Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-01-31
CHAPTER xxvII-continued.


deck all night, and returned to the
cabin. left my stateroom door open,
but in ten minutes 1 was sound asleep.
| What awakened me I do not know.
had a confused sense of some heavy
body falling, but no other sound. Yet
this impression was SO strong, so in
siStent, that 1 sat up in the berth, and
stared out through the open door into
the cabin beyond. / neither saw, nor
heard anything, yet did not withdraw
my eyes when got to my feet; then
knew that the dark shapeleSs object,
half under the table, was the motion
less body of man. My throat seemed
to contract and choke me. out I forced
a quick breath and stepped forward
through the door. The dingy cabin
was deserted, not another stateroom
door open. The table had been cleared
Of dishes. decanter of brandy stand
Ing alone on the swinging shelf. Un-
derneath, with face concealed in the
crook of one arm, lay a man, an ugly
cash in the back of his colored shirt,
through which fresh blood was oozing,
Ind dripping to the deck. sprang for
ward, and turned him over-Dubois.
! could hardly accept the evidence of
my own eyes. How had this thing hap
ever get into the cabin? Whose hand
could have struck the blow? and for
what purpose was 1T struck? 1t was
murder, cowardly slash from behind;
no wound which could be self-inflicted,
but blow of deliberate purpose. Who
aboard would have reason to seek the
life of Dubois? 1 could think of no
one; no cause for such q crime. An
instant / stared, dazed, into the dead,
upturned face, not even knowing where
to turn. in which direction to seek the
murderer. I felt as though every fac
ulty of both brain and body was
paralyzed by the shock. Yet this was
but for an instant. tried the doors of
the various stateroomS; all opened at
my touch, excepting Bascom's, and
proved unoccupied. His was locked as
usual. and I felt it useless to disturb
the man. Leayord was no longer be-
low; he had doubtless awakened and
gone on deck, but 1 discovered Dade
asleep in his old berth down the pas
sage, shook him awake, and compelled
him to come back with me. The horror
of his face at sight of the dead body
only intensified my own, but had grip
on my nerves by now. and was deter
mined to learn the truth.
"Stay here until I find out what is
happening on deck. There is nothing
to be afraid of, you fool; the man is
dead. Yes, you can stand over there,
but don't leave until I come back, and
keep your eyes open"
AS I emerged from the companion,
leaving the dingy, death-shadowed
cabin behind, the open deck was such
a scene of quiet as to appear like an
other world. Vera was still resting in
her chair not twenty feet away. She
glanced up, smiling a welcome, as /
crossed the deck, but the expression
of her face instantly changed as our
eyes met.
what is it, Mr.. Hollis? Are we
again in danger?"
There has been trouble below. Let
me question you before explain. You
have been here for the last hour?"
Yes; longer even than that"
"WhO have you seen enter the COM
panion?
81 slept at first, but have been awake
for some time. Dade came out on deck
few moments. and then went back
again; that must have been an hour
ago. There was no one else until Mr..
Leayord was called to take his watch"
! "Who called him?"
OASoh hC was AOl OSAOW nOIS tnttA
a minute"
"And Leayord responded immedi-
ately?'
"Yes, so quickly remember think
ing he could not have removed his
clothes to lie down."
And when was this?"
"a half hour ago; he stopped and
spoke with me before taking charge of
the deck"
mo one has entered the cabin
SINGER"
She shook her head.
mo one, I am sure; Mr.. Olson did
not go below: he is forward there now
Please tell me what has happened?"
dubois has been killed." explained
briefly. 81 found his body on the
cabin deck. The deed was just done !;
his fall awoke me from sleep. but be-
fore could leave the stateroom the
murderer had disappeared
'.He-he was murderedi You are
euref'-
'There was q knife wound In the
back piercing the heart. The man died
without a sound"
She rose TO her feet. her face white,
her body trembling so that I put out
my hands to her support. and instantly
her fingers clasped mine.
CHAPTER xxvIii.