Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-09-03

| aVVhbh NPoh 'it'N'
rock next day, he wasn't at all impa-
tlent to leave the ship.
Going ashore?" inquired voice at
his side. 1t was Jed Mansel the wire
less operator.
"S'pose so,' answered Shute with
out show Of enthusiasm.
"Why not join me? know the spot
and the ways of the native holdup
artists. I'll act as guide II you say
so-glad to-"
Never before had Jerrold Mansel Of
fered to do him a favor. Their only
contact after the first days consulta-
tion over the wireless messages had
come In rivalry over Miss Riley's time.
Now the hero of the Regent was brim-
full Of frlendliness. Win Shute's sus-
plcions already sufficiently aroused
regarding Mansel, were considerably
augmented by this urgent invitation.
But he smiled as he might have done
In facing pitcher who had something
ION" him.
"Thank you've no time for sight
seeing. / have some business to at
tend to here"
Win Shute was Off the ship among
the very flrst-before the wireless op-
orator; he saw to that. He hired a
conveyance and ordered the driver to
make tracks for the cable Office.
"If you get there befon anybody
from the ship I'll give you double
fare" promised Shute--and he had
| to.
He wrote out a long message to iris
Ford, explaining In detail what had
happened to him and how he had done
his best to communicate by wireless,
and how he stood over the operator
while he sent 1t. Then he asked how
long It would take to get an answer.
From two to six hours" was the
reply.
"I'll walt" announced Shute.
But don't you want to see the
fortlfications?" asked the operator.
"Y0u will have ample time"
II want to see nothing except the
reply to that message" replied Shute,
sitting down and making himself COM
Portable for long wait.
After six hours Of waiting, the Oper
ator handed him cable dispatch. 1t
read:
"FOrd out of town. Report to Amer
lean consul, Naples. Do you need
money!"
1t was signed by the clubs secre-
tary.
He cabled In answer to address him
care Of the consul at Naples. He did
not ask for money And he went back
to the ship in no hilarious frame Of
mind. His team had lost the worlds
championship-the plot against him
had been thoroughly successful! And
he was no nearer spotting his en-
emles than he was before going ashore.
And Miss Riley didn't care for base
ball! This seemed to cap the climax.
Strange how values change In voy-
age across the Atlantic.
Aboard ship he ran upon the ships
doctor and the wireless operator In
close confab. Win Shute was not Gu
rious until he caught the doctors
words:
"The Giant-killers lost. / see by the
Dispatch, and you won. I'll pay you
when we get paid ctf."
"My tip was pretty good" admitted
Jed Mansel. ~ made quite killing.
Cleaned up two thousand dollars"
1.-TWO thousand?" repeated the doc
tor. "You were lucky"
"Not lucky-wise," corrected Man
sell, wlnking slyly. II knew that one
Of the Glant-klllers' best men couldn't
play"
Win Shute was certain. The wire
less operator was crook. He was
party to the devilsh conspiracy that
had drugged and put him away on
the ship!
Rage such as he had never felt In
all his life consumed him. He could
not curb his desire to hurl himself up
on Mansel and beat him to insensibili.
ty. But as he was on his toes to
spring, a restraining hand w9s laid
upon his arm.
1t was Miss Riley. MAY l speak
to you, please?"
Reluctantly Win Shute turned from
his enemy. He and Miss Riley walked
along the deck until they were out
of hearing of everybody.
~ looked for you before the pass
engers went ashore she said. "You
see," she went on, then faltered-
you see--I wanted to ask favor of
you" She stopped.
The ships mystery unaccountably
flashed across Wins mind But he
didn't pause a second in replying:
"Sure! Ask something hard. Wish
| could do real big favor for you"
"You can. / have queer feeling
that something Is going to happen.
It's perfectly silly, Of course, but
IL something should, will you look af-
ter mother? She Is so devoted to me
and so dependent on me that l don't
know what she -" Again she fal-
tered.
~ sure willard look after you,
too" answered Win.
"Thats SO good OF you. But don't
trouble about me. It's mother I'm
worried about" Then with look Of
unconceaIed admiration she concluded;
"But feel better now, 1t. seemed
~ A.