Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22
CHAPTER NNNI
The Hand OF Fate

IT SEEMED an age I stood there. bending
i to the narrow crack, hearing no further
sound and unable 80 guess what had oc-
curtcd in the sCmidarliucss Of the apparently
deserted cabin / could distinguish no
movement, not even the sound uf breathing
Then soft whisper spoke almost in my
ear, causing me to start back as though
stabbed by "A gun.
Robert ."
There was agony I'm the utterance sufh-
cient to disguise the low voice. yet | could
not doubt the identity Of the speaker
Yes: / am here what has happcncd?'
'ph, don't ask that / hardly know my
self II was all impulse, desperation. LIS
ten they are going TO desert the ship
within an hour. Mccain told me. IL
let him believe I would 20 with him to
save my own life. II didn't know wnat
to do All that was left me was to pray and
watch"
Yes, dear heart-but what happened?
you must speak quickly. They all left the
cabin aud went on deck.
Yes; to provision the boats; they are
lowering the two forward ones now. 1 was
told to get my own things ready"
NO guard was left here below"
only Dado; they knew you could not
possibly get out, and they had no fear OF
me because ! was SO frightened"
And what became OF Dade?"
She caught her breath, the answer sob
almost iuaudibe.
II struck him. dear; there was no other
way. lIe.he hardly uttered IA sound but
lust sank Off the divan onto the deck. Ma ybe
] killed him, but--but ! never meant TO
do that used the only weapon | had
an IRON leg from my washstand.'
Don't worry: It was either his life or
ours. There is no one else then below?"
"NOt-not now"
rs there any way Of loosening this bar?
! cannot even determine how IL Is fastened
thero wero no Cleats."
could see her outline as she stood
there. feeling with her hands; then realized
that length Of iron was inserted between
the wooden bar and the jamb of the door
there was CrunChinE sound not loud
enough to be alarming. and the bar fell but
was caught before it struck the deck. In
stantly ! was in the cabin and had grasped
her hands still clnging to the leg OF the
washstand
you brave, dear girl :"
"Oh. don't; not now :" she pleaded draw
ing back what shall we do?"
swept my eyes about--at Dade. huddled
motionlcss on the deck a shapeless heap
at the companion door, slightly illumned by
the faint flicker Of a lantern forward. II
was all desolate, sodden, the grim picture
striking me like blow.
What do you know" asked. Tell mo
as quick as you can
"They are lowering the boats He will be
back for me In "a minute"
'Ycs. know; but they mean to open the
sea-coCks first"
"I was not told no one has come down
this way
whoever is given that Job would use the
main hatch or the ladder to the engine
room. You do not know If all the crew are
on deck?'
mo | only went as far as the compan-
ion after Mccain left me. ] could see men
H..
dark then, and quite few stokers were
among them. only one engine was work.
ing II am sure Of that"
Yes, we have only steerage way-just
enough to hold us to the sea. You neither
saw nor heard Masters?"
She shook her head.
Il do not believe he is in charge. The
man white yelled down the ladder TO some
body, whom he called Tony to Use only
the one screw--do you know a man by that
name"
AYE. Tony Rappello, the head fireman
he could keep the machinery going. Now
one thing more-where have they confined
Leayord and Olson"'
81 haven't dared ask" she admitted. "I
did not suppose they would leave the ship
tonight, ana thought | might find some
way TO discover this for myself"
you have no hint?'
"Only that the boy Moon carried food
forward from the table while was at the
piano"
Forward? on deck?"
NO; down the passage amidship"
Good that f. what l supposed and II
gives us a far better opportunity to reach
the men than II they were being held in
the forecastle. They are in the petty Of
ficers quarters, no doubt Now, listen, dear
Mccain may come for you at any moment
You must go back TO your stateroom. 80
a., A. .rttn not |
me, but delay him in every way possible"
Am / to go with hm?"
CONTINUED TOMORROW