Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-01-10
to be put back in New York"
$50 that's his game! Who brought
the word fOryyard9n

to be put back in New York"
$50 that's his game! Who brought
the word forward?"
"Cookie, I think, sir. I overheard
Jim White say that MI. Mccain had
a belt on him with more money in it
than they'd ever seen before in all
their lives. The d. fool beg
your pardon, miss-didn't know no
more than to show it to 'em. Why, the
sight of it fairly drove them two wharf
rats crazy.
"There's half q dozen men forward"
he went on slowly, "who would murder
their grandfathers, sir, to get hold O.
all that coin. The rest O. the crew are
decent enough fellows as sailormen 90,
but there's liquor aboard yet, and all
this ere val talk has scared 'em
against continuing the voyage"
"McCann told them?"
"He told Cookie an Liverpool, an
they circulated the news. Ills said
we're chuck up with contraband, sir,
an that if we're took, every man jack
of us will be chucked into an English
or French prison."
"You expect a mutiny, then, Mr.. o.
SOM"
II don't know wfatll stop it, sir"
he answered solemnly. 1.-THE men went
aft ter sorter take your measure, sir.
and hear what it was you proposed do
ing. They amt had no chance to git
tergether an talk since, but it's my
notion they're ripe enough for the job"
1 looked him squarely in the eyes.
"And how about you, Mr.. Olson?"
me, sir?" his lips grinned. IF 1
hadn't intended for to stay with yer,
sir, I never would "a took the job"
I reached out my hand, and our fin
gers locked.
Good; with both my officers loyal,
We'll find a way out of this mess. Come
with me into the captains stateroom,
until we see what we can find there
useful"
I disturbed things as little as pos
sible, leaving any necessary research
into Captain Hadley's private affairs
to a later date, but sought With some
anxiety through q roll of maps showed
behind the chest, Olson holding a Ian
tern aloft, until I finally brought forth
an old chart Of the North Atlantic. We
bent over this, outspread on the deck
between us. and Olson's stubby fore
finger traced the prickings of two voy-
ages around the Orkneys into the
North sea. The chart revealed, also,
although in somewhat less detail, the
German coastline. I was far from sat
isfied With this discovery, but nothing
better could be hoped for. The total
destruction Of the charthouse forward
made this find a godsend indeed, and
we We're fortunate in the fact that
Captain Hadley preserved his old
maps. Bidding Olson relieve the first
officer, 1 remained there alone for some
n,;lutes familiariZiDg myself With the
two charts, and outlining in my mind
the safest course to pursue. AS I sat
there the rising wind began to hurl
rain against the closed glass of the
port, and I could hear9the splash CT
the drops on the deck overhead. An
oiled coat, belonging to the skipper,
hung dangling from a hook, ond 1
slipped it on, extinguishing the. light
before closing and locking the door.
Leayord was alone at the table in tho
cabin, which had already been cleared
Of it's dirtied dishes.
I had advanced to the companion
steps when his voice stopped me.
Captain" he said in hoarse whis-
per, "was you planning to go forward
%alone?"
"~Certainly."
Leayord glanced about uneasily.
"Well, I wouldn't, sir, if 1 was YOU
not tonight anyhow. The men are that
ugly there's no KNOWN what might
happen. Do you carry a gun, SIR"
"Why, no; I saw one there in a
drawer of Captain Hadley's desk. You
think the situation is rs bad as that?"
"Td go back and get it, SIR" he said
soberly, "an' then keep to the after
deck till daylight"
An instant I stood staring at the
rain beating fiercely against the glass
Of the companion, then turned back
to the stateroom I had just left, slipped
the revolver out of the desk drawer
into my pocket, and re-entered the
cabin.
I buttoned the oilskin closely about
my throat and stepped out on deck,
the wind driving the rain full into my
face, and, for the moment, binding me.
Continued next week)
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