Meade County news., 1917-12-27
CHAPTER xIv-continued.

ton of their interest temporarily on
what was being done forward, had
saved us from discovery. Yet could
not remain there, almost in plain view
Where should turn first? Bascom
would be Of no value, even If re-
leased him; my only hope Of assistance
lay In the two Seamen. Gripping the
Iron bar, the revolver snugly slowed
away in my pocket, crept down the
black passageway lending forward
glad to escape from the light of the
cabin.
Mccain believed his prisoners were
secure; that it was quite safe to leave
them unmatched for the short period
before deserting the ship. The very
fact that the inefficient Dade had been
left alone In the cabin to watch over
Miss Vera, and myself, was evidence
that he needed every seaman to carry
out the work on deck. The measure OF
bis confidence, his conceit, was what
gave us this opportunity to act. My
hand, fumbling for the lock encoun.
tered bar, a stout wooden bar, ex.
tending from jamb to jamb, and my
heart bounded madly. This was the
place. had found 1t already, and the
men / came to release were impris-
oned exactly as had been. I tapped
gently on the panel.
"WhO is it?" Low as the whisper
was, felt convinced the speaker must
be Leayord.
Hollis. Stand by now; are you
alone2"
"Yes; Olson and Masters are to-
gether In the bosun's quarters"
"Masters when did they lock him
upT
"About an hour ago he made quite a
fight Of it-that's how 1 knew what
was going on, sir. Can you get me
outT
"Ayel I'll rip this bar off in a jIffy.
Have you light in there?'
"Black as the inside of q whales
belly, sir"
got purchase with my iron lever,
and put my full strength to 1t. The
bar was of oak, but the jambs soft
pine, and the nails drew out, crealilng
slightly, but making no noise to create
any alarm. 1t was so intensely dark l
could not even perceive the outlines of
the mans figure, yet felt aware that
Leayord fronted me in the open door.
He found my hand somehow, and
gripped 1t.
"Pm sure glad to meet you, captain" !"
he exclaimed heartily, "and get out O.
that hole. What's the word, slr?"
"Release the others, and get busy !;
minutes are worth hours now. McCann
and his gang are desertlng ship; they
have the boats provlsioned, and along
side already; that is why the guards
have been withdrawn"
"They were going to leave us aboard
locked in?"
"Aye, and with the sea-cocks open /;
dead men tell no tales"
He whlstled, his fist shifting the
wood Of the door.
'"The dirty houndl And where are
we, sir?"
"0ff the Newfoundland coast; they
think less than fifty miles, but there's
nearly hundred miles Of blue water
to the west of us. Here's the way of
1t in nutshell: / was locked in my
stateroom the same as you. 1t was
Miss Darlington who, gave us our
chance. She became friendly with Nc
Cam, and agreed to 60 with him. She
was left free on board, and managed
to release me while the crew were all
on deck. The steward was left on
watch in the cabin, and she had to hit
him with this iron"
"She dldl Lord, I'd never have
thought 1t Of that slip Of a thing
What's become o. the glrl2"
"She's In her room, waiting for Nc
Cam to come down for her. She'll de.
lay him all she can. Is this the door,?
"Aye, aye, sir; and give me the iron.'
He was not minute at the job, and
It required scarcely longer to acQuaint
the other two released men with @
knowledge Of the situation. Olson
picked up the bar of wood for 9
weapon, asking simply:
"Vat we do now, captaln2 Iss 1t tC
fight?"
"Hush!" whispered Masters, "there'S
someone coming up the ladder"
We crept back into the bosum's state
room and waited breathlessly. There
was scarcely room for the four of us
and the door caught, and would no
wholly close. A dim light reflected
along the walls of the passage, making
me aware that the fellow who wal
slowly climbing the iron ladder from
below, had lantern with him. Lea
yord retained the iron leg, and I drev
my gun, holding 1t tight gripped In on
hand. The mans head and shoulder
emerged through the round opening
and the dim light enabled me to recoe
nize Tom Dugan. He paused on tn
edge, looking down.
"All quiet enough up here" he called
"You better draw the fires, Tony"
mo use O. that" answered sulle
voice from a distance. "The waite
will fix 'em in half an hour; there's tw
cocks open. I'm goin' on deck; tina
crooked millionaire don't git no chanc
ter drown me-"