The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-17

had best remain near the wheel until
we get our hands on this fellow. Hurry
back now"
Olson and I remained motionless,
our eyes on the black opening leading
forward, the dim rays Of the lantern
falling on the CHASTITY faces Of the two
dead men outstretchcd on the deck. 1t
was grewsome SPOT, and my heart
was beating like triphammer. I made
sure my revolver was loaded, dropping
the weapon into a jacket pocket. White
rejOined u.s.. grasping the spikes, one
Of which he passed over to Olson, who
tested the weight in his hand.
"Quiet as June mornin' up there,
SIR" he announced, squirting about.
'There amt nobody seen nuthin' Of no
maniac. reckon yer better let Olson
carry, the lantern, so you and can be
.sorter free to grip the chap; we're big.
ger than the mate"
"From what I've seen Of Olson he'll
do his share Of the fighting" I an
swered, knowing the Swede to be hot
tempered, and touchy about his size.
However, one will have to carry it."
"1t's all right, sir" said Olson quiet
ly. "I'll hold the glim, but if that big
duffer doesn't stand up to the job, I'll
bust glass an all over his head"
We certainly made thorough search
Of it. I doubt If stray rat got by us
without being seen, but from the after
cabin to the engineroOm ladder we
found no trace of BascOm; no indica-
ton even that he had ever passed that
way. The effort to locate BascOm's
hiding place was absolutely vain-thc
cunning of the mailman overcame our
diligence and wit; he had disappeared
as though swallowed by the sea, leav.
Ing not so much as a clue behind.
Beyond the hole leading to the en-.
gineroom below, our advances were
blocked by steel bulkhead, water
tight, pierced by single door, to be
sure, but this was closed and locked
securely. is there any communion
ton between the forecastle and the
hold, White?" asked, staring helpless
~ at the steel barrier.
mo, sir; the fo'castle is all above
deck"
elbow was this door manipulated? Do
either Of you know?"
swell, l had charge O. loadin' the
after-hold, sir" and Olson scratched
his head trying to remember. "That
door never was opened but once, when
Captain Hadley tested it before we left
Baltimore, or maybe after we got out
in the Chesapeake. think 1t wus
opened am shut frum the bridge, MIR.
Hollis" -.
"That is the usual arrangement, but
there is slot here for key >; still the
door is steel, and it looks too heavy for
any one man to operate"
I leaned over, and looked down into
the lighted enginerocm ut the bottom
of the shaft. All l could see was a
great wheel steadily turning.
%AIasters."
The engineer stepped into view. and
peered up into the darkness; he ap-
pcared burly anG shapeless.
''That you, captain?"
Eyes. Bascom, the owner, has gone
crazy, and has hidden himself some
where on board"
swell, I'll be swamped! Can't you
find him?"
"Not yet; we've searched every place
aft. He hasn't visited you?"
"Not to my knowledge. Tony is back
In the fireroom; I'll ask him."
The three of us chung to the ladder
gazing down, the light from the lantern
revealing our faces. Masters was not
gone moment, but his voice had
changed.
"Tony's killed, sir" he called up ex-
citedly. "Hes lying on the coal in
number one bunker, cut in the back
with knife"
The words were not out Of his
mouth before we were scrambling
down. But our haste gained us moth
Ing. The only trail Bascom had left
was the dead italian, stretched out in
the half emptied coal bunker, his lips
closed forever. It was knife thrust