Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-01-18
discuss the situation frankly.

n.
to make us all the trouble possible, and
is even now behind most of the dis
satisfaction on board. Do you know
anything definite, Mr. Olson?'
The mate paused in his eating, with
knife and fork uplifted.
II had not heard, sir. May I ask
If he is rich?"
"Quite so; he was a guest on the
yacht Esmeralda. Now that / have
answered these questions, Mr.. Olson"
and / stared into his rather emotion
less face intently, perhaps you will be
kind enough to answer mine.'
II would know what talk he re-
turned stubbornly. HE, this Mr.. Nc
Cam, he offers ten thousand dollars
to be put back in New York"
$50 that's his game! Who brought
the word forward?'
Cookie, I think, sir. overheard
Jim White say that Mr.. Mccain had
a belt on him with more money in it
than they'd ever seen before in all
their lives. The d fool beg
your pardon, miss-didn't know no
more than to show it to 'em. Why, the
sight of it fairly drove them two wharf
rats crazy.
There's half dozen men forward"
he went on slowly, "who would murder
their grandfathers, sir, to get hold O.
all that coin. The rest o. the crew are
decent enough fellows as sailormen go,
but there's liquor aboard yet, and all
this ere war talk has scared 'em
against continuing the voyage"
MCCAIN told them?'
"He told Cookie an Liverpool, an
they circulated the news. IT'S said
we're chuck up with contraband, sir,
an that il we're took, every man jack
of us will be chucked into an English
or French prison"
''You expect a mutiny, then, Mr.. Oh
son?''
II don't know what'n stop 1t, sir, )"
he answered solemnly. "The men went
aft ter sorter take your measure, sir,
and hear what it was you proposed do
ing. They amt had no chance to git
tergether an talk since, but it's my
notion they're ripe enough for the job."
looked him squarely in the eyes.
"And how about you, Mr.. Olson?"
"Me, sir?" his lips grinned. 'If
hadn't intended for to stay with yer,
sir, I never would "a took the job
I reached out my hand, and our fin.
gers locked.
"Good; with both my officers loyal,
Wen find way out of this mess. Come
with me into the captains stateroom,
until we see what we can find there
useful"
I distu ed things as little as pos
sible, leas lg any necessary research
into Captain Hadley's private affairs
to later date, but sought with some
anxiety through roll of maps showed
behind the chest, Olson holding lam
tern aloft, until finally brought forth
an old chart of the North Atlantic. We
bent over this, outspread on the deck
between us, and Olson's stubby fore
finger traced the prickings of two voy-
ages around the Orkneys into the
North sea. The chart revealed, also,
although in somewhat less detail, the
German coastline. / was far from sat
isfied with this discovery, but nothing
better could be hoped for. The total
destruction of the charthouse forward
made this find a godsend indeed, and
we were fortunate in the fact that
Captain Hadley preserved his old
maps. Bidding Olson relieve the first
officer, remained there alone for some
minutes familiariZing myself with the
two charts, and outlining in my mind
the safest course to pursue. AS I sat
there the rising wind began to hurl
rain against the closed glass Of the
port, and I could hear the splash OF
the drops on the deck overhead. An
oiled coat, belonging to the skipper,
hung dangling from hook, and /
slipped it on, extinguishing the light
before closing and locking the door.
Leayord was alone at the table in the
cabin, which had already been cleared
of it's dirtied dishes.
Il Itdu duFdIlESu 10 TIE COIIpdHlOu
steps when his voice stopped me.
Captain" he said in hoarse whis-
per, 'was you planning to go forward
alone?"
Certainly"
Leayord glanced about uneasfly.
swell, wouldn't, sir, If was YOU
not tonight anyhow. The men are that
ugly there's no KNOWN what might
happen. Do you carry gun, STRIP
"Why, no; / saw one there in a
drawer of Captain Hadley's desk. You
think the situation is as bad as that?"
It'd go back and get 1t, sir" he said
soberly, ''an' then keep to the after
deck till daylight
An instant I stood staring at the
rain beating fiercely against the glass
of the companion, then turned back
to the stateroom had just left, slipped
the revolver out, of the desk drawer
into my pocket, and re-entered the
cabin,
I buttoned the oilskin closely about
my throat and stepped out on deck,
the wind driving the rain full into my