Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Tho Hand Of Fate.

1t seemed an age stood there, bend
ng to the narrow crack, hearing no
turther sound, and unable to guess
what had occurred In the semidarkness
IF the apparently deserted cabin.
could distinguish no movement. not
even the sound Of breathing. Then a
soft whisper spoke almost In my ear.
causing me to start back as though
stabbed by gun.
"Robert!"
There was agony In the utterance
sufficient to disguise the low voice, yet
| could not doubt the identity Of the
speaker.
Eyes; am here: what has hap.
pened7"
'Oh, don't ask that. hardly know
myself. It was all impulse, despera-
ton. Listen; they are going to desert
the ship within an hour. McCann told
me. IL let him believe would 60
with him to save my own life. IL
didn't know what to do. All that was
left me was to pray and watch"
"Yes, dear heart-but what hap
pened7 you must speak quickly. They
all left the cabin, and went on dack."
"Yes; to provision the boats; they
ire lowering the two forward ones
low. I was told to get my own things
eady."
mo guard was left here belowf'
"Only Dade; they knew you could
not possibly get out, and they had no
fear Of me because was so fright.
ened."
"And what became Of Dade?"
She caught her breath, the answer q
sob almost inaudible.
II struck him; dear. there was no
other way. Maybe killed him, but
but I never meant to do that. used
the only weapon I had--an iron leg
from my washstand."
Don't worry; it was either his life,
or ours. There IL no one else then
below?"
"Not.--not now"
els there any way Of loosening this
barr cannot even determine how 1t
Is fastened there were no cleats."
could see her outline as she stood
there, feeling with her hands: then
realized that length Of iron was in
serted between the wooden bar and the
jamb Of the door: there was crunch
Ing sound, not loud enough to be alarm
ing. and the bar fell. but was caught
before 1t struck the deck. Instantly !
was in the cabin, and had grasped, her
hands still clinging to the leg Of the
washstand.
'You brave, dear girll"
"Oh. don't. not now!" she pleaded,
drawing back. ''What shall we dor" :
''What do You know7" ! asked. "Tell
me as quick as you can"
'They are lowering the boats. BE
will be back for me in q minute"
Eyes, know; but they mean to
open the sea-cocks flrst?"
II was not told; no one has come
down this way"
whoever is given that Job would
use the mainhatch, or the ladder to the
engine room. You do not know II all
the crew are on deck7"
1.-THE man White yelled down the lad
der to somebody, whom he called Tony,
to use only the one screw-do you
know a man by that name?
"Aye, Tony Rappello, the head fire.
man; he could keep the machinery go
ing. Now one thing more-where have
they confined Leayord and Olson?"
II haven't dared ask" she admitted.
II did not suppose they would leave
the ship tonight, and thought I might
find some way to discover this for my.
self"
"You have no hintT
"Only that the boy Moon carried
food forward from the table while ]
was at the piano."
Forward? on deckT
"No; down the passage amidship."
"Good; that Is what supposed, and
It gives us a far better opportunity to
reach the men than II they were being
held In the forecastle. They are In the
petty omcers' quarters, no doubt. Now,
listen, dear. NcCann may come for
you at any moment. You must 60 back
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