The Washington times., 1919-04-28
Dark Star
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS
The Spies Poison Neeland Who Falls
Unconscious in His StateroOm, One ,
Arm About the Olive Wood Chest
By ROBERT w. CHAMBERS

the curtain was twitchsd noiselsss-
ly aside; a young woman IN the
garb OF a nurse stepped swiftly
into the state-room on tiptoe. fol-
lowed BY q big, good-looking, blue
eyed man wearing a square golden
beard.
The man, who carried with him
pair OF crutcheS, but who did not
appear to require their aid, hastily
set the dinneF-tray and camp-table
outside in the corridor, then closed
and bolted the door.
Already the nurse was down on
her knees beside the fallen man.
trying 20 loosen his grasp on the
box. Then her face blanched.
Its like the rigor Of death IT.
self" she whispered fearfully over,
her shoulder. ''CouId / have given.
him enough TO kill him3"
"He took only half q cup and
swallow OF water. No"
II can't get his hand free
wait! I try." He pulled a big
horn-handled clask-knife from hisE
pocket and deliberately opened the
efght-inch blade.
what are you doing?" she whis-
pered, seizing his wrist. Don't de-
that"'
The man with the golden beard
hesitatsd, then shrugged, poeketed
his knife, and seized Neeland's rig-6
idly clenched hand.
A SEIeat Agent.
'You are right. 10 makes too
much FUSS" tugging saHagely at
the clenched and unconscious hand,
''SacFeminton! What foF q death
grip Is this Kerls? II cut his hand
50 iss there blood and gossip right
away already. No-toO much muss.
Watt / try another way
Neeland groaned-
'-Oh, don't faltered the girl
you're breaking his wrist"
Ugh! grunted her eompaniop;7
Il try; can IL not accomplish. See,
once If the box Openg"
1T is locked"
search this pig-dog for the key"
She began a hurried search Ofa
Neeland's clothing; presently dis
covered her own handkerchief
thrust Il into her apron pocket, and.
continued rummaging while the
bearded man turned his attention
to the automatic pistol This he.
finally succeeded In disengaging,
and he laid It on the wash basin.
Here are his keys" whispered
nurse feVerishly, holding them up
against the dim circle Of evening
sky framed by the open port. You
had better light the stateroom: /
can't see. Hurry! I think he Is be-
ginning TO recover"
A DeatA-Hke Cluteh. !
When the bearded man had
5 syaRthad on the electric light he re-
tut u kneel once more beside
the sihslt body on the flcor, and
besanstb pull and haul and tug at
the box and attempt to insert the
key in the lock. But the stiffened
clutch OF the drugged man made
1t impossible either to release the
box or get at the keyhole.
'Ach, was! VerfluchteteS
schwein-hand-!" He seized the
rigid hand and, exerting all the
strength OF q brutally inflamed
fury, fairly ripped loose the fingers,
Also" he painted. seizing the,
stiffened body from the floor and
lifting Il. Hold you him by the
long and Yankee legs once, und ]
push him out"
"Out OF the poTt?
'GeWiss! Otherwise he reeoVsrs
TO raise some nel1g
at Is not necessary. How shall
this man know?"
you left your handk srehief. He
Is no fool He makes q noise. No.
II lss safer we push him overheard"
'T'Il take the papers to Karl, and
then I can remain in my state
room"
mo! Lift his legs, tell youl You
want I hold him In my arms all
day while you talk. talk. talk! Yoa
take his legs right away quick
He staggered q few PAGES for
ward with his unWieldly burden
and, setting one knee on the sofa
attempted to force Nseland's head
and shoulders through the open
port At the same moment q rapid
knocking sounded outside the state
room door.
"ouickT' brsathsd the nursG
Throw him on his bed!"
The blue-eyed. golden-bsardo1
man hesitated, then as the knock-s
ing sounded again. imperative per-
sistent, he staggered to the bed
with his burden. laid il on the pill
lows, seized his crutcheS, rested onS
them, breathing heavily, and listen
ing to the loud and rapid knock
ing outside the door.
We've got to Open" she whis-
pered. Don't forget that we found
him unconscious in the corridor!
And she slid the bolt noiselesslya
opened the statsroom door, and
stepped outside the curtain into the
corridor.
The cockney steward stood there
with q messenger.
Wireless for Mr.. Neeiand-
he began; but his speech failed and
his jaw fell at sight Of the nurse
in her cap and uniform. And when,
on his crutcheS, the bearded man
emerged from behind the curtain,
the stewards eyes fairly protruded.
The young gentleman Is i'll" ex-
planned the nurse eoolly. "Mr.
Hawks heard him fail in the cor
ridor and came out on his crutcheS
to see what had happened. 1
CHANGED to be passing through the
main corridor, fortunately. I am
doing what I can for the young
gentleman"
'Ow." said the steward, staring
over her shoulder at the bearded
man on crutches.
There iss no need OF calling the
crutches. This young woman iss q
hospital nurse und she isS so polite
and obliging to volunteer her ser
vice for the poor young gentle
man."
Yes" she said carelessIy, Il can
remain here for an hour or twOl