Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-11-23

Exhausted by her fruitless efforts, at
last she flung herself down upon a
nearby bundle-and stared up again
with shrek of terror,
The bundle beneath her had stirred
I-moved-yes she was sure of that.
1t moved again. Terrified as she was,
she stopped and cut the thongs which
bound the neck of the long bag of
! iute.
There appeared to her gaze the
tousled head and livid face of her
friend Roleau, Without her knowl.
edge he had been hoisted in with her
and left to live or die. as he chose,
bound tight in bag which gave him
little enough chance for air.
Kitty gave cry of delight and dis
may mingled as she bent above her
friend. He was half unconscious, un-
able to speak, because tightly gagged.
She aided him and freed him as she
might. The air, bad as it was, pres
emily began to revive the sufferer.
'Excellency," said he at last, Tex.
cellency, it is you, And where are
we?"
Il do not know, Roleau," said she.
Il can only guess. We are somewhere
in the hold of some ship. We must
have been struggled here, for what
purpose l do not know. II may be
we shall be carried out to sea. How
then can we escape?"
The boat now was far from the dock
in the lower bay of Grahoffen harbor
Under full way, she was headed for
the open sea. The executive officer
came to the captain in his Office, and
the latter turned upon him an inquir.
ing eye.
Steam yacht on our starboard quar-
tiers, SIR said the latter, going fast,
| flying signals for us to slow down SO
he may come aboard"
Come aboard-when we are under
way and two hours back of our sailing
hour? A pest take these little states
which are fighting this cat and dog
war; We have nothing to do with
that-and warrant it yonder stranger
has"
What orders, sir?"
Straight ahead, and full speed"
Very good, sir"
| What is the hour, Judson?'' de-
manded the captain as the executive
| turned away.
-Four bells, SIR
| Make it SOL And thus in nautical
terms the voyage of the Prinz Adler
was begun.
| Rnp1tu buf NOT opdad pao,,, I,u%
| soon to be broken. The fast yacht
swerved slightly and headed on such
an angle as would intercept the liners
| course. She sailed a splendid gait,
her clean-cut bows rising black above
the waves as now and again she
leaped from one crest to another in
her desperate speed Some man was
driving her who had a purpose; that
was plain.
The captain himself went on deck
| as he heard the sound of a distant
shot 1t had come from the yachts
bow gun, formidable looking black
piece which might carry iron enough
to sink helpless liner.
THE damned pirate," exclaimed the
captain. A sec md report, a second
plunge of white ahead gave him warn
ing that it was time to halt.
He'll sink US if we don't slow
down." muttered the captain. His
hand went out to the engiae-room
| switchboard. A third shot gave evil
dence enough Of the yachts inten-
tons. Once mere the engine bells
| tangled far below The order had
| come to slow down, to reverse. The
giant liner trembled, half paused, slow
ly Stacked her speed. and at last lay
purring, even as the yacht swung
swiftly alongside.
| What do you want ?" called the cap
tain of the Prinz Adler, addressing
a tall figure which stood at the bow
of the yacht. What do you mean by
stopping my ship"
Send me a boat at once" was his
only answer Il will explain when
come aboard Hesitate and you may
regret ii"
| Feeling under this the threat which
may or may not have been meant in
faith, but which served none the less,
a ships boat put out to the yacht
and brought Count Frederick aboard.
He at once made his way to the cap
tain, whom he addressed brusquely.
You have persons aboard this ship
who are fugitives from justice come
in our kings name to search you be-
| fore you leave the three-mile limit
| of our own waters. Perhaps you are
ignorant of these facts yourself. Lay
to, while we try to get the informa-
ton confirmed for you. l know they
are on board"
They were indeed on board, but
none knew of their presence. Far be-
meath the lowest deck Of the ship the
guilty deck hands had met their pris-
oners and sought to use such argu.
ments as they could find to induce
| their silence
| As for Roleau, he would hear to
nothing. The Joy of combat once more
came to his soul. He fell upon these
| seamen, and weak as he still was
waged such battle that at last they
| fed. Kitty and himself followed them.
Almost they gained the freedom OF
the upper deck.
But what could weak woman do
against such odds-or even Roleau?
Even as Count Frederick's boat came
alongside, and as he stood comforting
with the ships captain, the two pris-
oners who made the subject of the
controversy were left in such case
as might very well prove the captains
assertion that he had on board no pas
| sengers save such as ships passenger
list showed and had right to show.
Neither Kitty nor Roleau had knowl-
edge of what went on. Both had been
laid senseless.
CTo BE cONTINUED1
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