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

Copyrighted by A c. Mcclurg & Co.

Eyes. Bascom, the owner, has gone
crazy, and has hidden himself some
where on board"
well. I'll be swampedl Can't you
find him7"
mot yet we've searched every place
aft. He hasn't visited your"
"Not to my knowledge. Tony Is back
In the freroom I'll ask him"
The three Of us chung to the ladder
gazing down, the light from the lantern
revealing our faces. Masters was not
gone "A moment, but his voice had
changed.
"Tony's killed, sir" he called up ex-
cltedly. Hes lying on the coal In
number n bunker, cut In the back
with n knife"
The words were not out Of his
mouth before we were scrambllng
down. But our haste gained us moth
Ing. The only trail Bascom had left
was the dead Italian, stretched out In
the half emptled coal bunker, his lips
closed forever. II was q knife thrust
which had killed him-just such a
thrust as had done for his two mates
In the cabin above; but the mailman
had disappeared. Howevers here was
proof positive that the fellow was still
on board still hiding between decks.
He had not reached the open, or flung
himself into the sea-. Masters could
tell us nothing; he had heard no
sound. seen no shadow. He had been
olllng the machinery, and n man could
have slipped down the ladder unob-
served. and escaped again in the same
way. There was no other entrance TO
the engineroom the forward bulkhead
was solid there were two ventilator
shafts, but neither was large enough
for the passage of n mans body, and
the coal chute was kept closed and
locked nj sea. Nevertheless / had these
examined. determined to take no
chances. and our lantern penetrated
every inch Of the %englneroom and coal
bunkers. At the end. utterly bafied.
White gave vent to an oath.
at beats me, SIR" he confessed
hoarsely. "unless it's a spook we're
n huntin' for"
81 wish It was the trouble is II is
n man. and a mighty dangerous one.
Well, he's not down here, and he must
have gone back by way of the ladder.
The fellow has either found some
means Of getting into the hold. or else
he's managed to slip on deck and per
haps Is hidden In the forecastle-nO
n messes there now?"
"No. SIR"
"Then let's have u look up above
come on, men,"
"Yer Amt goin' ter leave me down
here all alone. are yer. captain7" ques-
toned Masters %anxiously. with Tony
lying dead In there, an a murderer
prowlln' about7"
Hell not be down here again, but I
suppose you must have a fireman.
White, you better stay"
"'Taln't no job l like, sir; l shov-
eled coal here already for eight hours"
"Ill tackle It, SIR" interrupted Oh
son quietly. THAT big boob would
throw a ut down here every time he
saw a shadow. After you get those
matches OF send him In on top o. the
~ 50 AhfAt Dt no uHnktT o MIS-
gettin' hurt II Bascom was a hidln'
there
Eyer a dirty llarl I amt no more
afraid than you arel'
Then why don't you stay here9"
I'm plumb tired out shovelln'."
THAT Will do, men," l broke In
s%ternly. There will be work enough.
and maybe fighting enough for both of
you. AS long as you have volunteered.
Olson. you may take a turn down here,
and White will go with me. Keep a
sharp eye out. you men below"
The two Of us clambered up the iron
ladder, the sailor with the lantern In
his hand, the marling spike thrust into
his belt. | tested the bulkhead door
again as we came TO It. but 1t seemed
rs solid as the steel wall itself. and
thoroughly satisfied that it had not
been opened since the ship sailed. we
mounted TO the open deck.