Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-08

what when the coolie drew himself
up to attention and gave him cor
rect military salute.
"Well, WE'LL" grumbled the. captain.
Who are you, my MANI"
Captain" replied the newcomer.
81 am Lieutenant Edward Gafford-
some time of the U. S. Engineers"
"Gatford" The captain started
and stammered. "Old Dan Gafford's
son Ned?"
"The same, sir"
color you've got crust to come
aboard government vessel, must
say, Gafford," he burst out gruffly.
"I heard you'd come this side, but /
never looked for this.
Gafford felt the blood rush into his
own cheeks at the words, but he con-
trolled himself by an effort.
81 don't wish to speak of the past,
but of the present, captain" he said
coldly. al came out here for only
one purpose. 1t was to tell you that
Miss McRae was kidnapped tonight
from the Hotel Nippon by the Jap
anese."
"Kidnaped? Miss Shiela ?" Spry
repeated dryly. What sort of
fairy story is that?"
"It's the truth sir, and l think l
can prove what say. | happen to
know that her father left her at the
Nippon while he went secretly to
Tokyo. also know that he has not
returned yet tonight Miss McRae re-
ceived what purported to be letter
from him, asking her to leave the
hotel and come to him aboard the
yacht She"
| IL
did you get hold of those facts ?
"From this ship"
"That's lie-a damnable liep
howled the captain. What are you
up to, Gafford? That is, if you are
Gafford. Are you acting as Japan
ese spy? You sold your country
once. Are you"
"Stop!" Gafford leaned forward
with clenchcd hands and barred teeth.
Captain Spry, if it wasn't that /
can't afford to quarrel with you, be-
cause our country needs us both, act
ing in concert, at this minute, would
make you eat that cowardly remark.
What if can prove that that letter
came from the Nantucket-was writ
ten aboard her and used to lure Miss
McRae to her fate?"
"I'll apologize and believe you a
wronged man from first to last"
flared Spry, with total confidence.
Good! I'll remember that prom
ise," accepted Gafford. Now tell
me, have you Jap steward aboard 2"
"Yes."
"Where did you get him."
"Where did we get him? Why,
good Lord, we picked him up before
we cleared! He's been with us all the
way across"
"Does he read and write English ?"
"Guess he does,' admitted the cap
tain. "He turns in his lists and re-
QUESTIONS in that"
"Fair."
as he aboard now-tonight ?"
81 believe so. Why?"
Suppose you call couple of men
and we go see," suggested Gafford.
at would be interesting to know"
Spry shot him glance and shook
his head. "No need of starting talk" ;"
he decided an send Mathison to
call him." He glanced at the second
officer, who turned and left the room.
81 presume" he resumed after the
mate was gone" that you mean the
steward wrote this decoy note ?"
"Not only that" said Gafford, "but
l believe that he forged Secretary
McRae's handwriting, so that Miss
McRae had no reason to doubt the
authenticity of the note"
"But how do you know it worked ?
Maybe she did doubt it," queried
'ishiela McRae is no fool, young
man."
Gafford shook his head at worked
Captain Spry. A man named Oshitu
q member of the war party and an
officer in their army, went to the Nip
pom tonight and represented himself
as an escort sent to take her to the
yacht. She left. | know, for have
been to the Nippon. They brought
her to the water front, took sam
pan, and carried her to an island just
, below us. followed, and was jus'
/ too late to stop their getting away
, in a launch"
! Captain Spry swore in amazement
7 "You mean to say" he began ant
paused. A sound of running footsteps
came from the outer alley, and Math
| ison burst in. The salute he gave
, was perfunctory in the extreme, ant
he began speaking even as he RAISED
his Land. "The steward is not il
, quarters, captain. took the libert.
} of looking around bit. Apparent
E ly he's left the ship-cleared out"
Captain Bill Spry came out OF nj
Z berth in a bound. "By Heaven" h
roared, turning to Gafford. at be
i gins to look as if you knew NOR
about what was going on on my shil
a than / do. Come along, both of you
a till we search that yellow sneak
D room" Without waiting even t
: thrust his bare feet into slippers, h
J, dashed out and turned forward to
ward the stewards cabin.
r Gafford and Mathison followed
i The latter shook his head. Don
Y see how he did it," he remarked t
Gafford. "He was around at tie
Q o'clock. How did he get away?"
), Probably tied his personal stuff t
o his head and put on life-belt, sli
,, down a rope, and swan. Thes
chaps are fish, Mathison, and he coul