The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-22

man has been murdered, knifed. Who did it-and why?'
 He could scarcely answer, gripping at the table for support, and never re moving his gaze from the face of the dead man. Yet I believed his words :; was convinced this was not the terror of guilt.
 My Godl I cannot tell; l have never dreamed of this"
 Had the man enemies. Anyone you would suspect?"
 Enemies? Ay, plenty of them; we all have. We expect that in our trade. fhis ship is full of devils ready enough to do such a job; but I could not name the one who did do 1t. I know of no cause. l have heard noth- ing'
 'I believe you, LeVere," I said.
 "What cIn we do, senor?"
 Dol We must talk that over first. We cannot meet this thing until we are prepared. There is more danger in nasty action than anything else"
 I shut the door behind us and turned the key. It 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 a chair.
 You fear an uprising. a mutiny?" I questioned, when this is reported?"
 "What will prevent?" he asked '"The captain cannot stir; the mate is dead; the men already crazed because
  us also and take control. Those devils amidships."
 And who leads them? Who would be captain?"
 Manuel Estevan," he whispered.
 ''I thought as much Then it is Manuel Estevan we must secure first before they know. Whatever his men may know of what has occurred they will make no move until they get his orders. We must stop the possi- biIity of his issuing any. Without leader the advantage is ours"
 You mean to kill him?"
 "Only as last resort. There is no good feeling between those quartered amidships and the crew."
 "No, senor; it 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, seuOr, is to set the one against the other?"
 "Yes, if possible. These sailor men are of all races. Can they be trusted"
 Some might be, sir; it is hard to +,T fs. which counts so much, senor. There are those among them who would not care to return to honesty"
 And you, LeVere?"
 Re spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders. There Is no hope Of me; | was born to the free life"
 What then is it with you?'
 ''Hate, senor-revenge," and lis teeth gleamed savagely. q would spit on this Manuel who seeks to be chief. can never be-no; I am of black skin, with negro blood in my veins, and white men would never have it so. But I can hate, scnOr. That is why I am with you now If the devil so will. Your plan might wOrk-tcll me more of it.''
 'What are the odds, say you-thirty to a hundred? Ay, but surprise will overcome that. My plan is this: First to secure Manuel as quietly as pos sible but at whatever cost. With him in our hands. or dead, the buccaneers have TO leader. What then? There are men in the crew on deck and in the forecastle to be trusted--Watkins is one, and he will know others, a dozen no doubt They will be enough. We will whisper the truth to these, and have them ready for q signal. The forward door from amidships Is closed by iron bars-is it nOt?"
 "Si, senor," his eyes again sparkling with interest. "The men quarreled, and there was fighting"
 "Then there is no escape in that di- rection and it can be no great task to close any passage leading aft. Lower the deck hatch and we have those devils below caged like so many rats. There need be no fighting; star vation will bring them to terms"
 "But, senor, your dozen men cannot guard the buccaneers below and also manage the bark. The crew are not all lambs-many will synpathize with those thus locked beneath deck. Co chose is bad, and a friend of Manuel. He will fight, 9nd there are others to back him.