The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-05-14
full, significant call froze him to the

full, significant call froze him to the
floor.
1t was the signal of Marsh, the two
sad little notes Of the One IN
slant Of %irresolution and Brill sprang
to the door, closed and locked it, taking
out the key.
pitched voice, Eat work."
The youth seized his paraphernalia of
wires and steel bars and threw himself
upon his knees before the door leading
to the next cabin. Then the man turn
ed to the woman
"Forgive me, Miss Je%nnison," he said
in Il low voice, forgive me If l G
brutal, but there is no other way. In
n few moments I believe we shall know
the truth"
Marion made no reply. but stared at
the kneeling figure of Stebhins as he
worked with marvellous dizziness and
speed ut the door. Already the lock
had yielded, and Aristides, inserting
his thin, pointed, powerful bar Of steel,
N"Oohc LIZ OOlL ano plACu ~ DASns "a
moment more and he had rushed into
the adjoining empty cabin and begun
IN like manner upon the next stateroom
beyond. Brill heard the soft rasping
of his master key as he moved 1t this
way and that to catch the tumblers
within the lock. He turned again to
Marion Jennison.
"To leave this ship would be ruin or
death to your father and perhaps worse
than death to you," he declared SOL
EMMY. "Within a few feet Of us, I
hope, is a n prisoner-whose re-
lease will prevent this crime"
But my father and-and the others
will be hunting for me. They may
II cannot let you co." was the firm
reply.
The girls lips trembled, and her face
grew white and drawn.
Brill knew he must leave her. for
already Stebbins was at work on the
bolt in the next room. He held out his
hands imploringly.
Trust me, DEAR" he said %fervently,
FOR l love and honor you above all
the world. I feel that
The steel bar rang sharply as II fell
on the hoor, and a moment later Mar
Ion Jennison was alone. She heard
the bolt in the door that Brill closed
upon her slide into place with q snap.
1t was we'll for her peace that she
could not see into the adjoining room.
AS Brill entered it the door before
which Stebbins was kneeling was sud-
denly opened from within, and a heavy
featured Mexican, with a deep scar on
his forehead, leveled a revolver at
Stebbins.
In the tense, thrilling instant that all
three remained motionless Brill decid-
ed his course Of action. Evidently
Marsh had not lured away all the
guardians Of the mysterious cabin, as
he had hoped. There must be no shoot
ing. The pressure of a trigger might
completely turn the tide Of events at
the very food Of success. There was
another way, and he took it.
"Stebbins," he said sharply, what
do you mean by this nonsense? I've
warned you for the last time"
eAA6hC uEAAACAA6 VI VLC SuOulueIS
might have been noted from the fig
ure on its knees before the pistol, but
no word.
II trust you'll pardon my valet, sir.
He's a trif1e touched" said Brill care
lessly, tapping his forehead, cover an
invention of his for preventing bur
glaries and is always experimenting
with locks. He supposed your room
vacant"
The evil browed fellow muttered
something in Spanish. He evidently
understood, for his finger left the trig-
ger. although he still held the revolver
pointed at Aristides. Brill saw that
his ruse had succeeded.
Now, Stebbins,'' he commanded
sternly, ''pick up that truck and fling
1t into the sea through the port hole
Jay obediently began to gather up
his twisted wires. and his patron
thanked God for the intelligence that
had comprehended the trick and had
kept silence.
Here, throw this out too" AS Brill
spoke lie took a step toward the man
in the doorway and, bending down,