, 1914-12-10

thought me, 10 mfsconstrue
IL her simple act of kindness. /
loathed myself with a hatred that sent
me %groveling to my blanket In the
pantry. and that kept me, ono there,
awake through all the early part of
the summer night.
l Weakened with a sense of oppres-
sion. of s~mothertng heat. l had
struggled slowly back to consciousness.
to realize that the door of the pantry
was closed. and that | was stewing in
the moist heat of the August night. l
got up, clad in my shirt and trousers.
Inc felt my way to the door.
The storeroom and pantry of the
after house had been built in during
the rehabilitation of the boat. and
consisted of a short passageway. with
drawers for linens on either side. and
beyond, lighted by a portfolio, the small
supply room in which l had been sleep
ing.
Along this passageway, then, l crop
ed my way to the door at the end,
opening into the main cabin near the
chart room door and across from Mrs.
Turner's room. This door 1 had beer
in the habit of leaving open for two
purposes-ventilation, and in case !
might be, as Mrs. Johns had feared.
required in the night
The door was locked on the outside.
/ was a moment or two in grasping
the fact. | shook it carefully to see if
it had merely caught, and then. in
%credulous. | put my weight to 1t. Ii
refused to yield The silence outside
was absolute.
! felt my way back to the window.
1t was open. but was barred with iron
and, even without that, too small for
my shoulders. l listened for the mate.
1t was still dark and so not yet time
for the watch to change. Singleton
would be IN duty, and he rarely came
aft. There was no sound OF footsteps.
l lit a match and examined the lock.
1t was a simple one, and as my idea
now was to free myself without rails
ing an alarm. | decided to unscrew II
with my pocket knife. l was still con
fused. but inclined to consider my i'm
prisonment n Jest. perhaps on the part
of Charlie Jones, who tempered his re
llBiouH ltINoI Will a lOnultSS IOT
practical joking.
accordingly knelt in front OF the lock
and opened my knife. | was In dark
ness and working by oucn. had ex-
tracted n screw and with a growing
sense of satisfaction was putting 1t in
my pocket before loosening a second
when a board on which | knelt moved
.,.anr mn l-no. IEA.oA - 10 A. ..b..
end, beyond the door. had been step
ped on. There was no sound. no freak.
Merely that ominous lifting under my
knee. There was some one Just beyond
the door.
A moment later the pressure was re-
leased. 1t was her that 4 woman
screamed-a low. sobbing cry, broken
Off almost before it began. ! had got
my knife by that time. and In despera-
ton | threw myself against the door.
1t gave way. and | fell full length on
the main cabin floor. I was still in
darkness. The silence in the cabin
was absolute. l could hear the steers
man beyond the chart room scratching
a match.
AS got up six bells struck. 1t was
8 O'Clock.
Wallis room was next to the pantry
and forward. I felt my way to it and
raped.
WALL" l called. vail"
His door was open an inch OF SO.
went in and felt my way to his bunk
/ could hear him breathing, a sterto.
rous respiration like that of sleep, and
yet unlike. The moment ! touched
him the sound ceased and did not
commence again. l struck a match
and bent over him.
He had been almost cut to pieces
with an az.
The match burned out, and 1 drop
ped 1t. | remember mechanically ex-
dnguishing the glowing end with my
heel, and then Strengthening to such q
sense of horror as l have never fell
before or since.
| had been sleeping with my revolver
beside me on the pantry door. Some
how or other | got back there and
found It made an attempt TO find
the switch for the cabin lights. and.
failing, revolver in hand. l ran into the
chart room and up the after companion
way. Charlie Jones was at the wheel,
and by the light Of a lantern saw
that he WIS bending to the right, peer.
ing in ut the chart room window. He
turned when he beard me.
Whats wrongf" he asked. II heard
a yell Il minute ago. Turner on the
rampage He saw my revolver then.
and. letting 20 the wheel. threw up
both his hands. Turn that gun away.
you fool"
could hardly speak. | lowered the
revolver and gasped: Call the cap.
tain Wallis been murdered!'
Good God he said. WHO did it?'
He had taken the wheel again. and
was bringing the ship bach to her
course. was turning sick and dizzy,