Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-19
CHAPTER xxyuI-tContinu,d,

L rested on tho bowed shoulder.
MY dear girl" said earnestly, "'ooll at
mo and believe my words Lift your eyes.
! want You to read tho truth in my heart.
! had 70 toll you this for this tost is surely
coming, and YOU need TO be prepared to
meet It hrayc,y. II "a not your life alone;
it ia minc also, and tho uves Of nearly
all the others aboard. which arc al stake
For the sake Of us all | am going to ask
Of you a sacrifice"
There had been mist Of tears In the up
lifted eyes but as I paused this had van
ished.
~ sacrIGco?" she stammercd THAT
marry that MANI"
"God forbid! 80 but that you cncour-
age him to think it possible"
"Oh, ! could not could not! 10 not
ask that Of me"
but, listen" I urged eagerly forEctml
Of all else in the carncStuesg Of my plea.
"Nera. listen before you make DECISION The
only possible hope lies I'm the freedom Of
one of US aboard l can so juggle figures
as 70 keep the ship safely at sea for an
other day and night, but no longer McCann
knows enough Of navigation to check me
up II ] venture too far in deceit. and he VIII
suspect a trick like that. This will hc all
! can do to delay the end I'm spite Of their
pledge, / shall not ho free: every step l
take will be watched. They have never
even left the cabin without giationing
guard. In spite Of my parole Mccain Will
never trust me; yet in honoN / cannot
break my pledge 10 have no communication
with the other prisoners. Surely you see
the situation | am in--the utterly helpless
situation"
Yes" brcathlcssly, every trace Of color
gone from cheeks and lips, but new light
In her eyes II begin 10 understand
Some one must be free 10 act and plan.
I cannot, nor can any Of those men confined
amidshps Masters might. but the prOha-
billty is he Is not permitted TO leave the
engine room or even talk TO his stOkers. ex-
cept TO give orders Besides he has no
information which would make him sus-
pect the whole truth, You understand
that is why / explain the situation 80 fully
TO you. BY winning McCann's confidence,
by seeming to yield TO his desires, you will
be allowed freedom on board. You can
demand II as the price Of your surrender.
All else must depend on your woman's
wit"
"But-but could I convince the man Of
my sincerity? IL detest him So
He will want to be convinced your
mere consent will satisfy him You must
not look at this from your standpoint IIs
Is concelted and COwardly. To save his
own life he would be guilty Of any treach-
erous act. He will Judge you by his stand
ards There will be no necessity for any
prctense at love- you need not even per.
NIT him to touch you. Merely allow him
TO believe that fear makes you an unwiil-
ing victim"
''You--you actually wish me 10 do this
play this hideous part?"
"Only because ol our desperate situ-
ton; We must fight with the only weapon
"a fhaF
"And--and once free, l am TO tell the
engineer
NO; If you ventured into the engine
room you would NJ, Use suspicion at once
Besides, Masters ia without force Of char
acter; he would be useless in such an emer-
genCy. Nor is Il probable you could reach
the others unobseTved. although you might
locate them and at night convey 10 their
hands some means Of escape. This you
must learn for yourself The one thing |
have in mind is some one on board free 70
release the prisoners Immediately after the
boats leave, in time TO enable US 10 pre-
vent the ships going down"
"But--but Mr. Hollis, would--would he
not insist upon my going with him I'm the
boat?"
l walked twice across the narrow space
Of deck. conscious that her questioning
eyes followed me,
yes" | admitted, pausing 10 study her
face. "You might even be Obliged 10 do
that You must front this possibility, al
though the necessity may be avoided But
McCann's boat will make S. Johns III"
dare not resort 10 force once you are ashore
The fellow is not fool enough for that and
any man you appealed to would stand In
your defense. ] do not count that n ss-
rious danger-only he must not s"qpect
your purpose until too late 10 prevent his
interfering with your action. Nor viii you
be unsafe with him I'm the open boat for
the two Of you will not be alone. Your
greatest peril will be while aboard this
shin and completely I'm McCann'S power
THE open boat will not be long at sea-"
Not TO exceed few hours probably;
Liverpool and white are seamen enough
to see that II is equipped with sail and
II the wind be favorable they will make
land quickly. But there Is even chance
that YOU need not take this risk"
"What chance?" the full measure Of her
emotions finding evidence In her voice
IF Leayord or Olson could be secretly
released. or even II you could be assured
that | was free TO attain the deck al the
proper moment and thus abe TO release
these others we might best play a bold
game. BY urging some excuse you could
DELAY leaving the ship until after all the
mutineers were over the side and In the
boats. Mccain might remain on board
with YOU but he would be only one man 10
handle once we had control Of the ship
we could defend the decks and prevent
those ruffians from returning on board, at
least until they surrendered all arms and
agreed 10 such terms as we offered"
'"That-that would be most desperate
expedient" she said deiectedly Its success
doubtful You would be terribly outnum-
hered and without weapons
81 do not see II So Outnumhered, yes
but with every advantage of position, Those
fellows could not Chamber up the side un-
less Il be one al time. Besides. the ma
jor part Of the crew are doubtless mutt