The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-09-04


| opened the door and stepped out
into the main cabin, the roll Of charts
under my arm. EStada didn't wait for
me TO question him
Captain sanchez StatGrOom is aft, '
he said, with Il wave of the hand.
"Thcrc are two rooms, Jose is with
him--a negro with a knack at nurs-
ing"
"Who else Is quartered af, herC?"
He ignored the one thing l most de-
sired to learn, but l did not press it,
believing | knew the answer already.
"LcNcre has this middle stateroom,
and Mcndcz the one forward. MeGdez
Is third officer and carpenter. Just
at present with LcNCre required on
deck he has charge of the men below.
Not the working crew; they are quar-
tered in the forecagtle and are largely
English and Swede. But we have to
carry extra men, who bunk amidships
--hellhoundS to Gght-mongrels Of
course. They are allowed on deck
amidShips when we are at sea, but
are not encouraged to mingle with the
sailors. We're over a powder maga-
zine all the time, Gates-any spark
might set 1t Off"
l opened one of the doors opposite
and glanced within The interior diff
fered but little from that Of the state.
room occupied by EStada, except II
was minus the table. No doubt they
were all practically alike.
"This will do very WELL" l said Qui-
city. "Now how about clothes? These
l wear look rather rough for the new
Job" .
"Tl send you the steward; he'll fix
you out from the slop chest"
was glad to see him go and closed
the door on him with a sigh of relief,
1t had all occurred so quickly, almost
without effort on my part, | could do
little but wonder what strangR occur.
renee would be next. What, indeed,
was there for me to do except to await
developments? Only one thing oc-
cured to mc---I must discover some
means Immediately Of communicating
with Dorothy Fairfax.
The Importance of this could not be
overestimated. With myself quartered
aft and eating 10 the cabin we were
bound to meet sooner or later, and the
girl must previously be warned Of my
presence aboard, or In her first sur
prise at the recognition | should b.
instantly betrayed. If l was 10 SER.
the girl there must be, first of all, in
telligent cooperation between us. She
must not only know Of my presence
on the Namur but also the purpose ac'
tuating me. | had reached this con
cluslon when u light, hesitatlng knOcb
sounded at the door,
Gunsaules entered, garments over
his arm, and laid out the pieces care
fully one by one, evidently proud OF
his selection.
"The clothes seem to be all right
steward" ] said, "and l judge will
fit Now hunt me up first Of all some
thing to shave with, then some to
bacco and a pipe, and-yes, wait {
sCCond--wrting materials. And, b!
the way, there are two stateroom'
astern. Who occupies the one TO star
bOard-ScnOr EStada2'
mo, senor; It is the younG lady"
ooh, the one brought aboard las
night. Have you seen herr"
"Sl, senior; she is English and gOoJ
to look at, but she sit and stare ou
the stern port. She will not speak o
eat. | take in her breakfast, but sh,
touch not a mOrsel So ! tell Scno
EStada, and he say, then bring he
out to dinner with me; I'll make th
hussy eat If have to choke 1t dowI
her dainty throat"
Good; I'll have look at her my
self then. Now hurry up those things
steward, and remember what l sen
you after"
He brought the shaving set an
writing materials first, explaining tina
he would have to go downSinto tn
lazaret and break open some nacl
ages for the tobacco and pipe. Th
moment the fellow disappeared
grasped the opportunity. | dashed o.
note hurriedly--a brief line merel
stating my presence on board and bci
ging her not TO exhibit surprise q
meeting me. had no time In whic
to explain or make clear the stui
tiCn. With this folded and cOnceale
In my hand silently pushed open til
door.
crept swiftly forward, fOllOwin
the circle Of the staterOOms, until
; came to the closed door of the one
, sought aft. bent here an instan
; listening for some sound from withi
but henrd none. Beyond doubt Il
, girl was within and alone, and | mu
. trust her quick intelligence TO respor
$ to my written message. l thrust
, through the narrow opening above Il
r sill. and the moment It disappeart
| within stole swiftly back to my ov
5 room. The action had not been see
and yet / had scarcely a moment
] spare. Before l could latller my fa
. the steward returned, bearing In /
] hands tobacco and pipe.
i Estada. however, remained avn
( ! io,,,,,r ghup 7 bod ortipiputrd