Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-01-17
CHAPTER xx-continued.
"You showed forged papers?"

from ST. JOINS TO Liverpool, with
miscellaneous cargo. The fellow swal-
lowed my yarn us though 1t was sugar
candy And the best of it is. that is
the only war vessel patrolling these
waters; we have a cinch."
mot without me-" answered calm
ly. after q pause in which my mind
gripped the situation. "The telltale
compass shows you are three points
OFF your course now. I'll talk with
you. Mccain, but If continue to nav
igute this ship it will be ut my own
terms. und you'll either give me what
l ask. or we'Il fight 1t out here and
now"
'What are -FOUR terms?"
took time to think, determined to
demand every concession dared ask.
assured 3Snt held the winning hand.
"Ws"" I said finally. "this coast
to tn. west of us is no joke Mt any
season of the year, and there are sea
currents along here to fool any sea-
man. You can take the chances If you
wait to, but it is my belief you fools
will have this ship on the rocks within
twrnty-four hours, ii you trust in blind
reckoning"
Cd it," sung out Liverpool
honrscly, eve don't need no sermon on
the dangers of the deep. Stow the
gasf. an tell us what yer want"
o! will" snapped back. ''The free
dom OF the ship for both myself and
Miss burlington. Our meals are to
he served privately. and the lady is not
to he addressed by any one of you"
MY Gawd." exclaimed a. muffled
voice. "you don't want much! Who
are you. the car of Russiu?"
Il am the rightful captain Of this
satn" | returned stilny, "and the only
man on board capable Of navigating
hey, You can accept my terms, or
lcure them; and those are not all.
Nlc'Iann. l am talking to you, not that
Cez scum"
an right; go ahead. What else?"
u arm to retain this revolver for
pr5tection. and the key to my state
ro:'n; Miss Darlington is also to re-
tail her key. When you men desert
shsF'. which I know you plan to do,
tho Indian Chief is to be left in sea-
.&Mthy condition. That's ALL"
Enough should think. You must
outsider your services indispensable.
Hossever. l accept the terms, providing
ycf agree to do what we ask in re-
tuf4."
"rhat I navigate the ship to within
City miles Of st. Johns; notify you
whan we reach that point, and give
yos. correct sailing directions"
Chat is what we want
"Good: I accept. Take your men
cat of the cabin"
I stood motionless. still gripping the
revolver in one hand, listening to
catch every sound the other side of
the closed door. There was muttered
discussion. the words mostly inaudible,
although I heard enough to convince
ms that Mccain was urging accept
e,1ce Of my conditions on the ground
that 1T would be impossible for me,
eione.. and under surveillance, to add
tv their danger. Some words were
sjded In so low a tone as to fail to
they evoked leugh. and seemed to
rastore the dissa tisfied to better hui
InOr. Liverpool took sides with Nc
Cenn in the dispute, and the two unit
ed must have prevailed, for the men
finally dispersed. and we could hear
their heavy sea boots tramping up
the stairs.
Relieved of the strain, turned to
meet the questioning eyes Of the girl.
"'That--that was better than fight
inE-wlsn't it?" she asked almost anx-
iousIy.
"Yes; lost my head for the mo-
nent. aud could only think of reaching
deck, and shouting an alarm to the
cruiser"
cit was too late Tor that"
"Yes: we know 1t was now, and
probably 1 would pever have reached
there alive. l am very thankful to
you"
To met" Her lips smiled, although
BE-, eyes remained grave. "Why,
k,efely opened door-besides, even
that act was supremacy selfish"
II cannot conceive how"
"You do not? Yet surely you can
rNslize what it would mean to me to
Ge left alone on board with-with Fer.
gus Mccain. do SO despise the
creature that shrink from even look.
lug into his eyes. lit was to avoid
meeting him again that locked the
DOOR"
"He talked with you, them"
ayes. at the table. We were alone
Aar moment. and it was his manner
which frightened me rather than any
words said. left the table withou
speaking. He-he followed me, how
ever. and tried my stateroom door"
"Saying nothing7"
mo; 1t was locked, and-and b.
laughed aud went away"
II suspect the man Is almost a
'ouch afraid of you as you are Of him;
I said quietly. "and il puzzled wha
b do with you"
"Afroi1 AZ ms-Whyr