, 1915-02-04

IOunu on turner y uOOT, anu ucceSs u
the ex, with its telltale prints on the
handle.
Mrs. Sloane" l said. Il do not know
that you were asked to do this-I think
not. But II you were, say for me
what | am willing to say for myself.
] shall tell what I know, and there is
not money enough in the world to pre-
vent my telling 1t straight. The right
man is going to be punished. and the
key to the storeroom will be given to
the police and to no one else"
"But-the other keyP"
THAT is not In my keeping"
81 do not believe your
81 am sorry" | said shortly. "As a
matter of fact, Burns has that"
by the look Of triumph in her eyes
knew ! had told her what she want
ed to know. She went below soon aft
er, and I warned Burns that he would
probably be approached in the same
way.
Not that l am afraid" l added.
"But-keep the little Sloane woman at
a distance. She's quite capable of mes
merizing you with her eyes and rob
bling you with her hands at the same
time."
The murders had been committed on
the early morning of Wednesday, the
18th. 1t was on the following Tues
day that Mrs. Sloane and l had our
little conversation on deck.
1t was on Friday that the incident
happened that completed the demon
alization of the crew.
The cook, taking down the dinner on
Friday evening, reported Mr.. Turner
up and about and partly dressed. The
heat was frightful. All day we had
had a following breeze, and 1t had
been necessary to lengthen the towing
rope, dropping the jolly boat well be
hind us. The men, saying little or
nothing, dozed under their canvas; the
helmsman dropped at the wheel. I'm
der our feet the boards sent up sim
mering heat waves, and the brasses
were too hot to touch.
AT 4 O'Clock Elsa Lee came on deck
and spoke to me for the first time in
several days. She started when she
saw me, and no wonder. In the fren-
zied caution OF the day after the
crimes | had flung every razor over
board, and the result was as villain
Gus a set of men as l have ever seen.
Have you been I'll again?" she
asked.
l put my hand to my chin. mot
ILL.," / said; merely u~nshaven."
But you are pale, and your eyes are
sunk in your head"
I'VE are very short handed and
no II has slept much"
1.-THE cabin is u~nbearable," she said.
1--WE are willing to take the risk OF
opening the after companion door,"
But | could not allow this, and l
tried to explain my reasons, The
crew were quartered there for one:
for the other, whether they were will
ing TO take the risk or not, l would
not open 1t without placing a guard
there, and we had no one to spare for
the duty. l suggested that they use
the part Of the deck reserved for
them, where it vas fairly cool under
the awning, and after a dispute below
they agreed to this. Turner, very
weak, came up the few steps slowly,
but refused my proffered help. A lit
tie later he called me from the rail
and offered me u cigar. The change in
him was startling.
We took advantage of their being on
deck to open the windows and air the
after house. But all were securely
locked and barred before they went
below again. 1t was the first time
they had all been on deck together
since the night of the 18th. 1t was a
| hffrorant nrnNvi nf nanrIa that ..s
there, looking over the rail and speak
ing in monosyllables-no bridge, no
glasses blinking with ice. no elaborate
toilets and carefully dressed hair, no
flash of Jewels, no light laughter fol-
lowing one of poor Wallis sallies.
At 10 O'Clock they went below, but
not until | had quietly located every
member of the crew.. l had the watch
from 8 to IL that night, and at half
after 10 Mrs. Johns came on deck
again. She did not speak to me, hut
dropped into a steamer chair and
yawned, stretching out her arms. BY
h light Of the companion lantern l
saw that she had put on N of the
loose negligees she affected for IN
dress, and her arms We're pare except
for a fall of lace.
At eight bells ~(midnighp Burns took
my place. Charlie Jones was at the
wheel and Mcnamara In the crow
nest. Mrs. Johns was doing in her
chair. The yacht was making perhaps
four knots, and far behind the small
white light of the jolly boat showed
where she rode.
slept heavily, and at eight bells |
rolled of my blanket and prepared to
relieve Burns. l was stiff, weary, I'M
refreshed. The air was very still, and
We were hardly moving. | took a pail
Of water that stood les the rail and,
leaning far out, poured 1t over nv
' hand and gbn,IJn,,