Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-04

I frst!"
well, kinda hate to tear up the old
hooker any moren can he helped"
VERY cOnsiderate Of you. Now, can
that stuff and say what you have to say,
or get away from there"
Jansen took up his singsong whine
again; Now looky here, Mr.. Hunter,
these here men is desp'rit like, an L
don't want em to do you no harm.
That's the reason l didn't let 'em bust
in at first
oh! I thought you didn't want to
tear up the schooner? Say your say,
Jansen, and get away from there
quick"
Jansen came to another pause, rum
maglng, no doubt, his slow wits for some
willy persuasion to be usel in inducing
Hunter 20 admit him into the cabin.
During this time, the girl sat with
white face, holding the automatic in
her hand. her eyes fixed on Hunter, who
stood a little to one side of the port
hole Just above his head. Quiet appar-
entity reigned on deck. as the two in
the stateroom could hear nothing of the
seamen.
WELL" said Jansen at last. "I1l tell
! ye wot I'll do. You tell me wot the old
man did with the gold. an I'll see that
you gifts ashore all shipshape an prop
er. There amt nothin' could be fairer
an above board than thst, is theref"
Maybe not-but how do know you'll
keep your promise?"
~ give you my word as a honest
sailorman, Mr.. Hunter--as one honest gent
TO another. like"
Hunter laughed jeerlngly: your word
Of honor? Do you suppose I'd take the
word Of q thievtng. murderous pirate p
Jansen ripped out all the oaths in q
seamans vocabulary, which Is quite ex-
tensive. and then coined a few of his
own. "An right, my hearty, we'n git
re an mebbe arter We tastes the ropes
end an few other things 1 knows on,
yell be all willln' to talk proper and
respectable"
"see here. Jansen" Hunter inter
rupted, don't be fool. You saw me
shoot down two Of your cutthroats, didn't
you? Now Just take this for fact; 1
never miss. we're we'll armed, and as
sure as you try any of your dirty tricks
on me or this young lady, I'll live long
enough to kill you before you get me
you'll be the first I'll plug. Chase your
self now, and be quick about it,
They heard him scurry forward in an
atmosphere of his own sulphurous mouth
Ines. and soon the rumble Of the mems
voices foated aft.
/ eWhat will they try to do next?" asked
the girl.
II don't know. Probably try the COM
I panionway, but If they dots narrow,
and one man could stand in this state
room door and shoot down half of them
before they could get at him. I think.
though. after that little talk Jansen viii
very likely keep them off till dark, any
way I believe I've put the fear Of bull
let's into his heart. stronger than he had
/ it before. They may, Of course, try to
starve us out"
1.-The steward keeps some bread and
/ jam and such light stuff in one OF the
/ cabin lockers"
Trust a woman - have noticed it,"
I grunted Hunter.
And" continued the girl, there's wa
ter enough in the cabin to last for
while"
Hunter nodded. Things might be a
whole lot worse"
Notwithstanding Hunters efforts to be
cheerful, they both ielt that the stu
alton was not In the least hopeful, and
the strain was beginning to tell The
girls face was haggard and drawn, and
Hunters eyes, although grimly deter
mined, were clouded with worry. What
beastlv luck to have the girl there to
take care Of If 1t were not for her he'd
bring things to a showdown and end
the affair one way or the other.
The schooner was still running under
her auxiliary power, for they could feel
the vibrations of her gas engines. The
air in the stateroom was beginning to
be very uncomfortable the only ventila-
ton being the port over the berth. which
they had kept closed.
After remaining silent and listening
carefully for some time for any fresh
attempt to force an entrance into the
cabin, Hunter unbolted the door and
peered cautiously around the cabin. He
noticed that the port opening into the
galley was closed, as was also the other
stateroom doors. Thus comparatively Sc
cure from a pot-shot, he instructed his
companion to keep a close watch toward
the sliding panel Of the galley, and
slipped into the cabin.
Opening the door to the captains
stateroom. he looked in. This room had
been turned tOpseyturvy. The captains
little safe. which stood against the wall
near the berth, had been forced open
and its contents scattered over the floor.
The bedclothes had been stripped from
[
examination that might have afforded a
hiding place for the money which had
caused all the bloodshed, and which was
likely to cause more.
Hunter searched the dead mans room
for firearms. also that Of the mate, but
nothing was to be found. Miss Jameson's
room had not been disturbed That his
own room and that of the girl had es
caped. he knew was owing to the fact that
the mon finding nothing in the other two
rooms, had rushed on deck to attack
Hunter. where they had been headed off
and driven forward by Jansen. Jansen
believed that Hunter held the key to
the situation, and so protected him. Hun
ter feared now that this hope of prOtec
ton was no longer to be entertained. He
reflected that this was Just as we'll, for he
was convinced that if he had yielded to
Jansen's terms, he would have been MUIR
dered in the end; for he felt certain that
the men would not permit the girl to leave
the vessel, and Hunter, Of course, would
not go alone.
While standing IN the middle of the
cabin floor, mis- attention was attracted
by a slight SOUND at the companion
hatch There was a movement of the
doors as though an attempt were being
made to pry them open. Leveling his
automatic, he fired, the bullet boring
through the wood An answering yell of
rage or pain, he could not know which
followed by the scurrying Of feet told
him that he had ut least frightened the
attacker away, If he had not winged him.
At the sound of the shot, the girl
slipped into the cabin, one hand grasping