Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-01-31
CHAPTER xIv.-continued.

OulS sOHic ullFHctc, UT LuC COnSOllu0s
ton of their interest temporarily on
what was being done forward, had
suved US frorl discovery. Yet could
not remain there, almost in plain view.
Where Should I turn first? Bascom
would be of no value. even II re-
leased him; roy only hope of assistance
lay In the two seamen. Gripping the
Iron bar. the revolver snugly slowed
away in my pocket, crept down the
black passageway leading forward.
glad to escape from the light of the
cabin.
Mccain believed his prisoners were
secure; that 1t was quite safe to leave
them unmatched for the short period
before deserving the ship. The very
fact that the inefficient Dade had been
left alone in the cabin to witch over
Miss Vera, and myself, was evidence
that he needed every seaman to carry
out the work on deck. The measure of
his confidence. his conceit, was what
gave us this opportunity to net. My
hand, funbling for the lock encoun-
tered bar, stout wooden bar, ex-
tending from jamb to jamb, and my
heart bounded madly. This was the
place! had found 1t already, and the
men l came to release were impris-
oned exactly as had been. tapped
gently on the panel.
"WhO Is it," Low as the whisper
was. felt convinced the speaker must
be Leayord.
"Hollis. Stand by now; are you
alone?"
Eyes; Olson and Masters are to-
gether in the nosun's quarters"
Masters! when did they lock him
up2"
"About an hour ago; he made quite a
fight of it-that's how I knew what
was going on, sir. Can you get me
QUIZ"
"Aye! I'll rip this bar off in fifty.
Have you light in there?"
"Black as the inside Of q whales
belly, SIR"
I got purchase with my iron lever,
and put my full strength to it. The
bar was of oak, but the jambs soft
pine. and the nails drew out. crea1ing
slightly, but making no noise to create
any alarm. 1t was so intensely dark
could not even perceive the outlines Of
tsle mans figure, yet felt aware that
ELeayOrd fronted me in the open door.
He found my hand somehow, and
Stripped 1t.
I'm sure glad to meet you, captain"
Ahe exclaimed heartily. land get out O.
thhat hole. What's the word, sir?'
"Release the others. and get busy {;
minutes are worth hours now. Mccain
aud his gang are DESERVING ship; they
have the boats provisioned, and along
side already; that Is why the guards
have been withdrawn"
'sThey were going to leave US aboard
locked in?"
"Aye, and with the sea-cocks open ;
dead men tell no tales"
He whistled, his fist shifting the
wood Of the door.
"The dirty houndi And where are
we, sir?"
"Off the Newfoundland coast; they
think less than fifty miles. but there's
nearly hundred miles Of blue water
to the west of US. Here's the way OF
1t in nutshell: was locked In my
stateroom the same as you. 1t was
Miss Darlington who gave us oul
chance. She became friendly with Nc
Cam. and agreed to 60 with him. She
was left free on board, and managed
to relense me while the crew were al
on deck. The steward was left OF
nknb t. CHI p,nI 20 hi
him with this iron"
"She did! Lord, I'd never hav,
thought 1t of that slip Of thing
What's become o the glrl?"
"She's in her room. Whiting for Nc
Cam to come down for her. She'll de
lay him all she can. Is this the door?'
"Aye, aye, sir; and give ME the IRON
He was not minute at the job, ant
It required scarcely longer to ucqunin
the other two released men with /,
knowledge of the situation. Olsol
picked up the bar Of wood for ,
weapon, asking simply:
'Vat vie do now, captaln7 ISIS 1t t
aght7"
"Hushl" whispered Masters, "there'
someone coming up the ladder"
We crept back into the bosum's state
room and waited breathlessly. Their
was scarcely room for the four of u.
and tho door caught. and would nc
wholly close. A dim light retlecte
along the walls of the passage. maxim
me aware that the fellow who Wi
slowly climbing the iron ladder frol
below. had lantern with him. Lee
yord retained the iron leg. and I DIRE,
my gen, holding 1t tight gripped in on
hand The mans head and shoulder
emerged through the round openin,
and the dim light enabled me to reco,
nize Tom Dugan. He paused on tt
edge, looking down.
IAN quiet enough up here" he calle
"You better draw the fires. Tony"
mo use o. that" answered sull,
voice from distance. 1.-THE wat
will Ok 'em in half an hour; there's tv
cocks open. I'm gotn' on deck: tn
crooked millionaire don't git no chan