Putnam patriot., 1915-03-05


 nad,. no aarrr,. realizing. doubtless. II
 would uut h' nrard His eyes biazed
 wiih naIe inrrrIieSS vindierive. and ne strussieu iisv a pend te nreas free
 , >;9W tne giri ~tiii dazed from ner fmih struggling to ner feet. with tace nplitteu. then my every consideration was riFettd on my antagonist This
 WIS te ne no boys Play. no easy vic- Iory His mu~,.lrS were fike iron. his movements >o quick and unexpected aS ro put ne on the defensive. l could only hold tight. Briced Tor the strain. yet forced back. in spite of every effort.
 inch by inch arrOSs the floor. my feet
 tangled in The rug Neither could
 strike nor kick was weapoDless.
 and dare not releaSe his arms for
 tear he might possess a gun. But
 managed tu swing him sideways. the
 two of LIS tripping over the chair and
 coming down heavily on the deck.
 By some lurk 1 landed on top and be-
 fore he recovered from the shock had
 wrenehed one arm free. locking my
 ingers in his throat
 He squrIned under me like an eel.
 but could not break the grip. his face
 purpling. until he lost all power
 Fierce as the battle had been. l re-
 tained sufficient sense to loosen my
 death grip while the man still breath
 ed. lifting my head sufficiently to
 glance about. My own breath came
 in sobs. and the precipitation almost
 blinded me
 Firing me something to tie him
 with 1 said hrokenly. Anything;
 yes. that belt will do '
 She tore il from the hook on the wall
 and thrust il into fuy hands With a
 single movement 1 had it buckIed se- curely abont his arms. and was free
 to sit up and stare about \ cord from the portiere curtain drap,ng the bathroom entrance completed his lash ingS
 By -. Craig" he snared. you'll
 both wish you'd killed me before you're done with this job. What chance have you got to get away ?''
 Tint is for me to decide" I an swered But if you open your mouth again I'll gag you Now. stop it. The first word you utter will mean Il hand kercfef i'll youl mouth" l stopped down and dragged him to one side As 1 strengthened up again she was facing me.
 How did you get here?" "l found my way through the con meeting bathroom wonder" "Then then. We can escape in the same manner
 "l hardly think that will be neces- sary. I'll go through our friends pock- cts for his keys l turned him over and began the search "Ah. a re- volver. l thought probable-in protec- tion against a woman you cur. Here are keys: now lets see whatf fhey tit." The third one tried unlocked the door, but even as l tried them in the lock my mind swiftly reviewed the situation. It must be open war from now on. Henceforward we could ex pect no mercy on board Yet how was it possible to escape. or avoid discov- cry? To attempt leaving the Sea Gull before dark would be suicidal. Yet there was chance that what had oc- cured in this cabin could be kept concealed for a few hours. until dark ness gave us better opportunity for ceessful action The memory of what Henley bad said To me the even ing before that he was only techDi cally in commands that for days at q time he never appeared on deck in per son. gave me the clew. If he could be ! kept absolutely secure in his cabin. un- able to create any alarm. We would be free to plan our escape, There were but two points of danger to be guard ed against Herman and the steward The former. when he returned from shore might seek him for final orders and the latter. if he failed to appear in the cabin for the regular meal. would endeayor to learn his desires. 1 would have to guard against these contin- gencies. and. with the first in mind. stepped across to tine bathroom. and was gratified to learn that the door. leading into the mates stateroom. could be locked on the inside. With this private approach barred. l felt confident of being able to guard the single entrance remaining. Well. what can We doY'' she asked when l returned.
 Keep the fellow tied and wait for night" l answered soberly. That Is our only chance. The mate is ashore We are lying in the cove of q small Is land off the Florida coast waiting for dark ness and d chance to slip through into southern waters
 Do you know where this boat Is bound?"
 Yes; Spanish Honduras We are loaded with munitions of war, l Iangh- ed ''l was to be general down there. l had to play d part. But yon received my note?'
 "Yes. and it helped me wonderfully although even then 1 scarcely conpre- hended why all this pretense was nee essary Surely you do not believe this man is Philip Henley. that that have told you Iie:'
 No. l do not" l answered earnestly. But he has shown me evidence of his identity which would have convinced me under other circumstances letters and pictures will show them to you. for know where they are kept in the desk. No evidence would ahake my faith in you. and am certain now there is fraud here. some devilish plot concocted to steal Judge Heniey's for tune
 What letters: What pictures were they:''
 ''Letrers from the judge to his son intimate fanIily ietters. and d photo graph of the. father and this man taken t0n.rner