The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-20

But that stipulated delay was sew
eral times multiplied before Alan
showed up on deck to find Barcus
bending a laborious back to the cap
stan.
Lend hand. can't you?' Barcus
complained, blowing heavily. q didn t
interrupt your amours just to get an
audience. The sooner we get this
anchor in"
Alan checked him with a hand on
his arm. What's that" he demanded
in tone tense with apprehension.
The muftled running of heavy-duty
marine motor drifted down on the
: wings Of the sluggish wind.
Don't ask me-l'm afraid to guess
But they couldn't possibly
"Since when did you set up to be
a judge of possibilities? Nothing prob
able ever happened to you In all your
yong life-'s fairs l can make out. AS
for mel know there are at least two
with modern equipment--motor life
boats and all: and nothing will ever
persuade me that pack of. wolves
would stick at breaking in and contis-
eating one of the same. It's as likely
as Eot-only more so. Our present
business is to get the HI out Of here
and not advertise our exit. either.
Take that port light in and dowse it,
while | do the same by the starboard
Then duck below. warn your Dulcinea,
and put out the cabin lamp. That way
if this blackness and cur bull-luck
only hclds-we may manage an eva
sinn'"
Thcra followed an exceedingly busy
Quarter CT al hour for two constrained
j. oitch darkness to grope their way
ah0ut the decks and familiarize them
selves with the idiosynorasiJs of u
strange twc-mlster. Nevertheless, the
end of that period found the schooner
with canvas full and sheets taut a
good easterly breeze abeam, swiftly
Mear!Es 4 wake southwards the light
on Monomoy point watching her curl,
onel" from over the starboard beam.
Hear anything more Of that power
boat?" Alan asked, Joining Earcus by
the wheel.
"Nothing-wind too fresh. Make
yourself easy on the soft side Of q
plank here. I'll land you kick in
the Stats when 30 minded-or when
it's your trick at the Wheel"
oh, Ia,
stretched himself out on the deck.
Il say-Law!"
"Well?"
you seem pretty easy In your mind
about this young woman below To
me. she's the same that tried to send
me to Davy Jones' locker. How does
she explain her presence aboard7"
Much as l surmised," Alan replied.
Il fancy they chloroformed her while
she slept in that hotel in Portland.
Whether or no. Rose woke up In a
closed motor car-bound and gagged.
of course-and was brought aboard at
Gloucester about midnight"
Simple when you know how" Bar
Gus commented. "Of course. l always
did say that truth was stranger to
fiction. Cuddle down, now. and I'll
talk you insensible"
His accents already merging in with
the swish Of the 'longside waves, the
bubblng of the wake, and the many
| toned composite voice OF the ship in
being. Inconsistencies like cloud
descended upon Alans overwearied
faculties
lie woke mutinously, with yawn
and a SILVER in the gray of a furnished
daybreak, to find that fo. pressed
heavily upon the face of the waters,
mist so thick that from the stern the
waist of the vessel was almost invis-
ible, the bows completely so.
Barcus stood over him, at the wheel,
fairly Keeling with wearness, his eyes
5lood-shot. swollen, and half-closed in
a face like a mask of fatigue.
Cant keep this up much longer"
he apologized thickly; stood 1t about
as long as | can. Take your trick and
give me forty winks."
Grateful solicitude brought Alan In
stantly to his side, though he himself
was sluggish and stiff and sore In all
his limbs.
You're a brick." he protested. "Why
didn't you call me sooner"
mo good; knew the way--you
didn't. That is, did until this &C.
cursed fog closed down couple of
hours ago. Now-God knows where