Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-04-19
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Maniac on Board.


into my face held me speeches.. Could
it be possible that she suspected, knew
the perpetrator of this crime-that she
sought to shield him?
"You searched the cabin? You found
no one?"
"Only Dade sound asleep in the
stewards stateroom. / awoke him,
and left him ON watch below"
''There was no one hiding in any Of
the staterooms? You tried the doors?"
"They were all empty. Mr.. Bas
CONS door was the only one locked"
"You-you made him open?"
"No; why disturb him?"
She drew a quick breath, her eyes
on my face.
"You-you have not seen Philip Bas.
com lately?"
"No, not since we had supper to-
gether'
"You saw nothing strange then in his
actions, or words?"
"Why nothing that I remarked. He
seemed about as usual; more haggard,
and nervous possibly, but he spoke
cheerfully enough. What can you
meant"
"Oh, I do not really know; perhaps
ought not to say such thing. meant
to have spoken to you about It before,
but so much happened, l forgot Ii
suspect Philip Bascom is insane"
Insane! Good heavens why do you
say that?"
HE has talked to me so strangely.
He-he frightened me, and was hard
ly able to quiet him."
"And you suspect he killed Dubois"
"Who else could it have been?"
There was no answer possible. Every
other man ON board was already ac-
counted for. The truth was borne in
upon me irresistibly. called LeayOrd.
The mate thrust his head over the
forward rail.
"Do you know If Masters is in the
engineroom?
II think he is, sir"
"Then call down, and have him
send White on deck Immediately; and
pass the word forward to have Mr.. Oh
son come here"
AYE, aye. sir; is there anything
wrong?"
81 will explain presently; just now /
want you to remain In charge OF the
deck"
Olson arrived first, and barely had
time to tell him briefly what had oc-
Cured, when White emerged through
the deck opening and reported, his
eyes blinking in the bright light, and
his face grimy with coal.
"You wanted me, SirW he asked,
with no buster in the gruff voice.
AYE, White; you possess the
strength and nerve for this sort Of job.
Miss Darlington here suspects that
the owner Of this ship has lost his
mind. I just found Dubois lying on
the cabin deck murdered"
'Dubois, sir?"
eyes; he had been stabbed In the
back"
"And you believe the owner did it?"
"There Is no one else on board who
could. He is locked in his stateroom,
and we've got to get him out. Come
on now, both Of you."
led the way down the stairs in no
pleasant frame of mind. An insane
man running free aboard, animated by
a desire to kill, added to my other re-
sponsibilities, increased our dangers
manifold. The cabin seemed so dark
after the brightness Of the deck above,
that I grasped the stair rail and adj
vanced almost blindly. had reached
The center Of the cabin before my eyes
discerned that there were two bodies
outstretched on the deck instead of
one. / involuntarily shrank back, grip
ping the sleeve of Whites shirt, and
pointing.
"Look here! there are two bodies |;
ne-he has gotten Dade Also"
The sailor sprang past me, and
dropped to his knees.
"Aye, it's Dade, and the poor cuss
Is done for, sir-it's another knife
thrust in the back"
"And no lower any doubt who
it," echoeS
ottr