The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-11-09


and that the two were separating. l
could not positively determine the
movement in the intense darkness, but
felt assured that one of the two men
had moved forward. crouching along
the rail, leaving the second man stand
ing alone. PROFESSIONALLY the one
thus left would be Mccain.
waited motlonless until the fellow
stealing away was well beyond earshot,
and then advanced straight across the
pitching deck. The fellow, taken quite
by surprise, stared at my indistinct fig
ure, unable to determine my identity
until l spoke. There was that about
his figure, black as the night was,
which convinced me he was the man
sought.
swell, McCann," said shortly, "you
seem to prefer associating with the
crew, rather than with your own class
aft. What is the gamer
~ was not aware there were any of
my own class on board" he answered
sneeringly.
perhaps you have not yet discov-
cred who are on board. Do you chance
to know who owns this vessel and
cargo?"
"Who owns them!" he laughed
coarsely. "What difference does that
maker"
1T depends entirely on whether or
not you have any decent manhood left
in you," i said coldly, land, frankly,
1 do not believe you have. However,
the truth can do no harm, and Wen
understand each other better. This
ship and cargo are owned by Philip
Bascom Of Philadelphia"
"Bascom! BY God! You don't mean
it?"
But I do; and more than that, all
his fortune is invested in this one
enterprise; that is why 1 consented to
assume command, and sail the Indian
Chief across to Germany"
There was q moments silence.
"Bascom," he repeated at last. "You
learned this from the ships papers?"
II learned 1t from his own lips-the
man himself Is on board"
He breathed heavily from surprise ;
then laughed.
Lord, this Is some news, Hollis" he
managed to calculate, "but surely you
hardly expect me to be sympathetic,
do your"
"No, hardly expect It," unable to
disguise my intense disgust at his tone.
However, Philip Bascom is here, ru-
ined by your persecution, crippled for
life by the cowardly bullet"
"Now, look here, Hollis" he broke
In, IF you think am going to stand
for your bullying any longer, you're
mistaken. It's my turn to talk"
yours! What will you talk with
money!"
Perhaps" he sneered, "and with
| men also. In the first place, / might
as well tell you, don't give a d
who owns this ship. OF course you
gave me jolt by saying that this man
Bascom was on board, but, after all,
that's nothing to me. We had our
fight, and he learned the same lesson
others have, that Fergus Mccain is
perfectly able to take care of himself.
Now I'm ready to teach the same thing
to Mr.. Robert Hollis Of Chicago. This
Is no small boat In mid-Atlantic, where
you can bully me because of your phys
ical strength. You made a mistake,
Hollis, playing me for fool. I've got
your number already"
"You are quite sure of that?"
"You bet I am. but I'm not going
to say any more about it tonight. To-
morrow I'll talk with you again."
He turned away, the shrug Of his
shoulders picturing contempt, and a
studied insolence which set my blood
boiling. With the grip of one hand
flung him back against the rail, and
held him there.
"No, we'll discuss 1t right now"
said sternly, "but I'll do the talking
in your place. You haven't anything to
tell me. I know what your plans are
already. know what you are attempt
ing to accomplish, and I know your
purpose. You have found few ruff
fans forward who will take your dirty
gold. To gain control of the others,
you have played up the war scare.
You think now that the time has come
when you can acts that so?"
He wriggled In an effort to break
free Of my grip, and let go Of him
In utter contempt.
"You would find out" he snarled an
grily, IF I called for help"
"But you are not going to call for
help, for If you even open your lips for
that purpose, you are going to die right
where you stand. Take that seriously,
Mccain. You are endeavoring to in
cite mutiny on board, and under thu
law of the sea, can kill you for IT,
Now, 1 confess my feeling toward you
is not tender one, but there Is going
to be no bloodshed II can avoid 1t.
Where have you bunked?"
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