Putnam patriot., 1915-03-05

d
 I've changed allegiance that's all, Broussard. The captain turned me loose last night"
 q ou wlf us: You go volunteer?"
 Well, something like that I'm to be drllmaSter or general for those tattered battalions down in the jun. gles What do you think of the jobg'
 He shrugged his shoulders and then grinned.
 What ze diff and he swept his hands about in expressive gesture. Sea-land. if only one gets the price. III sieur. But for me. 1 like to go. to mOve-not lie still an rot"
 of course" failing into his mood, that's in your blood. l reckon. But the captain said we were only to hide here for day"
 Maybe day. maybe week. No one knows how long. We wait till the sea is clear. Ban. The man fraid of shadow He give me sheep. an 1 show neem. He no sailor. m'sieur. 1 know heem long wbile."
 How longT'
 Oh, seek. eight year"
 Then you can tell me if he is real ly Judge Henley's son;''
 "Oui, m sienr; 'tis sure l can l hay been with heem there,' his brown ha nd 0Htstretched landward. where we got you. hey. many the time; besides. the judge he been on zis sheep Of course he was son: why you think Dot?'
 Il am beginning to believe l do not know very much about it. Broussard." explained briefly. moving aside to the rail 'l came down south with another story pumped into me that's alL'
 And ze young woman" he persist ed, following me closely. why she comeY'
 For the same reason l did"
 More ike cause she love you. beyl Saere. She was fine lookin girl. but" -shrugging his shoulders" tis the eapitaine. not ze mate. who may ad- mire. He is ze captaine. nobody tell him not on Ze Sea Gull
 left him and walked aft aware as l turned of the sheer on his face Yet even then. although burning with an- ger, 1 knew better than to remain. l dare not speak the bitter words on my tongne. feeling certain that what ever l said would ne repeated to Hen ley. knew men well enough to un- derstand the character of the Sea ,GuIrs captain. With unlimited power in his hands he was not an antagonist to be despised Nor did | doubt his purpose. Now that he had seemingly won me over to his scheme be would turn his attention to her. feeling SC .cnre from interference. And ne was Judge Henley's son or. at least. so these men believed who had been as- sociated with him for years. The sit uation grew more and more coiupi- ,eated: 1t was no longer merely her word against his. and yet 1 could not doubt the truth of any statement she had made to me.
 Broussard stared in my direction for a moment. but made no effort to fol low, and finally disappeared forward There was nothing on sea or land to distract my attention. and 1 felt that would be nearer to her below in the cabin than on deck. The skylight was closed. although even then it gave me partial view. and as 1 gazed through tbe clouded glass l perceived shadow pass The next instant the negro steward emerged from the companion Some swift impulse led me to crouch instantly out of sight. until the sound at his feet on the deck convinced me the Mellow was going forward watched him cautiously. He stopped twice to glance back. but. perceiving nothing. finally vanished into the fore castle.
 The negro's going forward left the captain. and Viola Henley alone be- low. l crept to the door of the com panion and then down the stairs.
 The main cabin was vacant. but the door of No. 5 stateroom stood slightly aiar. Assured l should find it empty. my heart already beating furiously. l took q swift glance within IL in no way differed from the room which had been assigned me opposite, and every thing was in perfect order Evidently the girl had departed without a strug gle. and with full expectation of an early return. Hev small handbag lay on the berth unlatehed and hand kerchief together with pair of gloves were upon the chair That she had hot gone on deck was a certainty, while the deserted cabin led me ire Sisttbly to suspect the captains quar- ters. He had dismissed the steward on some excuse. opened her door. and. using some pretense. or authority. had induced her to accompany him. What eouid do to help her. to overcome him. was not evident. l was alone. nnarmed surrounded by men under his command
 Possibly even now l was under sur feillance. The negro had left the cabin, knew but where was Hermann fsroussard was in charge Of the deck. sud hence this would be the first mates watch below Impressed with this dis seneerting thought. emerged again into fne main cabin. The stateroom doors were all closed. sud ] had to guess which was the Germans. l was sure. however that Bronssard occupied the frst on the port side. 1 had heard him tpen that door while talking 10 the steward, aud il was highly probable the first mate had the apartment oppo- site. Judging from the position Of the doors. these wonld be larger than th- bher sfaterooms. and if Herman was he real na avigator of the boat he would