The St. Mary banner., 1920-01-24
b. FRANK l. PACKARD
(Copyright.)
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.


think that hiding behind your skirts
will save me-or save you? There Is
food here-see, the table is set-that
ia one reason why chose the moment
that did.
"They cannot starve us out. We are
armed now, Gunga and l, and we can
hold that door for longer than they
will care to wait, for a heavier price
than they will care to pay. They are
not fools. They know that. And that
Is the one chance for you-that they
will accept the terms have to offer"
aAnd am safer here with q muir
derer, with an impostor who steals q
dead mans name?" she asked evenly.
The red surged into Wallen's face
and died away again, leaving 1t pale
and haggard. His eyes met hers and
held In long gaze. They were hard.
those fearless brown eyes, cruelty hard
enough; but, too, they seemed to hold
q strange challenge TO him to refute
what she had said.
"Shall l answer you? Do you expect
an answer?" he said steadily. "Then
the answer is-no. You are safer here
only for little while-Only for a
moment"
She started back with little cry,
retreating to her cabin door.
I did not mean to frighten you"
said Wallen gently. II mean that
there Is another danger quite apart
from any on board. You know what
Laynton and the others are after, and
you have been told by Gunga here
that though you may not choose to
believe 1t. they are inviting their own
destruction. In an hour, in twenty
four, there will not be a man alive
aboard this ship, and"
A terrific smash upon the door cut
short his words, and, whirling around,
ne Jumped to Gunga's side. The shock
OF some heavy object, used obviously
as a battering ram. had loosened their
makeshlft prop, the door had yielded
oy perhaps an inch, and Gunga now
was straining with might and main
70 force 1t back into place.
Wallen flung his weight against the
0oor-not an instant too soon. 1t
came again, the smash upon the door.
Ouf with 1t scream of pain above the
SHOUTS and cries. Came another
scream-then again the scurrying Of
Ieet ID retreat-then silence. Gunga
oad fired this time, but not at the floor.
Sahib," said Gunga calmly, 1--WE
were In too great haste. See"-he
Jammed the dismantled cabin door
more securely into position, wedging 1t
against the iron base Of the chair with
z piece of wood that he wrenched from
lne chairs back-"it will not slip
again"
Waiien nodded. testing the barri-
0oe. II was firm now, and would hold
as long as anything of the saloon door
Itself remained.
he looked around.
Helen MacKay had gone into her
eaOih-and the door was shut. Pos
'Oiy half an hour passed, and they
on one side little out
Y y direct range from the door. And
luen Wallen distinguished a muf1led
sound Of voices.
4
tol moment he could not place the
then he smiled mirthlessly.
aelen MacKay was talking through
he portfolio Of her stateroom to some
0ne out on the deck.
ana then, abruptly, In q shout, came
laynton's voice. apparently from the
w OF the companionway:
lou below there!'
Waiien smiled grimly. He had been
Aalllng a long while for that.
weir he answered indifferently.
LOOK here now!" Laynton's voice |
'seame modulated and unctuously
uooth. you amt doing yourself any
oou py playing the fool this way. You
olne on out Of there, give us the in
we want. and well forget |
sout !. this, for all that two Of my
1sps nave got bullets through their
Aoulders."
".als the ships position" In
l.Ied Wallen coolly.
I. 1nefe was quick oath from Cap
- Laynfon. Il guess you know
'.meo WE'LL" he growled.
we've Arru abeam, haven't wei?
slnsted Wallen quietly.
STes."
"eii' said Wallen slowly, "I'll tell
'ndition."