The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-12-07

The Key Turned and She Stood Fac
ing Me.
cabin; and when l started to leave
my room l encountered Mccain and
some of the crew. They were dragging
Leayord down the stairs, and his face
was all blood"
"You were not injured?"
"No; the big man with the red hair
threatened me- but Mccain interfered,
and thrust me back into the stateroom.
He told me to lock the door, and not
to make any noise. IL 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?"
1 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."
81 believe so they would not kill If
possible to avoid it, as such crime
would render their own case more des-
perate."
"What-what are you going to do?"
Frankly, Miss Vera, 1 do not know"
1 confessed. II have had no time to
think, and my head still throbs so from
| blows that l hardly realize the situa-
| ton. I 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"
I'll know that-but-but will they
dare to leave us afloat, to be picked up
by some vessel?"
hesitated, but her eyes compelled
an answer.
II do not know" said soberly. ut
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 Nc
Cam"
"Why not Fergus McCannT
"His education, his former life, the
civilization In which he has been
reared; he has lived among gentle
men,"
Gentlemen she echoed the word
In scorn. Ills associates have been
principally gamblers and FOUNDERS. 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, it will be the
plan Of Fergus McCann."
"You know him better than l."
II know Of him longer; 1 have heard
more tales, yet surely you saw what
he was In the boatT'
"You believe, then, the intention is
to scuttle the vessel?"
"Yes, I do"
"And leave US helpless on board?"
"Yes, Mr.. Hollis"
drew a deep breath, at this direct
verification of my own secret suspi-
cion.
$50 do l." returned In a whisper,
although had no thought Of telling
you"
You have some plan, then? You
have considered what to dot"
mo; 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
a warship, and manned by a prize
crew."
"You hope for thisT