Putnam patriot., 1915-02-19

chief had said he would turn the girl free in New Orleans. where she could do them no harm New Orleans. then. was doubtless the port for which we sailed. It was clear they meant no personal harm 10 her. and they would never have brought me on board alive if they had deemed it necessary 10 otherwise dispose of me. These considerations were. in the main. re- assuring and as turned Il em over in my mind I drifted into better humor. Besides, my head ceased to ache.
 It was fully an hour after the com ing of darkness before l was disturb ed. Then the door opened. and the entering gleam of d light swinging in the passage revealed the grinning ne- gro steward bearing a well filled tray. This he deposited in the berth. while appiying match to the lamp over head l saw no shadow of any guard outside. but the fellow made no eff fort to close the door, and 1 did not move. confident he was not alone.
 say. George, what boat is this?' l asked.
 Nah name is Louis. sah.
 All right Louis then; what's the name of this yesse?"
 she am de Sea Gull, an a mighty in boat, sah.'
 aso I judge What is she, fruiter or private yacht?"
 T reckon 1 don't just know" and he grinned.
 Perhaps then you will inform me where we are bound. 1 suppose you know that?'
 No. sah: de captain he nebber done tol me. sah nothin' bout his person. al plans. All he done said wus fer me to hustle sum grub in yere."
 The shadow of a man blocked the doorway He was one of those who had been ill the small boat. and l no- ticed a revolver at his waist,
 That's enough. boy. Come, now, out with you he commanded grutfiy. Never you mind the door. I'll attend to that
 He pulled the door to after the re- treating form of the negro and l heard the sharp click of the latch and then his voice. untitled by inter- yening wood ordering the steward aft. There was no appearance of any lock on the door. Probably there was none, as otherwise il would not have been necessary to post guard. How ever. this was clearly no time to eX pertinent, and 1 was hungry enough to forget all else in the appetiZing fragrance Of the meal waiting. fell to eagerly. convinced there was q good cook on board and enjoying ev- cry morsel This did not look as though was destined to suffer, and merely being confined in these narrow quarters for a few hours waS no great hardship. Probably the girl was re- ceiving very similar treatment. and as soon as the Sea Gull made what ever port was aimed at We would both be put ashore and left to pro eeed as we thought best. These peo- pie were lawless enough without doubt-the murders already commit ted were evidence of that-but all they desired so far as we were per sonally concerned. was to get us safe " longer interfere with their plans. What those plans might be l could merely conjecture. with little enough 10 guide my guessing They might be \ 6libusters connected with some reyo- lution along the Central American coast. smugglerS or marauders of even less responsibility. using the Henley place for a rendezvous These fellows were doubtless the ghosts which haunted the place and had given it so uncanny reputation throughout the neighhorhood They would nat urally resent any interference, any change in ownership or control Pos sibly if they were thieves. as l more than half suspected. they had loot buried near ny and were anxious to get us out of the way long enough to remove it unobserved This appealed to me as by far the most probable ex- planation. The door opened again, and the guard stood revealed before ane in the glare of light.
 -"fhe old man wants you." he ex- \ pained brusquely. waving his hand X aft as though specifying the direction. Come on. now
 preceded him along the narrow II passage The cabin was unoccupied. M the table swung up against the beams & of the upper deck. the heavy chairs 8 moved back. leaving wide open space X The furnishings were rich. in excellent . taste. It was yachtlike interior VI There was but one door. evidence that a single cabin occupied the entire spaee astern. and I stopped before it. rny companion applying his knuckles fo the wood but without removing # his watchfui eyes from me. A untitled yoice asked who was there. and al the response replied:
 Open the door and show him in. Pe- ters. and remain where you are within cal"
 W I entered and found myself upon plain. unearpeted deck. the white walls md ceiling undecorated. On one side was double tier of berths. lockers
 Tere between the ports. and heavy rurtains draped the two windows aft Opposite the berths was an arm rack. Eontaining variety Of weapons. and
 he only floor covering was small lug beneath desk near the center of \ he apartment This latter was litter fd with papers. among them map or
 TWO. on which courses had been prick ed Beyond these all the room con- 2 aimed was a small bookcase. crowded
 With volumes. and few chairs. only