Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-16
Chapter NNV Continued
T STEPPED forward unable longer to r
L strain the action.

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T STEPPED forward unable longer to re-
strain the action
you dog of a liar" said nercely. 81
know you are armed, but"
Wait Captain Hollis" and her fingers
caught my arm. This matter involves me-
and | wish to hear the facts. Go on,
please"
McCann grinned into my face, but kept
one hand behind him, gripping his revolver.
There is not much to tell he went on.
almost iauntily. Il saw exactly how things
were going before we left the boat. |
knew Hollis's reputation ashore, ana deter
mined to warn you of his purpose nut mad
no opportunity. Besides ! felt you had so
poor an opinion of me that probably you
would not listen"
You were greatly mistaken, Mr.. NC
Cam" she said pleasantly. 81 would have
gladly received your advice. You were my
fathers friend
could read the mans surprise In his
face. The graciousness of her words was
a shock vet his egotism made him instantly
her victim.
you mean you trusted me? That you
would have listened?'
Most assuredly. How could you think
otherwise? | knew you were not yourself
i'm the boat and the treatment to which
YOU were subjected was brutal. owed
my life to you equally with Captain Hollis,
and am very grateful. | have never for
gotten that you have been "A guest in our
home, a business associate OF my fathers,
Why should | not have confidence III YOU
I looked at her in amazement, but her
eyes never met mine. What did this mean?
Was the girl acting n part? was she en-
deavoring to deceive him, or was she
speaking now in deadly earnest? Nothing
in her manner or in the tone of her voice
gave me a clue. She appeared earnest.
frank sincere, and | held silent, realizing
that whatever her secret purpose might be,
no words of mine would change II, AS for
Mccain, the very impression of his face
pictured his delight, his conviction of her
sincerity. II was almost too good to be
true, vet his was not a nature to doubt MS
own attractiveness.
"I--I-you surprise me-" he stammered,
absolutely forgetting my presence. II
assure YOU / was actuated by the highest
motives in all my efforts. My-my duty
was to you and your father. The interest
between YOU and Hollis then has not gone
80 far as TO be beyond my power to
remedy"
She smiled,
"Oh, no: | assure you"
He turned and faced me. the bully In him
surging TO the surface.
"1 viii converse with Miss Darlington
alone. You were ordered TO your stateroom
before"
II did not so understand. was merely
told to go below
well, you understand now. open the
door go in and close it,"
To resist would have been utter foolish-
ness I could see the gleam of the gun in
his hand and realized that he only re-
uured an excuse to use II. More, there
was nothing in the expression of the girls
face to inspire me to resistance, She did
not even glance toward me or exhibit the
slightest interest. Yet never did | hate,
despise the fellow more than at that in
stant Every nerve in me throbbed with
the desire to reach out and crush him with
NV hands Ave, and | would have done IL.
risking his shot. stalking all on my strength
and ouickness, had | not seen at that mo-
ment White appear at the head of the stairs.
staring down at us his hand still gripping
the door of the companion. Even as he
hesitated Dade emerged from the steward $
nantry laden with dishes. McCann saw
them also. and mis- courage flared up
"Don't forget, Hollis" and his voice had
In II the old harsEness, that you are no
longer captain of the Indian Chief Return
to your room
with hands cinched in impotent rage,
not even yenturing reply, stepped back
ward As | crossed the threshold McCann
closed the door. and / heard the key turn
In the lock No other sound reached my
ears except a smothered laugh and the
rattle of dishes as Dade deposited his load
on the table. I waited moment, bending
close TO the wood, in the hopes of over
hearing some scrap of conversation. but the
intervening door was sufficiently solid to
shut out all semblance OF sound. Trem-
Hing still with anger and daxed by the
arrange action OF the girl sank back upon
J IN n(ool roanxing my uttoy helplesenesa