The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-02-21

The three Of us clung to the ladder |
gazing down. the light from the lantern |
revealing our faces. Masters was not |
gone a 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 a 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. 1t was knife thrust
which had killed him-just such
thrust as had done for his two mates
In the cabin above; but the madman
had disappeared. However, here was
proof positive that the fellow was still
on board; still hiding between decks.
He had not reached the open, or flung
himself into the sea. Masters could
tell us nothing: he had heard no
sound, seen no shadow. He had been
oiling the machinery. and a man could
have slipped down the ladder unob-
served. and escaped again In the same
way. There was no other entrance ~
the engineroom; the forward bulkhead
was solid: there were two ventilator
shafts. but neither was large enough
for the passage Of a mans body, and
the coal chute was kept closed and
locked at sea. Nevertheless had these
examined, determined TO take no
chances, and our lantern penetrated
every inch OF the engineroom and coal
bunkers. At the end, utterly baffied,
White gave vent to an oath.
ut beats me. SIR" he confessed
hoarsely. unless It's a opook we're
a-huntin' for"
81 wish II was; the trouble Is II is
man. and a mighty dangerous one,
Well, he's not down here, and he must
have gone back by way OF the ladder
The fellow has either found some
means of getting into the hold, or else
he's managed to slip on deck and per
haps is hidden in the forecastle-nc
one messes there nowr
"No, SIR"
"Then let's have a look up above
come on, men,"
"Yer amt goin' ter leave me dowr
here all alone, are yer, captain" ques
toned Masters anxiously, with Ton!
lying dead In there, an a murdere
prowlin' aboutT
Hell not be down here again, but
suppose you must have a fireman.
White, you better stay"
"'Tain't no Job l like. sir; shov
eled coal here already for eight hours.
!, "I'll tackle It, sir" interrupted Oh
: son quietly. "That big boob woul
D throw a fit down here every time h
saw shadow. After you get thos
e matches Off send him In on top o. tn
: cargo. There'd be no danger O. hi
gettin' hurt II Bascom was q hidir
i there"
+ "Yer a dirty liari amt no NOR
: afraid than you arel"
i "Then why don't you stay hcreT
I'm plumb tired out shovelin'."
!. "That will do. men," I broke 1
!; sternly. "There will be work enough
: and maybe fighting enough for both Q
), you. As long as you have volunteered
!. Olson, you may take turn down herr
and White will 60 with me. Keep
sharp eye out, you men below"
The two of us clambered up the iro
. ladder, the sailor with the lantern
q his hand, the marling spike thrust int
:. his belt. I tested the bulkhead doc
r again as we came to 1t, but 1t SCENE
a as solid as the steel wall itself, an
,. thoroughly satisfied that 1t had NJ
been opened since the ship sailed. "
!. mounted to the open deck.