Sioux County pioneer., 1917-12-13

who am7"
I shook my head, not altogether
happy at this introduction Of his name,
but unable to resent it.
"But you knew he recognized me;
that we had been friends"
"All the more reason why I should
remain silent. As long as you evident
ly preferred that I should not know
"Oh, but didn't, Mr.. Hollis" she
interrupted. ut never once occurred
to me that you were still in doubt as
to my identity. OF course at first /
thought 1t safer to guard my secret /;
III 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 I could
not recall the association; you are
Gerald Carrington's daughter7"
II am Vera Carrington."
"But supposed you to be in Eu-
roper"
did papa say so7 You must have
misunderstood. Mother would have
taken me with her, but had SO much
wanted to do in New York. It is
strange you should not have suspect
ed; that no one should have told you.
Why, both Mr.. Bascom and Mr.. Nc
Cann knew me-"
'Not Mccain, surelyY
"Why not? We have met socially
in New York. It seems hardly pos
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 It was
quite impossible for me to question
Mccain, and I have seen very little Of
Bascom. Besides, you rather threw
yourself on my honor" J., /.
ION the Esmeralda-yes. It was nec-
essary then. for simply had to keep
my presence secret until we were
safe distance at sea. There were
several on board who would have rec
Ognized me at once, and would have
told papa. Mr.. Hollis, I 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
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-
cfon. Then you had some trouble just
now, and locked man up in one of
the staterooms. It was to ask you
about this that I came on deck. Who
was the man, and what had he done?''
"Our old friend, Fergus McCann,'
answered, deciding to be frank with
her. 1T 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 un-
fortunately. there are some scamps
aboard only too willing to make
trouble. felt It 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 I told
him a while ago, he possessed No
knowledge whatever that Bascom
owned the vessel, or was on board. He
hates Bascom yet, and will be only toe
glad to ruin him. And he hates me-
because Of what occurred in the boat
This is what underlies his action, nc
doubt; then he believes money will &C.
complish anything, and he has found
sailormen forward ready enough to dc
the dirty work, IL he will only nay well
for it"
Il "You know them7"
'The two most prominent are jim
White and a fellow known aboard a.
Liverpool Red, both typical forecastle
bullies. know how to deal with thei,
sort"
"You-you have decided what to do
thenT'
j II have decided to fight It out a,
least. I gave you my promise, Mis-,
Vera. to take this ship to Hamburg /,
!; It was possible to get there"
"And there IL no other way Of savin,
the investmspt in this vessel ant
cargo1"
II know OF none."
"Then we must 90 on, must we not
III hope you win, Captain Hollis"
Before could stop her. or add IN
other word. she was gone. and va
apparently alone on deck.
I remained ON deck the greater par
} Of the night, but nothing Of an alarm
ing nature took place. The Glow n
msined quiet and the watch % dpt