The Huttig news., 1917-12-22

White know exactly what they intend doing. Their questioning of me. and their scrutiny of the chart. conyinces me of this. 1 even believe now l could name the other men of the crew who will be in their boat, when they aban- don ship-Dugan. Dubois, Sachs and the negro, Watson. with perhaps two others am not so sure of. Why. Miss Vera, you heard what 1 was compelled 10 assent to a moment ago. l am to pilot the Indian Chief to within fifty miles of the harbor of St. Johns, tim ing our arrival at that point to some hour of the night. I am 10 give Me Cam notice of our arrival there, and furnish him with exact sailing direc- tionS to complete the course. This means that the crew expect to aban- don the ship there, and take to the | boats. There are enough remaining in good condition-and just enough to carry them all. but the Indian Chief will be left with none to rescue those of us who are left on board in case of accident to the vessel"
 And you anticipate accidenf?'
 q believe the ship will be deserted in an unseaWorthy condition-either with her bottom pierced, or her sea cocks open; and that those of us left aboard will be so confined as to be practically helpless to save the vessel from going down
 And the men in the boats will get ashore, scatter and never be heard from again. No one will ever learn what became of the Indian Chief, or that We were aboard1
 "The French cruiser will report hav- ing spoken us at sea. That will be the last word. The truth will never be made clear. Our fate will be anoth- CT sea mystery, never explained
 "Some of the crew might talk later In liquor"
 "There is always that danger, and McCann is farsighted enough 10 guard against it as far as possible. The boats will easily become separated in the darkness. If the others are ever picked up, it will be accidentally by  most no ships in this ocean. There are few flaws in the plan, as l have figured out
 She did not answer, her eyes on my face, her expression exhibiting the horror she felt at this vivid picture which I had drawn. Then she slowly. gently withdrew her hand from my grasp. sinking into chair, her head bent forward.
 'You-you really believe they actu- ally plan to do all this?a she asked at last. And what-What about me? You suggested that-that marriage might save me from this fate. De you think so i'll of me as to imagine l would ever consent to such u bafgain@
 "What l may imagine has nothing to do with the case, Miss Vera. My thought, and that of Fergus MeGann, is not liable to be the same on any subject. The only hope he can have of ever winning you is through threat. He possesses power and can assail you with deadly peril. It is my belief that he contemplates doing so.o
 "That he will offer me choice of marriage with him, or death?"
 "YeS; it will not be put in just sn brutal form, for the fellow has certain polish over his villainy, but it will mean that"
 Loan me the revolver"
 ''For what purpose?"
 ''To kill the brute, if ever he dares such a proposal. Mr. Hollis, would die before 1 would ever permit his touch Marry him to save my life! Why, I am so ashamed l cannot look you In the face; cannot even find words to express my detestation of such a suspicion
 I stepped forward, and my hand gently rested on the bowed shoulder
 My dear girl" I said earnestly, Took at me, and believe my words Lift your eyes; want you to read the truth in my heart. It is not your Jife alone; 1t is mine also, and the lives of nearly all the others aboard, which are at stake. For the sake of us all am going to ask of you sac rifice."
 There had been mist of tears in the uplifted eyes, but as paused this had vanished.
 "A sacrifee?" she stammered. That I marry that man?"
 God forbid! No; but that you en- courage him to think it possible
 "Oh, l could not could not! Do that of mn v
 But listen" 1 urged eagerly, forget ful of all else in the earnestness of my plea. "Vera, listen before you make decision. The only possible hope lies in the freedom of one of us aboard l can so juggle figures as to keep the ship safely at sea for another day and night. but no longer.
 "Someone must be free to act and plan. cannot, nor any of those men confined amidships. By winning Me Cann's confidence; by seeming to yield to his desires, you will he allowed free dom on board. You can demand ii as the price of your surrender. All else T