The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-09-17

men understand the situation. lucy TO
a hard lot"
"Revolutionists?"
mo: plain New Orleany wharf rats,
the securing of the seven seas"
"Who is FIRST mate-the German"
"Yes; Herman; a fine sailor. was
with the Hamburg people until he had
wreck. The creole Broussard is sec
ond, and two of them together could
tame "a cargo Of wildcats"
l took his hand. feeling the sinewy
grip Of his lean. brown fingers, ana
turned to the door. The single lamp
In the main cabin was turned iow'
only family Illuminating the interior.
In the quiet | could feel the move
ment of the vessel and realized there
was some sea on, although the engines
were being operated only at haif
speed. This seemed odd IL speed was
desirable as supposed 1t must be on
voyage of this nature. l was not In
the least sleepy and sank down In the
first chair to think, my eyes on the
captains door.
What Henley meant to do with the
girl was prOblematcal-l had not
thought to ask-but he either intended
putting her ashore In Honduras or
else holding her prisoner on board I'M
til the Sea Gull returned north. FL
Their contingency was bad enough. and
the suspicion flashed suddenly across
me that the final decision would de-
pend ON how kindly she might receive
the attentions of the captain. Nor did
l question the result. had not known
the lady long. but In that brief time
our reia tons had been sufficiently inti-
mate to yield me good insight into
her womanly character. There would
! be no yielding. no compromise.
felt my teeth lock. my hands clinch
In sudden anger
may have remained there for
quarter Of an hour. mOtiOnless. think
ing over every incident. No one dis
turbed me. The captain was still in
his stateroom. where once or twice |
imagined heard him pacing the floor.
The steward had apparently retired for
| the night, although 1t was not late. as
a glance at my watch proved. Ny eyes
traced the doors on either side. ten
altogether, each plainly numbered. and
l opened the one assigned to me and
| glanced within. Except that 1t was
more commOdiOus and contained
! washstand at one corner. 1t did not
differ greatly from the other forward
where had been held prisoner.
l wondered which OF these others
might be hers and passed silently from
door to door, vaguely hoping for some
sign Of guidance. They were all tight
ly closed. and dare not try the locks.
as | was certain one. ut least. of the
under officers would be sleeping below.
My round had brought me to the Sec
ond door on the port side when In the
dim light ! perceived something lying
at my feet and STOPPED down to better
determine its character. 1t was the
end of very narrow light blue rib
bon, apparently caught beneath the
door. The door was numbered ~"
Whether by accident or design. she
had left the one clew l most needed
thrust 1t into my pocket. but the soft
touch of the silk seemed to bring back
to me sense Of caution. knew the
door was locked and assured myself
there was no space beneath. IL was
! to communicate with her other means
must be employed. What? This was
the second stateroOm on the port side
Judging from my own. the width Of
each room would be about six feet
There ought to be no difficulty In lOcat
| ing her portfolio from the deck above
nor In attracting her attention.
The one thing l desired now was to
re-establlsh myself fully in her conf
dence. assure her I was at liberty on
board. able and willing to be Of serv-
Ice. This necessity overshadowed ev-
erything else. II could discover
means Of communication we could
plan hopefully, assured Of co-opera ton
This seemed possible. the way to its
accomplishment open. Swallowed from
observation by the thick butt of the
after mast, | wrote few lines hastily
on the back Of an envelope, thrust 1t
into my pocket and ventured up the
companion stairs.
A glance sufiiced to convince that
was alone and unObserved. The deck
was unobstructed aft. except for
small boat swung to davits ustern and
the cabin transoms. These last were
elevated some three feet. but consider
able space separated from the rail. I
slipped into this opening ON the port
side. crOuching In the dense shadow
until again assured ] was alone. My
position afforded as good view for
ward as the darkness would permit
and likewise enabled me to see into
the dlmly lit cabin below. | was not
watched or spied upon. For the first
time began to feel free.
With u glance below at the unoccu-
pied cabin l stepped back and paced
off the distance until convinced that
had safely located where the portfolio
Of No. should be. leaned over,
seeking to trace Its outline by some
reflection Of light from within. but the
receding side Of the vessel baffled me-
Yet. assured that must be correct In
my measurements, I marked the spot
on the rail- and began search for some
means by which l could open com.