The Monticellonian., 1919-11-28
BY FRANK L. PACKARD
NCCPy iAe nj
CHAPTER Vlll-continued.
tCopyright.)

that | did.
They cannot starye us out. We are
armed now, Gunga and |, and we ear
hold that door for longer than they
will care to wait, for heavier price
than they will care TO pay. They are
| not fools. They know that And that
is the one chance for you-that they
Will accept the terms | have to offer
And | am safer here with a MUIR
derer, with an impostor who steals a
dead mans name?" she asked evenly
The red surged into Wallens face
and died away again, leaving it pale
and haggard. His eyes met hers and
held in long gaze. They were hard
those fearless brown eyes, cruelty hard
enough; but, too, they seemed to hold
strange challenge TO him to refute
what she had said.
shall | answer you? Do you expect
an ansWerY' he said steadily Then
the answer is-no. You are safer here
only for a little while-only for a
moment
She started back with a little cry,
retreating to her cabin door.
Il did not mean to brighten you
said Nallen gently. Il mean that
there is another danger quite apart
from any on board. You know what
Laynton and the others are after, and
you have been told by Gunga here
that, though you may not choose to
believe it, they are inviting their own
destruction. In an hour, in twenty
four, there will not be a man alive
aboard this ship, and"
A terrific smash upon the door cut
short his words, and, whirling around,
he jumped to Gunga's side The shock
of some heavy object, used obviously
as battering ram, had looSened their
makeshift prop, the door had yielded
by perhaps an inch. and Gunga now
was straining with might and main
to force il back into place.
Wallen flung his weight against the
door-not an instant too soon 1t
came again, the smash upon the door,
but with 1t q scream of pain above the
shouts and cries. Came another
scream-then again the scurrying of
feet in retreat-then silence Gunga
had fired this time, but not at the floor
"Sahib,' said Gunga calmly, I'VE
were in too great haste. See"-he
damned the dismantled cabin door
more securely into position, wedging it
against the iron base of the chair with
piece of wood that he wrenched from
the chairs back-''it will not slip
again"
Wallen nodded, testing the barri-
cade. 1t was firm now, and would hold
as long as anything of the saloon door
itself remained.
He looked around.
Helen MacKay had gone into her
cabin-and the door was shut. Pos
sibly half an hour passed, and they
waited-Gunga on one side little out
of direct range from the door. And
then Wallen distinguished a mufIled
sound of voices.
For moment he could not place the
southland then he smiled mirthlessly.
Helen MacKay was talking through
the portfolio of her stateroom TO some
one out on the deck.
And then. abruptly, in a shout, came
Laynton's voice, apparently from the
top of the companionway:
You below there l'
Wallen smiled grimly He had been
waiting long While for that
wv ?" he answered indifferently.
Look here now" Laynton's voice
became modulated and unctuously
smooth. you amt doing yourself any
good by playing the fool this way. You
come on out of there, give us the in
formation we want, and Wen forget
about this, for all that two of my
chaps have got bullets through their
shoulders
whats the ships positlon?" in
quired Wallen coolly.
There was quick oath from Cap
thin Laynton. Il guess you know
blamed weH." he growled
We've Arru abeam, haven't we?"
persisted Wallen quietly.
"Yes."
well" said Wallen slowly, "I'n tell
you what YOU want TO know-on one
condition.
Aha So you do know, eh?"
snarled Laynton. Il thought we'd get
it out Of you before we were through.
You're beginning to show some signs
of sense, my lad. What's the condi.
tion?9
It's simple enough Wanen replied
shortly. You'll stand in close to Arru
opposite MacKnight's station-and let
Miss Maekay and Gunga here 70
ashore"
u. sahib-nor Gunga had slipped
quickly to Wallen's side and was
clutching 1T Wallens sleeve. Il will
not 90. sahib Ii the sahib gives his
life for the Miss MacKay, shall the
shame come upon NE that I let the
sahib die alone?"
Quiet. Gunga !" Wallen commanded
softly. Il cannot hear what the cap.
tain says Then raising his voice:
'What did you say. captain?o
u said you mean you'd kind of
count ON going along with them after
loading us up TO the eyes with some
fake dope" Laynton flung back sar-
castically. "Well. you can forget it.
You'll. never get away from this ship
like that"
Il don't expect to get away" said
Wallen simply. "They are to go