Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-29

to me west OF NJ II no Joke at IN,
season Of the year. and there are sea
currents along here to fool, any soa
man. You can take the chances II you
want TO. but 1t Is my belief you fools
will have this ship on the rocks within
twenty-four hours, II you trust In blind
reckoning"
I'D It," sung out Liverpool
hoarsely, 1--WE don't need no sermon on
the dangers Of the deep. Stow the
gaff, an tell us what yer want"
Y WILL" snapped back. 1.-THE free.
dom Of the ship for both myself and
Miss Darlington. Our meals are Il
be served privately, and the lady IL no,
to be addressed by any one Of you"
my Gawd,r' exclaimed q mufied
voice. "you don't want muchi Who
are you. the car Of Russia1"
II am the rightful captain Of this
ship" returned stifily. land the only
man on board capable Of navigating
her. You can accept my terms, or
leave them: and those are not all.
Mccain, I am talking to you, not that
sea scum"
"All right; 60 ahead. What else2'
II am to retain this revolver for
protection, and the key to my state
room; Miss Darlington Is also to re-
t0sn hnr l,n .v,,nt
ship, which know you plan to do.
the Indian Chief Is to be left in sea-
worthy condition. That's air
Enough, should think. You must
consider your services indispensable.
However, accept the terms, providing
you agree to do what we ask In re-
turn"
'That I navigate the ship to within
fifty miles Of st. Johns; notify you
when we reach that point, and give
you correct sailing directions"
'That Is what we want"
"Good; accept. Take your mea
out of the cabin"
stood motfoniess, still gripping the
revolver in one hand, listening to
catch every sound the other side Of
the closed door, There was "a muttered
discussion, the words mostly inaudible,
although heard enough to convince
me that Mccain was urging accept
ance of my conditions on the ground
that 1t would be impossible for me,
alone, and under surveillance, to add
to their danger. Some words were
added in so low tone as to fail to
reach my ear, but whatever they were,
they evoked laugh, and seemed to
restore the dissatisfied to better hui
NOR. Liverpool took sides with Nc
Cam In the dispute, and the two unit
ed must have prevailed, for the men
finally dispersed, and we could hear
their heavy sea boots tramping up
the stairs.
Relieved Of the strain, l turned to
meet the questioning eyes Of the girl.
'That-that was better than fight
lng-wasn't it?" she asked almost anx-
iously.
Eyes; I lost my head for the mo-
ment, and could only think Of reaching
deck, and shouting an alarm to the
cruiser"
1T was too late for that"
"Yes; we know 1t was now, and
probably would never have reached
there alive. I am very thankful to
YOU"
ITO mev Her lips smiled, although
her eyes remained grave. "Why, !
merely, opened door-besides. even
that act was supremely selfish"
II cannot conceive how"
"You do not? Yet surely you can
realize what it would mean to. me to
be left alone on board with-with Fer.
gus Mccain. I do SO despise the
creature that shrink from even look.
ing into his eyes. lit was to avoid
meeting him again that locked the
door,"
HE talked with you, then?"
Eyes, at the table. We were alone
for a moment, and it was his manner
which frightened me rather than any
words said. left the table without
speaking. He-he followed me, how.
ever, and tried my stateroom door,"
Saying nothing7"
mo; it was locked, and-and he
laughed and went away"
II suspect the man is almost as
much afraid of you as you are Of him,
I said quietly, land is puzzled what
to do with you"
"Afraid Of me-Why?"
swell, II you were not aboard, his
problem would be much easier one
to solve. The lives Of none Of the
rest of us would weigh much In the
calculation"
"And you think my life does?"
Undoubtedly. Mccain is villain
by nature; he was Doru vain >.........-:
instincts, which have no wise been
changed by the possession Of wealth
But he Is fully awake to the peril of
his position. The fellow Is coward
back of all his bluff. and l do not think
his criminal instincts are bloodthirsty
But he has drifted into desperate
situation, from which he must extri'
cate himself ut any COST"
"You mean-oh, not that2"
II mean there Is but one sure solu.
tion-dead men tell no tales"
CHAPTER XXI.