New Britain herald., 1921-09-16

What do you mean by making this
 rumpus before the ladies?" demanded Nickelsen furiously. Go for'ard!"
 I'm sorry to disturb the ladies" :" said Strang, with forced calmness. but I'm sick of all this lying, double faced business aboard here! What sort of a trap is this? Fill the shin with secretos! You didn't have to do that to find me.'
 "Is this mutiny?" cried Nickelsen. getting to his feet
 Call it what you please. I'm going to take a hand in things. I'll give your secretos a job." r- Nickelsen started for him, but strang turned and ran for the break of the quarter deck, and leaped to the waist. They all jumped up from the table now, and saw him disappear | forward
 l Good heavens." cried Eleanor.
 What does he mean?" MT. Strang has turned pirate" said Nickelsen. Keep the ladies aft, Mr. Westward. Come, Ben.'' l CHAPTER XII. When Nickelsen and Satterlee hur- | ried forward the captain knew the | time for action had come. He knew l Strang had outlawed himself by his behavior.
 Now the captain could rob the Chinese, deal with any of the crew | who objected as he saw fit under the | excuse of attempted piracy, leave the Coral Queen sinking that night and l escape in boat. If Miss Glendon or Mrs. Wade or Westward survived, they would think Nickelsen had per- l hof I,; were to blame for the disaster. For a short time they looked in vain for Strang, then Nickelsen or dered Satterlee to find the mate, and | went into his room, slamming the door after him. He unlocked the safe, pulled out the tin compartments, extracting from them bills and rolls I of coin. These he put into a grip and after locking the safe again, lifted the head of his mattress and felt under l it. He listened for a minute, and hearing nothing to indicate any in- lterruption, picked up the grip and went to the passage which led to the other room.
 There he opened the door of the deserted emergency pilot house. The box-like room was dark and hot. Ahead of him was a closet, which was used as a flag locker, now partly empty. He got down on his knees and reached far in with the grip, s, l it would be behind the bulkhead. Something fell upon him with -vio- fence. A pair of knees bored into his back, a hand groped for his re- volver, and finding it, wrenched it out. He began to struggle, but it was useless.
 1 Who is ,it?" he called, scarcely able to make himself heard. There was no reply. The door opened, letting in a dim light, and a cap appeared around the edge of the jamb, followed by the face of the half-caste Cantonese second mate, MT. Ching.
 Got i'm? s'y, got the blighter 2" his voice conveyed a trace of subdued jocularity.
 T have him. Find a gun?" whisp- cred Strang..
 | Aye" +. | Keep an eye out for that swine of a Satterlee and the steward. Shoot on sight!''
 "strang, You damned pirate!" yelled Nickelsen.
 l For once you're right" said Strang. I'll do this job myself. Sick of standing for other peoples piracles- on my own this commission" You'll pay for this.'' howled Nick e1sen, making frantic efforts to kick himself free. You'll pay"
 Strang bound him with a heaving line and left Ching to watch him.
 The Coral Queen was approaching dangerously close to the land. Ahead was a great gateway between cliffs, less than a quarter of a mile wide, and backed by steep hills farther in. The channel which Strang had steered into ran parallel with the shore for some distance, and then led to the entrance of the landlocked bay. Strang was holding the wheel when
 he heard a movement on the port ladder He saw a white hat popNup, and then Eleanor stepped on the | bridge.
 where is Capt. Nickelsen?" she asked.
 You'll find Nickelsen somewhere | oelow,' he said, not unkindly. Yet he did not look directly at her. "A master of a vessel should be on the bridge at such time!"
 I'm the master now" he replied, | and his lean, brown, grim jaws set tigbter.
 "Oh, it's Captain Strang, is it?" she taunted. although she was thorough Iy alarmed, no longer having any doubts of what Nickelsen had told her.
 You think I'm a pirate" he said quickly. "I don't care what you , think, I am a pirate now. I've made | your captain a prisoner. Someoody l is out to rob these Chinese. sink this ship. Nickelsen said you and Satter- lee planned it! It won't be done while I'm alive, no matter who- (Continued Tomorrow). | NrrxyEp rDnvrC OLD