Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-02
oopyrishs 4. q No olurs : O.

- SrdSpeu lllc/ AuOD, lAloWluS lily
whole weight against the wood. 1t
yielded scarcely half an inch, just
enough, to reveal a stout bar. This
time was prisoner beyond doubt;
they had left me no loophole of escape.
But why? What had done to warrant
them in breaking their pledge? Gould
( be that McCanp had no further use
tor me? no desire for another observa-
ion? II this was true, then 1t must be
he men proposed deserving the ship
hat very night, and taking chance at
gctting ashore in one of those northern
BAYS. And they had nailed me in to
lie like rat In this hole, when the
indian Chief went down.
For the instant, as this fear gripped
me, I was dazed and incapable Of
thought; helpless to even clearly COM
prehend the full horror. | do not be-
keve 1t was my own situation which
so completely unnamed me, but the
remembrance Of Vera. What would
become Of her? She would be alone in
McCann's power without human be-
Ing to whom she could appeal. She
would be forced into the boat despite
her struggles, laughed at, and Knocked.
She might even be compelled to wit
npss the slow sinking Of the ship carry
inx us down into the depths. And then
what? The vision conjured up was
agony, and sank back upon the stool,
my face buried in 4y hands.
It is not even yet clear In my mind
how the remaining hours Of that after
noon passef I was conscious only of
4 mad. imL Gent rage. Wild schemes
flashed through my brain, only to fail
Of execution. There could be only one
reason for McCann's action-desertion
Of the ship, that same night. II the
mutineers we're really, as pretended,
intending to land their boats in the
harbor Of st. Johns, they would re-
quire my services for at least another
day vet. No one else on board could
place the vessel at the point desig-
mated. Their actions, however, plainly
evidenced that was no longer needed,
and that their plans had been changed.
Indeed no one held communication
with me all that afternoon; OCCASION
ally overheard movements IN the
cabin. but could scarcely peer through
my door, and was unable to ascertain
who were present, while the few words
distinguished brought me no specific
information. That some movement Of
secret Importance was going on aboard
seemed more than probable. I became
impressed with the conviction that food
supplies were being conveyed from the
lazarette to the boats and slowed away.
Supper was served early in the
cabin, but was evidently more Of a
lunch than meal, no attempt being
made at formally. McCann, Liverpool
and Mis- Darlington were at the table
together, but. while I could ,differenti-
ate their voices, conversation was car
ried on in such low tones, could
make little Of 1t. When they left the
table Vera went to the piano, and
played and sang all the time White
was eating. Ny little peekhole gave
me glimpse Of Mccain, leaning
against the mizzen mast, his eyes upon
her. No offer Of food was made me,
nor did zee, or hear Bascom; II he
ate at all 1t must have been in his own
stateroom. Finally the music ceased,
the two exchanging few apparently
friendly words, before the girl excused
herself, and returned to iler room.
I sat down to think again hopeless,
my. mind on the same treadmill. What
could do? What effort Of mine was
possible There was no means By
which / could escape from the state
room; / was like rat INA trap, and
ncCann intended to leave me there to
Drown. Within an hour, perhaps; GER
kainly before midnight, Those deviii!.
would desert the ship, and take to the
boats. Already was !, practically
dead; certainly as helpless to prevent
the contamination Of this villainous
plan as though fathoms beneath the
~. How deathly still 1t was on
board. Suddenly It occurred to me
that Dade had not even cleared the
table; at least I had heard no rattle of
dishes, or any evidence OF work. Such
neglect certainly must mean that Nc
Gamma plan was known to NIL aboard
~ Hi own company. Igopened the door
slSeln, nciselessly. its scant quarter OF