Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-04-19
| Almost Fell Forward Into the Room.

tains concealing the bath, but the space
was empty; only one of the round
ports was partially open, the aperture
far too small to admit the passage Of
body. The bed had not been slept in,
and was neatly made; one drawer OF
the desk stood open, and papers We're
scattered on the rug beneath; chair
was overturned on the deck; chest in
one corner had been rummaged, its
contents flung aside. My eyes fell on
White, his mouth open, his face gro
tesque in it's coating of coal dust.
Hanged if he amt got away, sir"
he blurted out, "but he never went
overheard through that port-a cat
couldn't ha' done IT.
mo, he's aboard all right" I coin.
cided. "But where? and for what pur.
pose? There is no knowing what
man in his state of mind may do. Good
heavens he could wreck the ship. Get
light, White-take the cabin lantern.
Olson and l will have to look behind
these doors first, and then We'll ex.
plore between decks"
We found nothing, not the slightest
trace of the fugitive. Beyond doubt he
had gone forward, either seeking to
escape. or with the thought that he
could attain the deck through some
opening amidships. was cool enough
~ now W realize tile peril we faced
between decks, searching for the mad
man, whom we might encounter at any
moment.
run on deck, White" I ordered.
"and pick up a couple Of marling
spikes. / have revolver. Tell Mr..
Leay0rd the situation, and have him
keep his eyes open. Better have him
warn McCann, and Miss Darlington
i had best remain near the wheel until
we get our hands on this fellow. Hurry
! back now"
Olson and I remained motionless,
our eyes on the black opening leading
j forward, the dim rays of the lantern
/ falling on the CHASTITY faces of the two
! dead men Outstretched on the deck. 1t
i was a grewsome spot, and my heart
was beating like triphammer. made
/ sure my revolver was loaded, dropping
! the weapon into jacket pocket. White
rejoined us, grasping the spikes, one
Of which he passed over to Olson, who
tested the weight in his hand.
"Quiet as June mornfn' UP there,
SIR" he announced, squirting about.
'There amt nobody seen nuthin' of no
maniac. reckon yer better let Olson
carry the lantern, so you and can lie
sorter free to grip the chap; we're big
| ger than the mate.'
'From what I've seen of Olson he'll
do his share of the fighting" an
swered, knowing the Swede to be hot.
! tempered, and touchy about his size.
However, one will have to carry it,
"It's all right, SIR said Olson quiet
ly, 9Th hold the glim, but if that big
duffer doesn't stand up to the job, I'll
bust glass an all over his head"
! We certainly made a thorough search
Of 1t. doubt If stray rat got by us
without being seen, but from the after
cabin to the engineroom ladder we
found no trace of Bascom; no indica-
ton even that he had ever passed that
way. The effort to locate Bascom's
hiding place was absolutely vain-the
cunning of the mailman overcame our
diligence and wit; he had disappeared
as though swallowed by the sea, leav-
ing not SO much as a clue behind.
Beyond the hole leading to the en-
gine"@om below, our advances We're
nv steel bulk Ter
by singl a
clos