The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-21

c1aI purpose. Clearly he had no fear of attack. I could determine almost his exact position as his advancing foot felt cautiously along the deck. He came forward inch by inch. I measured the distance as indicated by faint, shufling sounds.
 I could not see but I knew. With all my force I struck! BlindIy as It had been delivered the blow hit fair; there was a thud, an inorticulate groan, and the fall of body upon the noCr-be- yond that nothing. 1 waited breath Iessly listening for the slightest move ment. I felt Dorothy touch my shoul- der and caught the sound of her voice trembling at my ear.
 What is it? What did you do?'
 q struck him with a chair; he lies there on the deck. Wait where you are"
 bent over and touched him. The fellow lay in heap with no percep- tible heartbeat, no semblance of breathing. My fingers sought his face, and I could scarcely suppress a cry of surprise-he was not Estada. Who, then, was he? What could have been his purpose in thus invading this stateroom? All I could grasp was the fact that the fellow was not the Por- tuguese-he possessed a smooth face, long hair, and was a much smaller man. l dragged the body where the light illumination from the after port fell directly on the upturned face. The features revealed were unfamiliar those unquestionably of a half-breed Indian. Dorothy crossed to my side, her foot striking a knife which came glimmering into the narrow range of light. She stared in horror at the ugly weapon, and then at the ghastIy COuntenanCe.
 "He came to murderl See, his knife lies there. Why should he have sought to Kill me2'
 "Tt is all mystery" I admitted. What shall be done with the bOdy3 It cannot be left lying exposed here 1; no one would believe you killed him, and my presence must not be suspect ed"
 Could it." she suggested, 'be dropped through the port?" She shrank back from touching the inanimate figure, yet it required the combined efforts of both to force the stiffening body through the porthOle. We could distinguish footsteps on the deck above, but these were regular and undisturbed-the slow promenade from rail to rail of the officer on watch. Clearly nothing had been -H fr ~pI~ yafn 'If you should be questioned tomor- row you had best know nothing" said gravely. "I do not think you will 1 be, for surely an attack can be no plan of Estada's. It could gain no advan- tage. The fellow was pillaging on his own account; if he is missed 1t will be supposed he fell overheard, and no one will care. You are not afraid to
 remain here aIone?"
 "No; l am not greatly frightened but shall try and bar the door with 3 chair. I have no key"
 Then I'll leave you; half of my watch below must be gone by now. I'll take the fellows knife along as il must not be found here"
 We parted with a clasp of hands, as I opened the stateroom door and 1 slipped out into the cabin. To my sur 1 prise the light over the table hal been extinguished, rendering the cabin | so black I had to actually feel my way forward. The lantern must have been ! put out since then by some cOnfed 1 crate. After a moment of hesitation 1 found my way across to my owr 1 staterOom and pressed open the door i The hIt of the knife in my belt at l tracted my attention, and I drew il ! forth, curious to learn if 1t bore any
 mark of ownership. My eyes were in
 stantly attracted to a dark stain or
 both hilt and blade. I held it to tht