near the rail and.
leaning far out. poured it over my
head and shoulders. As | turned, drip
ping Jones. relieved of the wheel.
touched me on the arm.
Go back to sleep, boy" he said
kindly. I'VE need you, and we're
goin to need you more when we get
ashore. You've been talkin' in your
sleep till you plumb scared me-"
But was wide awake by that time.
and he had had as little sleep as l had.
| refused, and we went forward to-
gether, Jones to get coffee. which
stood all night on the galley stove.
1t was still dark. The dawn. even
in the less than four weeks we had
been out, came perceptibly later. At
the port forward corner of the after
house Jones stumbled over some
thing and gave a sharp exclamation.
The next moment he was on his
knees lighting a match.
Burns lay there on his face. uncon-
scious and bleeding profusely from
cut on the back of his head, but not
dead.
My first thought was of the after
house Jones. who had been fond OF
Burns, was working over him, mutter-
ing to himself. | felt his heart. which