Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-01-03

st Johns 10 q naval base, ia
closer we approach the harbor the
more apt we are to encounter q Brit
ish cruiser"
Her fingers grasped my sleeve.
but, MIR Hollis. II all these hopes
fail. and there should be NO rescue, is
there not something we can do? Must
we remain here helpless, just waiting
for death to Gomez"
l took the little hands in mine ten.
derly, and. with I'm effort, controlled
my voice.
"Perhaps so, but we cannot be too
cautious. Our only chance is to retain
our freedom, and arouse no suspicion
that we are plotting together. Can you
learn where the others are confined,
and get the word to me7"
eyes," she said. Ill think I cam
what is 1t you think you can do.
Miss CarringtOn?" said voice quietly.
McCann stood In the open passage-
way leading to the stewards pantry,
less than fifteen feet distant, q satirl.
cal smile on his lips. as he observed
our familiar position. How long he
had been there. and what porllon Of
our conversation he had overheard, I
had no means Of knowing, and for the
instant I stood speeches., my brain
blank. Not SO with Vera. With q
laugh. ringing out as naturally as
though in full appreciation of some
sudden CLEAN Of humor, she withdrew
her hands from mine. turned and faced
him, executing hooking curtsey.
Hardly fair, Mr.. Mccain" she said,
ito steal upon us like Gat."
perhaps not" he eaawcred grizzly,
"but just now I am privileged to do
as please on board this chip. Answer
my question-what is 1t SOU think you
Gun do?'
Perhaps IN answer will be embar.
rassing."
"Stop the play-acting," he burst
forth, advancing about the stair rail,
"What were you talking about? want
direct answer?"
The girls long lashes SEEDED her
eyes, but there was not the slightest
falter to her voice.
captain Hollis" she said softly, al
most regretfully, chad asked me if-if
l thought l could learn TOTO like him.
and said IL thought could. That
that was all"
Mccain stared at the innocent,
downcast face as though he half bs-
lieved the words her ltrs uttered were
deliberate lies; then he laughed mirth.
lessly.
Il see," he said with SARCASM. "Nt
misfortune along other lines is SUN
cicnt to interrupt Mr.. Hollis love-mak'
ing. My congratulations, captain, ON
even this measure Of success"
The hot blood flushed my face, not
so much Mt the words as the tone with
which they were uttered. They con.
veyed to me deliberate insult, tin.
Cling with memory of the purpose
he charged me with during our last
interview. He had not quite under.
stood me before, but now he felt con,
WINGED that under all the veneer was
his kind; and he instantly felt that
he knew just how to deal with my casa
"Your congratulations tire apprec.
ated for what they are WORTH" an
swered, unable to wholly restrain my
self. "But we will let the discussion
end here"
"oh, will we? Well. perhaps you
will recall that circumstances have
changed since our last talk. You are
no longer captain Of this ship-I am;
and will say what please on board
The first thing I propose doing is to
tell Miss Darlington who and what
you are"
Her eyes flashed over my face. then
sought his.
do I understand" she asked clearly.
shat have been before q topic Of
conversation between you? What was
the 0ccasion?"
Mccain laughed, not in the least
embarrassed, and evidently convinced
that his position was sufficiently
strong to give him a clear advantage,
Hollis natural modesty prevents
his answering, but as lislnterested
party, will take upon myself to ex.
plain. The truth is I cornprehended
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