The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-10-09
Copyright. By A. c. MeClurg q Co.

crooked against the side wall. His
very posture was that of sudden death.
even had II not been pictured by the
CHASTITY face. and the dark pool OF
blood underneath. heard an excla.
nation from lie We're and stood for an
instant utterly unable to move. ]
knew already what l should find, yet
finally forced myself forward-he was
stone dead, pierced with three knife
thrusts. stood up and faced the
mulatto, whose countenance was fairly
green with horror.
"whnt do you know about this. Sc
nor Levere?" asked sternly. "The
man has been murdered, knitted. Who
did it-and whyT"
He could scarcely answer, gripping
at the tabl, for support, and never re-
,ioyi ing his gaze from the face Of the
dead man. Yet believed his words;
was convinced this was not the terror
Of guilt.
my God! cannot tell; have
never dreamed Of this"
Had the man enemies. Anyone
you WOulu suSpeCtf
Enemies? Ay. plenty Of them; we
all have. We expect that in our
trade. This ship is full of devils ready
enough TO do such job; but l could
not name the one who did do 1t. l
know Of no cause. have heard moth
Ing"
IT believe you, Leyere," said.
"What can we do, senori"
do! We must talk that over first.
We cannot meet this thing until we
are prepared. There Is more danger
In hasty action than anything else"
shut the door behind us and turned
the key. 1t was a relief to get out
side. even into that dismal cabin, be-
yond view of Estada's dead face. Le-
We're, who had evidently lost his nerve,
sank into chair.
"You fear an uprising, n mutiny"
I questioned, ,",when this Is reported"
"What will preventw he asked.
''The captain cannot stir; the mate Is
dead the men already crazed because
we take no prizes. They will murder
us also and take control. Those devils
| amidships."
"And who leads them7 Who would
be captalnf"
Manuel Estevan." he whispered.
II thought as much. Then II Is
Manuel Estevan we must secure first
-before they know. Whatever his
men may know or what has occurred
they will make no move until they get
his orders. We must stop the possi-
bllity Of his issuing any. Without q
leader the advantage Is ours"
"You mean to kill him?"
| "Only as q last resort There Is no
good feeling between those quartered
amidships and the crew."
"No, senor; II Is hate generally, al.
though they are not all alike. The
real sailors are mostly captured men |;
they serve to save their lives. and
only for these others on board could
not be held long. Your plan, senior,
Is to set the one against the otherT"
"Yes, II possible. These sailor men
are OF ell races. Can they be trusted?"
"Some might be, sir; II Is hard to
tell how many. II Is not the race
which counts so much. senior. There
are those among them who would not
care to return to honesty"
And you, LeVere?"
He spread his hands and shrugged
his shoulders. "There is no hope OF
me; was born to the free life."
what then Is 1t with your
"EIate, senor-revenge," and his
teeth cleaned savagely. ~ would spit
on this Manuel who seeks to be chief
can never bc--no: l am of black
skin, with negro blood In my veins
and white men would never have 1t so
But / can hate, senior That Is why
am with you now, II the devil SO
will. Your plan might work-tell me
more OF It,"
"What nre the odds say you-th!rty
to a hundred? Ay, but surprise will
overcome that. My plan Is this: First
to secure Manuel as quietly as pos
sible bat at whatever cost. With hin
In our hands, or dead, the buccaneers
have no leader. What then? There
are men In the crew on deck and In
the forecastle TO be trusted-Watkin'
Is one, and he will know others. Q
dozen no doubt. They will be enough
We will whisper the truth TO these
and have them ready for signal. The
forward door from amldships is CLOSED
by iron bars--is II noti"
"si. senor." his eyes again sparkling
with interest. "The men quarreled
ana there was fighting"
''Then there Is no escape In that di
rection and II can be no great tasl
to close any passage leading aft
Lower the deck hatch and we hav'
those devils below Gagged like so man,
| rats. There need be no fighting; star
walton will bring them to terms"
But senior. your dozen men canno
guard the buccaneers below and nls'
manage the bark. The crew are moi
all lambs-many will sympathlze with
those thus locked beneath deck. Co
chose Is bad. and friend OF Manuel
Mt