The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-22

way, To combine the duties of officer ON
watch and guard of the after house.
Mrs. Johns. carefully dressed, sur.
veyed the rallied of deck with raised
eyebrows.
"For-us:" she asked. looking at me.
"Yes. Mrs. Johns
Where have you put them?"
pointed to where the jolly boat. on
the portside OF the ship. swung on its
davits.
What did you do with the-the
weapon?"
why do you ask that?"
Morbid curiosity" she said. with a
Gghtness Of tone that rang false to my
ears. And hen-naturally. | should
like to be sure that ii is safely over
board. SO II will not be"-she shivered
used again"
1T is not overheard. Mrs. Johns" |
said gravely. 1T Is locked in a safe
place. where il will remain unul the
police come to take it,"
You are rather theatrical. aren't
you:" she scoffed. and turned away.
But second later she came back to
nle and put her hand ON my arm.
Tell me where 1t is she begged.
"fou are making mystery of 1t. and
i detest mysteries.
/ ! saw under her mask OF hghtness
then; she wanted desperately to know
where the ax was, Her eyes fell un.
/ der my gaze.
81 am sorry. There is no mystery
Ii is simply locked away for safe
keeping"
! She bit her lip.
"Oo won know what think?" she
said slowly. Il think you have hyp-
Noticed the crew. as you did meat
first Why has no one remembered
that you were in the after house last
night. that you found poor Wilmer
Vail. that you raised the alarm. that
you discovered the captain and Karen:
Why should | not call the men here
and remind them OF all that"
Il do not believe you will. They
know | was locked in the storeroon.
The door-the lock-
n.
You do not know what you are say
ing"
But had angered her. and she went
on cruelty:
Who are You. anyhow: You are
not sailor. You came here and were
taken on because you told hard luck
story. How do We know that you
came from hospital: Men just out
OF prison look as you did Do you
know what We called you. the first two
days out: We called you Elsa's Jail
bird. And now. because you have
dominated the crew. we are liz your
hands,
DO Mrs Turner and Miss Lee think
that"
They feel as do This is a picked
crew-men the Turner line has employ
cd for years"
You are leaving me only one thing
TO do" | said II shall surrender nv.
self 10 the men ut once" | took out
my revolver and held it out to her
This rope is dead line. The crew
know, and you will have no trouble:
but you must stand guard here until
some one else is sent"
She took the revolver without n word
and. somewhat daZed by this new turn
OF events. ! went aft. The men were
gathered there. and ! surrendered my.
self
1T will leave you pretty short hand.
ed. boys" finished. "but you'd better
fasten ME up somew here But I want
To he sure of one thing first; whatever
happens. keep the guard for the wom-
en-"
Wed like to talk ii over. leslie"
Burns said. after a word with the
others.
went forward few feet. taking
care to remain where they could see
ME. and very soon they called me-
There had been dispute. ! believe.
Adams and Mcnamara stood off from
the others, their faces not unfriendly.
but clearly differing from the decision.
Charlie Jones. who by reason OF long
service and sort of pious control he
had in the forecastle was generally
spokesman for the crew. took a step or
two toward me-
Well not do it. boy" he said I'VE
think We know man when we see
one. as well as having occasion to
know that you're white all through
And we're not inclined to set the talk
or women against what we think best
TO do. So YOU stick TO yOIIr iob and
were back of you
In spite of myself | choked I'D.
tried TO tell them what their loyalty
meant to me; but | could only hold
out my hand and. one by one. they
came up and shook 1t solemnly.
We think" Mcnamara said, when.
last of all, he and Adams came up.
that 1t would be best. lad. il we nut
down In the log book all that has hap
pened last night and today. and this
Just now too. It's fresh In our minds /.
now. and it will be something to go
by"
By unanimous consent the task of
putting down what had happened was
given to me. | have copy of the log
book before me now. the one that was
used at the trial. The men read 1t !
through before they signed it.
Aug 13
This morning. between s:30 and o'clock, |
three murders were committed on the |
yacht Ella At the request of Mrs. Johns !
one OF the party on board. | had moved 1
TO the after house to sleep, putting my