Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-29
CHAPTER NNxv-ContInucd

~ and nerve for this sort Of job, Miss
Darlington here suspects that the owner If
this ship has lost his mind. / just found
Dubois lying on the cabin deck muir
dered--"
Dubois, sir?"
Yes he had been stabbed in the back
And you believe the owner did it?"
There is no one else on board who could.
lie is locked in hts stateroom, and we've
got to get him out Come on now, both of
YOU"
led the way down the stairs in no
pleasant frame Of mind had no relish for
tho job, but was determined to see 1t
thoroughly done An insane man running
free aboard, animated by a desire TO kill
added to my other responsibilities. increased
our dangers manifold. The cabin seemed
so dark after the brightness Of the deck
above that I grasped the stair rail and
advanced almost blindly | had reached
the center Of the cabin before my eyes dis
ccrned that there were two bodies out
stretched on the deck instead OF one ! in
voluntarily shrank back, gripping the sleeve
Of Whites shirt, and pointing.
Good God look here, there are two
DO0leS, ne--le mas Epl l'dht dl7''
The sailor sprang past me, and dropped TO
his knees,
AYE. it's Dade. and the poor cuss Is
done for, sir--its another knife thrust in
the back"
And no longer any doubt who did it,"
echoed Olson for there's not another man
aboard been aft"
Right you are" I said gripping myself
ready to act. And we must get him at
once Come on, both of you; II there's
fight it may take the three Of US. lie has
a knife. and there was a gun in his
drawer"
The door OF Bascoms stateroom was
closed and ! grasped the knob with no
thought that il would yield to my fingers
But II did, and | almost fell forward into
the room, catching myself, and staring
about The others crowded through after me-
their eyes searching every nook and corner
The last CLEAN of the sun streamed in
through the stern ports, and every object
within was clearly revealed at glance
The maL was not there. ! drew back the
curtains conCealing the bath, but the space
was empty only one of the round ports
waq partially open. the aperture far too
small to admit the passage of body. The
bed had not been slept in, and was neatly
made: one drawer of the desk stood open
and papers were scattered on the rug be-
meath a chair was overturned on the deck {;
a chest in. one corner had been rummaEed
its contents flung aside. My eyes fell on
white his mouth open his face grotesQue
in it's coating Of coal dust
Damned II he amt got away sir" he
blurted out, but he never went overheard
through that port-a cat couldn't ha' done
it,"
mo. he's aboard all right" I coincided
But where? and for what purpose? There
Is no knowing what a man in his state Of
mind may do. Good Heavens he could
wreck the ship"
sir" insisted Olson. The lady said that
Yus what he went crazy over"
But Mccain is on deck and BascOm
never came out of the cabin; he's either
hiding in one Of these staterooms, or he
has gone forward amidships through the
passage Get a light Whitc-take the cabin
lantern. Olson and | will have look be-
hind these doors first. and then Wen ex-
plOre between decks
We found nothing. not the slightest trace
of the fugitive Beyond doubt he had gone
forward either seeking to escape. or with
the thought that he could attain the deck
through some opening amidships. | was
cool enough by now to realize the peril we
faced between decks, searching for the
madman, whom we might encounter at any
moment.
run on deck, white" I ordered. "and
pick up a couple of marlin spikes I have
a revolver. Tell Mr.. Leayord the situation,
and have him keep his eyes open. Better
have him warn McCann, and Miss Car
Tlngton had best remain near the wheel
until we get our hands on this fellow Hurry
back now"
Olson and remained motionless, our
ewes on the black opening leading forward,
| the dim rays Of the lantern falling on the
| CHASTITY faces Of the two dead men out
| stretched on the deck. II was a gTuesOme
| spot and my heart was beating like a trip
| hammer i made sIre my revolver was
| loaded. dropping the weapon into a jacket
pocket White rejoined us, graspng the
| spikes, one of which he passed over to
olson who tested the weight in his hand.
Quiet as June mOrnn' up there, sir, "
| he announced, squirting about. There
| amt nobody seen nuthin' Of maniac.
| reckon yer better let Olson carry the Ian
| tern. so you and / can be sOrter free TO
| grip the chap; we're bigger than the mate,
| From what I've seen of Olson he'll do
| his share OF the fighting" | answered
| knowing the Swede to be hot-tempered and
| touchy about his size. However one will
| have to carry it,
| "It's all right. sir" said Olson quietly.
"IIl hold the glm, but If that big duffer
| doesn't stand up to the job I'll bust glass
an all over mis- head"
| We certainly made thorough search
| of IT, | doubt If "A stray rat got by us
| without being seen, but from the after-cabin
| to the engine-room ladder we found no trace
| of Bascom; no indication even that he had
| ever passed that way. Beginning with the
| stewards pantry, we explored every nook
| and corner flashing the light Of the lantern
| into hunks and behind sea chests; Chamber
| ing over boxes and barrels IN the storeroom
| even lifting the iron cover of the lazarette'
| and prowling about among the various ar
| ticles stored below.
| The effort to locate Bascom's hiding
place was absolutely vain--the cunning OF
| the madman overcame our diligence and
wit; he had disappeared as though swal-
low I'd by the sea. leaving not 80 much as
a clue behind.
Beyond the hole leading to the engine
room below our advances were blocked by