American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-08
CHAPTER XVIII.


a Maniac on Board.
The horror with which she looked
into my face held me sD~ecchless. Could
II Boz possible that she suspected. knew.
the perpelrntor u this crime-that she
sought 10 shield hlm7
you searched The cablnf You found
no Onef"
"Only Dade sound asleep in the
stewards etnterOOm. I awOke him.
and left him IN watch below"
There was no n hiding IN any OF
the stateroomsl You tried the doorsY'
They we're all empty. Mr. Bias.
CONS door was the only one locked"
"iou-you made him opcnf'
mo; why disturb himT'
She drew a quick breath. her eyes
on my face.
"You-you have not seen Philip Bas-
cOm latelyT'
mo. not since we had supper to-
gether."
you saw nothing strange then in his
actions. or words1'
why nothing that I remarked. He
seemed about as usual more haggard,
and nervous possibly. but he spoke
cheerfuliy enough. What can you
menn7"
"Oh, do not really know perhaps
ought not 10 say such a thing. / means
10 have spoken 10 you about II before,
but 40 much happened. l forgot. IL
suspect Philip BascOm Is insane"
NIuluuaF n..I I...... Q 49,. a.. 49,.
say thatl"
"Ile has talked 20 me 80 strangely.
He-he frightened me. aud / was hard
~ able TO quiet him"
"And you suspect he killed DuboisT''
"Wh0 else could Il have beenf"
There was no answer possible. Every
other nan on board was already ac-
counted for. The truth was borne In
upon me lrresistibly. l called Leayord.
The mate thrust his head Oyer the
forward rail.
do you know II Masters Is In the
engineroomT"
II think he H.. sir"
Then cali down. and have him
send White On deck Immediately and
pass the word forward to have Mr.. Oh
sou come here"
AYE. aye. sir; Ia there anything
wrongT'
II viii explain presently just now l
want you to remain In charge Of the
deck"
Olson arrived nrst. and I 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 grlmy with coal.
you wanted me, slrf" he asked.
with no buster Ia the grun 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. | Just found Dubois lying on
the cabin deck murdered"
Dubois. sir1"
yes. he had been stabbed In the
back"
And you believe the owner did lt3'
There Is no one else on board who
could. He Is locked In his stateroom.
and we've got to get him put. 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 XIII. added to my other re-
probabilities, increised our dangers
manifold. The cabin seemed so dark
after the brightness OF the deck above,
that | grasped the stair rail and ad-
vauccd almost hllndly. had reached
the enter OF the cabin before my eyes
discerned that there were two bodies
outstretched on the deck Instead OF
one. l ln%voluntarlly shrank back. grip.
ping the sleeve Of Whites shirt. and
pointing.
Look herei there are two bodies T;
he he has gotten Dade also"
The sailor sprang past me. and
dropped to his knees.
ave. It's Dade and the poor cuss
Is done for, sir-it's another knife
thrust In the back"
"And M longer any doubt who did
H." echoed Olson. "for there's not an.
other man aboard been art"
Right you are. I said. gripping my
self ready 10 act. And we must get
him at once. Come ON. both OF you .
II there's a nght Il may take the three
o. MS. lie has a knife. and there was
"a gun ia his drawer"
The door Of REscom's stateroom was
closed and | grasped the knob with no
'hafleht it would yield 20 my fingers.
rlf 70 Ill., and | almost fell forward
room. catching myself. and
ahout. The last CLEAN OF the