The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-10-08
CHAPTER XIV.

movement as l threw open
the drawers of the desk and
began handling their contents. For
some time | discovered nothing OF spe-
cial interest came upon one secure
ly locked tried key after key before
discovering the right one. realizing
from Henley's squirming that l must
be drawing near the goal. The first
paper touched was copy of the Will.
and little further rummaging put me
into possession Of various documents
at their contents were OF utmost value.
These | hastily transferred to my coat
pocket. making sure l had the original
letter descriptive of Philip Henley's
death. us well as the copy of a men,
Orandum which the half breed had EVIL
IDENTIFY drawn up for the convenience
of his lawyers.
81 think I've got your number" !
said finally.
you've got to get away first" he
sneered deffantly. land you'll not find
that so easy. My turn will come yet.
you spy. and then you'll learn how .
bite"
laughed, feeling no mercy.
"All in good time, friend. think
you have had your inning. Now it's
mine. So you are Charles HenleyY
He did not answer.
The Legitimate son of Judge Hen.
ley and u negro mother. That's a clev.
er forgery, that paper of legal adop
ton. admit. Must have had legal ad.
vice for that. What did you pay the
lawyers?'
He stared at me with compressed
lips.
mot ready to confess yet? Well, yoL
will be. By the way, who was that
Pierre who wrote telling you Of Philips
death? Not Vonique, was it?"
you DEVIL" he burst forth, tortured
beyond resistance. His teeth ground
together savagely, and he burst into a
string of Oaths.
That's enough" And l got to my
feet. Il see I'll have to gag you again"
| replaced the gag and took a survey
of the cabin to make sure all was Sc
cure. Nothing had occurred in the out.
err cabin during my absence. but the
growing shadows evidenced the ap-
proach of twilight. In those waters
night came quickly. Locking the cap
tain's door, entered my own state
room and sat down on the lower berth
to wait, leaving my door slightly ajar
The cabin grew constantly darker, al
though outside. through the open port.
| could still distinguish CLEANS Of light
along the water surface and the heights
of the island. Herman came down and
entered his staterOOm, but without clos
ing the door He remained but mo-
ment or two and then hurried back on
deck. Suddenly gust of wind blew
In through the port, and it began to
rain gently. but in huge drops. Far
away was the rumble Of thunder. echo
ing across the open sea. The storm
was evidently coming up slowly from
the east. as all the western sky was
clear and streaked with golden red.
Then a sailor came down the CON-
panion stairs, his oilskins rustling, and
pounded on the second mates door.
"All hands, Mr.. Broussard!"
There was a mufiied response, and
the creole, buttoning his jacket as he
passed, followed the other on deck. A
moment later heard the slow throb OF
the engines and glanced out to note the
shore line Slipping past into the gloom.
The Sea Gull was under way.
1t would be some time yet-fifteen or
twenty minutes at the best-before |
dared attempt to carry out my plan
of escape. In spite of the overspread-
Ing cloud and steady rainfall daylight
fingered In the west. and a spectral
glow hung above the ocean. There
Were preliminaries to be attended to,
and l was eager to be busy.
The steward had aroused from his
nap. and ! watched him lower the ia
Bile, and spread 1t with a white cloth
Now the distant clatter of dishes
proved him to be in the pantry. He
could be dealt with there even to bet
ter advantage than in the cabin, and
noncombatant as he undoubtedly was,
l felt it safer to place him beyond
power to create any alarm. The task
confronting me was far too serious to
leave our rear unguarded. / slipped
silently along the short passageway,
and. watching his back closely, investi-
gated the lock of the pantry door. It
was Of the spring variety. easily set
to fasten. and could not be operated
from the inside. AS l pressed in the
catch there was a clicking sound
which caused the negro to turn around,
the whites of his eyes cleaning oddly.
"Oh, my lordy! l nebber heard you,
Massa Craig. By golly, sab, dis yere
niggah sure thought he was shot"
Not Yet. Louis" I replied quietly.