Mexico Missouri message., 1914-06-04

tired. and Tom was enabled once more
10 contemplate the Kohinur more as a
vessel of which he was master, and
less as an isolated corner OF Already.
one Of the first things he observed
was the presence Of stranger For
some minutes, underneath his troubled
meditatlons. had stirred a vague un-
easy senee that he was being watched;
and happening TO look in certain d.
rcction, his glance encountered man
whom he had not before seen. He
promptly walked up to the stranger
and demanded to know what he was
doing on board. Winnard, the second
mate. was a witness to the episode,
and he took it upon himself to explain.
He's all right, sir. Mr.. Willard
brought him aboard last night"
With the moral certainty that the
newcomer had been watching him all
afternoon. Tom went to his cabin.
Alone, he took up again the burden
Of his doubts and uncertainties.
Should he not warn Willard that
Flint was close upon his trail? What
would Willard think of the Man of
Irons Interference? His position
strongly urged him to go to the char
terer and lay the matter before him.
Then his vacillating will would take
a pendulum swing TO the other ex-
IRENE; he ought to go over to the
Claremont and phone Flint where VIII
lard was to be found; II the latter
were really engaged in no dishonor-
able employment, then no harm could
come to him. But then, If he
was TO be believed, Tom would thus
be lending himself to the defeat OF jus
tice and right.
And so on, round and round in a cir
Gle went his thoughts, with no hope of
arriving at a solution of the many diff
ficulties. II he could only talk to
Della, alone. for half an hour, perhaps
she could help him. But he did not
see her again that day.
Friday evening brought a change
The male element OF Wizards party
became animated by an unusual ac-
tiyity. There was much going and
coming between the Kohinur and the
landing, and the girls retired before
nine O'Clock, as If to be out of the way.
And then, some time close to mid
night, Max Willard and two of his
young men boarded the launch; but
now, instead of going over to the
Claremont landing, the little craft flut-
tered away downstream and was soon
lost in the night.
Tom retired to his cabin, but could
not sleep. He was oppressed by q
sense Of anticipation, conviction that
something was about to happen. Wher
he heard the launch returning after
two O'Clock in the morning, he was
curious enough to go above to see Il
anything would transplre to accoun
for the secret midnight excursion.
= Willard came first up the ladder, is
. suing low-yoiced directions to the tive
|. men. Then they came, with consider
able difficulty by reason Of their IN
, wieldy burden.
A AS well as Tom could make out Il
A the darkness. in shape and size wha
. they carried was just such box as
Q used as a container for a coffin. Tn
!. three went quickly below with thei
q burden. and quiet reigned over tn
Kohinur
q In point of fact, from that time o
Il until the final terrible hour when d,
! spair and horror laid their icy clutc
upon Tom Phinney's heart, an unna
ural calm seemed to prevail. It was q
IL the yacht and all on board wei
subdued by an apprehensive dread {
impending tragedy.
And still Tom could not make up h
mind as to what he ought to do.
But this intolerable high.tensic
mental stress was In a measure T
lieved by two occurrences OF Saturds
afternoon.
About three o'clock Max Willard 1
structed him to get up full head
steam at sunset, and be in readine
during the night to drop down d
river.
Are we to clear tonight?" ask
Tom with considerable eagerness.
Il don't know positively yet" W
lard replied in lifeless tone. "Wh,
= the signal comes TO get under way,
will come IN hurry, and from then
until We are we'll out at sea speed W
NC AluNAFA Va NOAol4Eld Ult
lance. You Will know before moi
on ing"
Everything is in readiness" Tt
advised him.
ere That is very gratifying" The mi
'er- netic eyes rested searchingly upon I
e skipper for a moment
my Captain Phinney," Willard ask
as after the pause, do appear co
the posed?"
3D. why. yes" returned Tom in 8
the prise. 81 shouldn't have thought O
ay? erwise."
ow, Indeed, save for the burning b
ex- lance of his eyes, Max Wizards m
lust was, II anything, dull and dispirited
ted We'll. then" he said. ut win be
ficult TO make you believe that no n
and ever labored under a greater men
ear and nervous strain than ] do at {
ella | moment God helm tta alto