Meade County news., 1917-12-13
CHAPTER xx-contInued.
tYou showed forged papers?"

1Uu puPSLob
"Aye; that was easy enough; you
never supposed l was such fool as
to overlook that, did you? We are
from st. Johns to Liverpool, with a
miscellaneous cargo. The fellow swal-
lowed my yarn as though it was sugar
candy. And the best of it. is, that is
the only war vessel patrolling these
waters; we have a cinch."
mot without me-" answered calm
Iy, after a pause in which my mind
gripped the situation. "The telltale
compass shows you are three points
of your course now. I'll talk with
you, Mccain, but If continue to nav
igate this ship it will be at my own
terms, and you'll either give me what
/ ask, or we'll fight it out here and
now"
"What are your terms7"
took time to think, determined to
demand every concession 1 dared ask,
assured that held the winning hand.
''Well," / said finally, "this coast
to the west of us Is no joke at any
season Of the year, and there are sea
curreots along here to fool any sea-
man. You can take the chances If you
want to, but 1t Is my belief you fools
will have this ship on the rocks within
twenty-four hours, If you trust in blind
reckoning"
Cd It," sung out Liverpool
hoarsely, 1--WE don't need no sermon on
the dangers of the deep. Stow the
gan, an tell us what yer want"
II WILL" l snapped back. "The free
dom Of the ship for both myself and
Miss Darlington. Our meals are to
be served privately, and the lady is not
DO be addressed by any one Of you"
MY Gawd," exclaimed a mufTled
voice, "you don't want .muchl Who
are you, the car of Russla"
Il am the rightful captain Of this
ship" returned stiffly, "and the only
man on board capable Of navigating
her. You can accept my terms, or
leave them; and those are not all.
McCann. / am talking to you, not that
0ea scum"
~All right; go ahead. What elseY'
Il am to retain this revolver for
protection, and the key to my state
room; Miss Darlington Is also to re-
tain her key. When you men desert
ship, which I know you plan to do,
the Indian Chief Is to be left in sea-
worthy condition That's all"
Though, / 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
nifty 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 men
cut OF the cabin"
stood motlonlesS, gtIn gripping the
revolver In one hand, listening to
catch every sound the other side of
the closed door. There was 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 q tone as to fail to
reach my ear, but whatever they were
they evoked laugh, and seemed to
restore the dissatisfied to better hu.
NOR. Liverpool took sides with Nc
Cam in the dispute, and the two unit
cd must have prevailed, for the men
finally dispersed, and we could hear
sheir heavy sea boots tramping VI
the stairs.
Relieved of the strain, / turned tc
meet the questioning eyes Of the girl
"That-that was better than fight
mg-wasn't it?" she asked almost anx
tously.
'Yes; I lost my head for the mo
ment, and could only think Of reaching
deck, and shouting an alarm to thC
cruiser"
''1t was too late for that"
'Yes; we know it was now, ant
probably would never have reached
there alive. I am very thankful tt
you"
ITO meT Her lips smiled, although
her eyes remained grave. "Why,
merely opened door-besides, ever
that act was supremely selfish"
II cannot conceive how"
'YOu do not? Yet surely you car
realize what it would mean to me tC
be left alone ON board with-wlth Fer
gus McCann- 1 do so despise the
creature that / shrink from even look
ing into his eyes. lit was to avoit
meeting him again that I locked the
door"
HE talked with you, thenT"
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 nothing?"
mo; 1t was locked, and-and hi
lnughed and went away"
II suspect the man is almost a.