Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-17
CHAPTER NNVu

7 WAS still clinEiug to the rail and star.
INK down at the light. / heard nothing.
tclt no prcmOnltiOn Of alarm, when sud
denly q hand Erlppcd my throat the great
hnEers sitting every effort 90 cry out, Be
fore ! could resist or even brace myself
another hand was clappcd over my mouth
and I was fairly hurled back below the
shelter OF the rail dragged across the black
deck and thrown through the opened door
OF Tho companion, This was accomplished 80
quickly and with so little evidence of
struggle as To attract no notice from the
Frcnchm1u, from whose deck no doubt
every eye was fastened upon the approach
ing boat Half hurled half dragged, !
plunged INTO the dimiy lit cabin. and it was
not until ! struck the lower deck that l
even realized clearly what had occurred or
who were my aSsallants. ! fell SprHwlnE
ON one shoulder, hut was as instantly on
my feet, bruised. but otherwise uuiniurCd,
udddcucd by rage beyond all control
White, emerging from the statcruum.
through the port Of which he had been view
ing the scene alongside, startled by the
sudden uproar. revolver Eripped In his
| hand, was the first person 1 saw.
what the he'll he exclaimed iu he
wtidcrmcut but before he could say more
my fist jammcd into hs jaw. and the
fellow went over iull length ou the deck,
| the gun lying from his opening fingers. ]
| had possession Of II before he could stop
Il
stateruum opposite murder in my heart as
| / confronted the two who had flung me
| from the top of the steps. / recognized
| them now for the first ume--Livcrpool Red
/ and Tom DUNCAN. But one thought seethed
! IN my hraia..to XIII.
damn You both" cried. covering them
! rs they shrouh back, well end this thing
| right here"
Red gripped Dugau. holding the Irishmar
/ in front Of him a. a shield. My revolver
/ covered them both my fingers nervous on
/ the trigger. suddenly the door behind
! me yielded and | staggered back, unable
! to regain nay balance until fairly within the
| staterOom with a crash the door closed
! instantly shutting uut the surprised faces
Of the two men iva the cabin; a key crealed
! in the lock, and Vera Darlington fronted me
! her back against the wood.
Were. were they trying to kill yuu?'
She painted.
They certainly did their best" an
swcrcd, but It was my turn when yot
dropped me ~ here
"You--you mean that ! made a mistake
that YOU were IN no danger"
| II had the upper hand / took this re
Nolver away from White and do not be
heve either of the others were armed. II
another second ! should have fired GU
only hope Of rescue lies I'm creating ai
alarm there is a French cruiser lying jus
off our port quarter"
"A French cruiser, We have been cap
tured?"
NO. merely halted aud questioned. Th,
Frcnchman does not even suspect anything
wrong. I was cudeayoriug 20 sound al
alarm when those fellows seized me am
threw me down the stairs into the cabin
But how did you get on deck An,
where did you procure the revolver?'
| II cut my way out: the gun was taliel
from White Don't block the way, Mis-
Vera I must get TO the deck again, or i
will be too late"
is Mccain out there
"No: only Red and sailor named Dugan
White is knocked out. and Mccain ha
gone aboard the cruiser. lie has forge
papers with him. Let me go; I can fgh
my way through with this gun. Thos
, devils will either make way. or get hurt"
She stepped aside, and with no othe
! thought but the necessity for swift action
/ | turned the key in the lock and flung IN
door open. The main deck was deserted
| to my surprise, an three of the men ha
disappeared. with revolver gripped in on
hand | stepped forward, searching wit
% suspicious eyes every dark corner, diml
conscious that the girl followed. Her fin
gers touched my sleeves, yet the strai
of the moment was too great to peTmi
Of my even glanctng about into her face
had attained to the foot of the stairs
even advanced a step upward before m
progress was arrested Suddenly the com
panlou door was flung open and a mob o
men confronted us, surging in through IN
narrow space from the deck. drew ia
stantly back, stunned by sight of MCCan
in their lead. realizing instantly that ou
effort to attain the open was already to
late.
. There he is :" he cried eagerly. &c
him, YOU men. Lively now; there's n
, danger; il he lifts that gun, he's dea,
man"
CONTINUED TOMORROW