The Pulaskian., 1917-11-23

The Key Turned and She Stood Fac
 ing Me. cabin; and when I started to leave my room I encountered McCann and some of the crew. They were dragging Leayord down the stairs, and his face was all blood"
 You were not injuredr
 "No; the big man with the red hair threatened me, but McCann interfered, and thrust me back into the stateroom. He told me to lock the door, and not to make any noise. I-I thought they had killed you"
 "Well, they tried hard enough, but, as you see, am very much alive still. They trapped me in the forecastle. Do you know what has become of the others?"
 She shook her head.
 "What I've told is all know. Those villains have control of the ship?"
 related the story to her swiftly, concealing nothing. At the last she asked:
 That is all? You know no more?"
 "No.'
 "Then the others must be alive, and on board. Surely you would have heard if any had been killed?"
 q believe so they would not kill If possible to avoid it, as such a crime would render their own case more des- perate."
 "What-what are you going to do?"
 "Frankly, Miss Vera, I do not know" confessed. q have had no time to think, and my head still throbs so from blows that hardly realize the situa- tion. cannot hope to fight these men alone, and there can be no immediate danger = they are sailing the ship toward St. Johns"
 "You believe they will take to the boats, and leave us aboard?"
 "That would be their only safe course. They would never dare sail the Indian Chief into that, or any other harbor. They must land as ship wrecked seamen, tell their story, and then quickly disappear"
 TT know that-but-but will they dare to leave us afloat, to be picked up by some vesselY hesitated, but her eyes compelled an answer. T do not know" said soberly. sIt hardly seems possible they can contem- plate such an act of villainy as the scuttling of the ship. and leaving us on board to drown like rats. That would be too horrid crime for this age. White and Liverpool might be brutal enough, but surely not Fergus Mo Cann."
 "Why not Fergus McCann~ His education, his former life, the civilization in which he has been reared; he has lived among gentle men,"
 "Gentlemenl she echoed the word in scorn. His associates have been principally gamblers and rounders. He is notorious in New York, and his money alone gives him entrance to de- cent circles. He doesn't know what the word gentleman means. If there is treachery behind this, 1t will be the plan of Fergus McCann."
 You know him better than L"
 T know of him longer; have heard more tales, yet surely you saw what he was in the boat?"
 You believe, then, the intention is to ScIlttle the vessel ?,
 "Yes, do."
 And leave us helpless on board?" "Yes, Mir. Hollis" drew a deep breath, at this direct verification of my own secret suspi- cion.
 "So do l." I returned in a whisper, although had no thought of telling you"
 You have some plan, then? You have considered what to do?"
 "No; hardly that. There will be two days, at least, before we shall be close enough to the coast for them to take to the boats. Much may happen with in that time; we may be spoken by some other vessel, even overhauled by warship, and manned by prize crew."
 You hope for thisir