Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-04


was seated on the edge OF his bunk facing
me, and II was plainly evident Mt first view
that he was in no pleasant humor. He had
the appearance OF having passed dis
agreeable night and for an instant I felt
a twinge of regret because OF handling the
fellow so roughly.
"MCCann," I said as he failed to speak,
let's have an understanding IL Is no
desire of mine to hold you n prisoner here
for the next month I'll accept your pledge
not to interfere with the working Of this
vessel"
"On what other terms?'
THAT you stop holding communications
with the crew and consider yourself a
passenger unti the end Of the voyage. Give
me your word to that and you may have
the freedom Of this cabin and the after
deck"
what is the voyage?'
TO Hamburg"
He laughed, and there was an ugly sound
TO IT,
Hell. do YOU think YOU will ever get
therc?' he asked, Glarlng at me, but making
no effort to rise. Are YOU fool enough
| Hollis to imagine that the English fleet
Will ever permit this ship TO pass through
the channel why your whole damn cargo
| they tell me, is Contraband.'
who tells you?'
| Never mind lt's tho truth isn't it,"
"Ees, YOU might as well kuow--mostly
| munitions of war, but contracted for months
! before war was declared However. | am
! not fool enough 20 suppose We can make
! the channel passage. There will be risk
/ enough AT the best but we II try il north
! of the Shctlauds and through the North
/ Sea. However. that's nothing to do with
! your status on board. It is nothing to YOU,
| - It, who gets the cargo or where it is
/ finally landed
''lt is something to me whether I'm safe
! IN New York, or rottiuE in an English or
] ia tti. tn
| that's not all In the first place, I was n
! fool to ever accept tdrrmgtous invitation
/ {" go on his yachting trip. ! wouldn't II !
! hadn't supposed It TO be short cruise
/ I've got to get back to New York. | tell
you, man I'VE got a deal on there that
| means more thar million dollars
cant afford TO drift about out here on this
| rotten tramp"
"rhc saving Of this boat and cargo means
/ moro to Bascom than your million-dollar
! trade does 20 YOU
whats Bascom's affairs 70 me- he
| snccrcd "tIc took his chances. didn't he?
| You seem To think / owe the man some
| thing. | suppose he told YOU or else the
! girl did that ! crippled him for lfc. We'll,
! he deserved all he got. | pay my debts.
! let me tell you, and I've got some against
| you to he settled yet.
Don't preach Philip Bascom 20 me. It's
not for his sake YOU are hanging on here
=
| not so blind as all that
| what do YOU mcau?'
Mean, why that IS Carrington's girl.
! isn't il, you and pulled out Of the yacht?
/ Lord. ] knew her when the first streak of
daylight came, and | saw your little game,
| too. There's money enough coming to her
| to make this a mighty profitable voyage
if you can land her in your net before she
! gets ashore again. BY God ! might have
done it myself if hadn't gone crazy in the
81 tg 1.ft ma 81,
| play is the villain"
"And you think thar accounts for my
taking command of this rhip?'
cot course. Everything has worked fine
for YOU so far. Saved the girls life pro-
tected her in the small GOAT from a brute,
| that's me; and now, at her request, because
of her desire to serve Philip Bascom, YOU
| graCouSly consent to Suide the Indian
| Chief to Hamburg, and a fortune. why,
it's the greatest little story that ever was
the fair maiden, the etalwart hero, the
scheming villain. the pale-faced sufferer.
and over and above all, the cleaning of
gold--papa's gold Bah, it makes me
sick"
did not move, or take my eyes from
him, and slowly the grin on his face
seemed to smooth out, -s his sense of
| humor departed.
Well" he snarled isn't that about the
way of it?"
| IF the picture satisfies YOU, Mr. Mccain" "
| I said you are perfeCrfy welcome to it,
| Probably no other point of view is possible
to your sort of mind. 20 any further dis
cussion would only he n waste of time.
However. you've said enough to cause me
to withdraw my offer Of parole | will
accept no pledge you may make"
"You intend holding me a prisoner as
long as | am aboard?'
YOU have left me no other choice"
He TO his feet angrilN. well now
see here Hollis, I'm ca,rued if | have
any use for you, or any Of your outfit.
wouldn't give YOU my word even if you
agreed to accept it, You are going to dis
cover before you are through with me that
Fergus MCCann is not quite as big fool
as YOU take him to he. I'll give you odds
that you never take this snip to Hamburg
| III give you odds you never get the girl
yes damn you I'll make the same PROPOSE
tiOn that youl never hold me prisoner
| twenty-four hours, Are you sport enough
to take me?'