The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1917-11-30

you promised to make the mystery Of
your presence on board the Esmeralda
clear?"
"Has 1t not revealed itself?"
"Not to me-"
but has not Philip Bascom told you
who 1 ann"
L shook my head, not altogether
happy at this Introduction of his ne me,
but unable to resent it.
But you knew he recognized me
that we had been friends"
"All the more reason why should
remain silent. AS long as you evident
ly preferred that 1 should not know"
"Oh, but l didn't. Mr. Hollis" she
interrupted. "It never once occurred
to me that you We're. still in doubt as
to my identity. OF course at first I
thought 1T safer to guard my secret
II did not know you at all then, only
by name; you were merely guest on
board my fathers yacht"
Your fathers yacht Why, of
course-how stupid of me. Vera, Vera.
why the name had strangely familiar
sound from the very first but l could
not recall the association; you are
Gerald Carrington's daughter?"
81 am Vera Darlington"
"But I supposed you to be in Eu-
roper"
Did papa say so? You must have
misunderstood. Mother would have
taken me with her, but had so much
L wanted to do in New York. 1t is
strange you should not have suspect
ed; that no one should have told you.
Why, both Mr.. Bascom and Mr.. Nc
Cam knew me-"
|Not McCann, surely?"
"Why not? We have met socially
in New York. 1t seems hardly DOS
Sible, now that I realize the true char
acter of the man. But probably you
never asked; never discussed me be-
tween you?"
THAT is the truth. OF course IL was
quite impossible for me to question
Mccain, and l have seen very little of
BaScom. Besides, you rather threw
yourself on my honor"
ION the Esmeralda-yes. 1t was nee
eSSary then, for / simply had to keep
my presence secret until we were
n safe distance at sea. There were
several on board who would have rec
ogniZed me mt once, and would have
told papa. Mr.. Hollis, | realize far
more than you can, all that has oc-
Cured through the mad whim of girl.
But for me you would not be here on
this unlucky ship. You would be with
those others rescued from the Esme-
ralda safely in New York. Mr.. Hollis.
tell me, is there real trouble on board? Z?
Is there doubt of your being able to
take the Indian Chief into port?"
why do you ask?"
"Because-well, have heard things !:
not much, but enough to arouse suspi-
cion. Then you had some trouble Just
now, and locked man up in one of
the stateroOms. 1t was to ask you
about this that / came on deck. Who
was the man, and what had he done?"
"Our old friend, Fergus McCann,"
answered, deciding to be frank with
her. ''lt was not so much what he had
done, as what he proposed doing. He
was attempting to corrupt the crew
forward by the use of money, and I'M
fortunately, there are some scamps
aboard only too willing to make.
trouble. | felt 1t safer to nip the
scheme early
but what-what does Mr.. Mccain
seek? Why should he endeavOr to buy
up the men? What is his purpose?"
ITO have the Indian Chief returned
To an American port. I'll do him the
credit of saying that, until / told
him while ago, he possessed no
knowledge whatever that Bascom
owned the vessel, or was on board. He
hates Bascom yet, and will be only too
glad TO ruin him. And he hates me,
because of what occurred in the boat.
This Is what underlies his action, no
doubt; then he believes money will ac-
complish anything, and he has found
sailormen forward ready enough to do
the dirty work, If he will only pay well
for It,"
You know them?"
THE two most prominent are Jim
White and fellow known aboard as
Liverpool Red, both typical forecastIe
DULLES. know how to deal with their
sort"
"You-you have decided what to do,
thenf"
II have decided to fight Il out, at
least. / gave you my promise, Miss
Vera, to take this ship to Hamburg IL
1t was possible to get there"
"And there is no other way of saving
the investment In this vessel and
cargo2"