The Huttig news., 1918-01-19

cuSS McCann overheard. CT else kill him just as you please Eny two O us could keep that quarterboat crew from comin' up the ladder. an then, if Mas ters had his boilers het up, no darn rowboat could ever catch us. Thet would leave us one hand at the wheel"
 If was true, the very simplicity of it making me curse my own stupidity. l stared into his face without uttering word of comment, yet with my mind Grasping instantly the necessary de tails. With single step I was bend ing over the ladder peering down into the depths below. A faint far-away light appeared at the bottom.
 Masters v I called. my voice thrown downward through hollowed hands.
 saw his shadow emerge into the circle of light.
 Aye, aye, sir.''
 Have you any pressure nowY
 Fairly good, sir. The waters draw Ing off and the wet coal will steam up in iiffy."
 "Well, stand by for all the steam possible, and give it to her the instant you get the signal-only be careful not to flame your tunnels. You hear me?"
 Every word, sir
 All right; stand by, and don't fail us."
 Now, lads" I said, standing erect First it's the after cabin, and then the deck. Douse the glim, Olson; we're better off in the dark. Follow me, and mind your footing"
 The gloom was no handicap in that narrow space where We could feel either wall with our fingers, but l emerged into the cabin with caution. fearing the possible presence there of MeCann, who might even have brought man, or two. back on board to assist him. The hanging lamp had been ex- tinguished, or else 1t had burnt out from lack of oil, but there was faint l glimmer of light in Miss Carrington's stateroom. enabling me to discover at a glance that the main cabin was unoc- l eupied. Her door stood wide open, but with no signs of confusion within. l What had happened? There was nothing to tell me the truth. Had Me Cam succeeded in inducing her to ac- company him on deck? Had he taken her there by force? or, had the girl finally yielded to his insistence after exhaustfng every form of delay. her last faith in my return having van i ished? Nothing remained but to follow l them, and find out what had occurred, and, if not already too late, attempt a rescue.
 There's no one here," I said in whisper. "We'll try the deck; quiet ] both of you"
 We reached the head of the stairs on our hands and knees. I had my re- volver gripped in my fingers, Leayord his iron bar, while Olson had found l hatehet somewhere in the darkness l The companion door was but half closed, and I squeezed my body l through the opening, assured no one occupied that immediate portion of deck. The other two followed noiseless- ly, and we huddled close together in the black shadow of the cabin. So still 1 it was 1 could hear their breathing. and my eyes, trained by long service in the darkness below, were able to dis tinguish objects forward beyond the mainmast. There was nothing living visible; to all appearances the ship was totally deserted; the last strag- glers had taken to the boats. Olson, who lay next me on the deck ierlled my sleeve. his uplifted hand pointing to- ward the starboard rail amidships.
 "There's two of 'em,' he whispered.
 My eyes caught the indistinct out lines unable for the instant to make them appear human. Indeed I was still in doubt when McCanns voice, with the old hateful sound in it, called into the darkness:
 "Below there are you still fast?"
 Aye. fast enough, an blamed tired O holdin' on" grumbled someone below testify. "Why don't yer come along down."
 'In a minute. Is everyone in the boats?"
 q don't know nuthin' bout the steward; nobody ain't seen him yet, less he got in somewhar else nor Tom Dugan. Tony sez he's in the cabin"
 "Well, he isn't; just come up from there. We won't wait for the blame fool. You flooded the engineroom. Tony?"
 Sure I did, with both cocks wide open; there's five feet O water in her by now"
 "Good then it's time we're off. Send n hand up here to help me, Liverpool the girl won't go along"
 The men below laughed at his trouble.
 Cant yer handle that little bit Q d thing, mister?" sang out q new voice, without the help O sailor man?''
 'Stow 1t, Joe Sachs." roared Red, and there was the dull thud of a fist blow. "Now up yer go to give the lady a lift, me lad. Jump CT I'll take the tiller ter yer next"
 Sachs must have started his upward climb, for MeCann drew back from the rail, and, as he did so. the girl broke free from his grasp. The man. how