The Huttig news., 1917-12-01

"Your Price Is Too Low, Hollis" to get back to New York. So now, will you help us quietly, or shall we have to make you?'
 "What Is 1t you desire of mel"
 s"That you work out an observation once day, and set the ships course as we direct; then tell us when q cer- tain point has been reached"
 "What point?"
 Fifty miles northeast of St. Johns"
 And then what happensT
 "We will take to the boats, and leave you and your officers to do what you please with the ship"
 Are all the crew with you in this mutinous deal?"
 The eyes of the two men met, and Liverpool blurted cut:
 They'll all do what we say; there's none ov 'em yer kin count on fer ter fight on your side; but maybe there's a couple we won't hav' no use for when we take to the boats."
 "Who are they?"
 ''Thar's no need O my tellin' yer that"
 Well, even with those two this will only give us six able-bodied men; that Is not enough with which to bring the Indian Chief into port"
 Tt will be all you'll have, anyhow" said McCann grimly. And you are mighty lucky at that. The drift will be southwark and will take you direct ly into the steamer lane. All you need do is keep steerage way, and wait until you are picked up. You don't imagine we want you sailing into the harbor at St. Johns the same time We get there. do you? Come on now stop this talk, and give us an answer
 For q long moment I stood motion less. staring out through the open port at the sunlit waters. It seemed to me my best course was to at least pretend to yield to their wishes. To acquiesce would insure me a measure of free dom on board, an opportunity to learn the exact conditions, and might enable me to save the ship from destruction. AS to McCann. he had some object in all this far more important than ap- peared on the surface. He was never assuming this risk, or investing all this money in an Illegal cause, without a more serious purpose than an Idle desire to return to New York. Hr was taking tremendous chance driy- en by some impulse could not com prehend. What was the secret-hate, revenge, greed, love? l would find grope in the dark, guessing at his mo- tives. Yet I knew this-hs promises were lies. He would make use of me he would induce me to pilot the ship to the spot he desired to attain on the broad bosom of the ocean, and then what? The man would never be fool enough to permit the Indian Chief to sail into any harbor to accuse him of such crime. Back of all his words, his explanations, his apparent fair ness, lurked treachery. I felt it. and knew it, and the very suspicion led me to reach swift decision. My eyes met his with a smile.
 | choice" said quietly. Tt is to either do this in freedom, or under compul- sion. Naturally I prefer the former" |"
 "You mean you accept our offer?"
 "Yes; 1 will figure out the proper course, and report to you when the yes sel is at the place you designate. That is all that is asked of me. In return I have your pledge that the ship will be left in good condition, with all who are loyal safe on board?"
 'Yes."
 "There Is one more condition, Me Cam"
 "What?"
 'That Miss Darlington be left abso- lutely unmolested by either you or your men, until the time comes for you to take to the boats.'
 "Hah, So that is really where the shoe pinches :"
 "We will not quarrel about it--ether say yes or no."
 What do you mean by unmolested? Am I prohibited from speaking to the lady?"
 That is to be left to her choice. not yours. She Is to retain the key to her stateroom to eat alone if she prefers. and to see such associates aboard as she desires"
 Liverpool laughed drunkenly.
 That ain't the argyment,' he said , easily. "So far as I see, that don't change things none. She's locked her self in anyhow, an won't answer mo- body"