Graham guardian., 1922-12-19


Wasn't that the very thing most prob
able? or course 1t was; how foolish
he had been. These men, recklessly
criminal, as they were, would never
sacrifice the yacht, and risk their own
lives, merely to put him out of the
way. He was not important enough
for that: he was but an incident.
While this was-must be--a carefully
arranged plan. The girl then must be
the real victim--his own plight arose
merely because he chanced to be
there, and the villains dare not leave
him alive to tell the story.
The certainty OF this acted like an
electric shock. He must find the girl.
and serve her. Surely she must vel.
come his coming to her assistance
now. She would be alone. free to re-
veal the truth of all this strange mix
up Of affairs; perhaps the old trust.
the old confidence between them
would be renewed. The hope Instant
ly inspired action. His eager eyes
searched the narrow confines of the
stateroom for some possible weapon
with which to assail the door. The
stout stool alone seemed available
Swinging this over his shoulder, ham
pered by the narrowness OF space, he
struck again and again. with all his
strength, until suddenly the lock gave
and the door burst open.
He stepped cautiously forward, with
hands outstretched, and his cropping
fingers came In sudden contact with
the cabin wall, which he followed,
circling to the left. In this manner he
succeeded In finally locating the door
opening out on to the deck, and
weaved his way across to the right
hand stateroom door. IL was locked.
the key gone. He must break way
in; but first he must explain to her,
so as TO spare her the sudden fright
Of such an assault He raped sharply
on the panel.
Miss Coolidge: you are there, are
you not7"
"Yes; who is that?" almost cry Of
delight In the voice. "Y0u-you have a
voice l know"
II am Matthew West but do not
ask questions now. The yacht is going
down, and must break this door in
to release you. Stand back while
smash the boards. You hear and un-
derstand?"
"Yes-yes; am safely away; have
no fear"
A lanterns fiickering light revealed
the weapon he gclured--a heavy
hatchet, and he snatched It up, and
began to splinter the wood with we'll
directed blows. He worked madly,
feverishly. swinging the sharp blade
with all his strength and skill, goug.
ing out great splinters of wood, and
finally forcing the lock to yield. He
sprang eagerly through the opening,
the Ratchet still in his grasp, and
faced her.
An instant both paused, and then
she cried out In sudden relief. "Oh,
It Is really you, Captain West, l know
now. What has haDpenedf How did
you cOIne 40 Ue mere:
mot now" he Insisted. Don't ask
me now. Just come as quick as you
can. There Is no time for anything
but action. Quick; let me take your
hand"
She permitted him to draw her
through the door oil to the black, de-
serted deck. West, bracing himself
TO the sudden plunglne, managed to
reach the rail. He drew back, sick at
heart at the sight of the waves lap
ping the side almost on level with
the sloping deck on which he stood.
The sight brought him home as never
before, the drear deadly peril in which
they were. He would find some means
OF rescue; he must! He was back In
stantly. grasplng her arm.
"Qulck," he cried. lou knew this
yacht; what small boats did she car
ry2"
only the one; the other was so
warped II had been taken ashore
"Was there no llfe-raftg There must
surely be something OF that kind"
Yes. there is. remember now. 1t
80 ipA" hhNANt h'uh tAsC lSiibiAiCThophti
hatch"
The deck was already sloping to
port In dangerous degree, and West
was compelled to ching to the rail, as
they slowly made passage forward
through the darkness He located the
llfe-raft at last. securely fastened to
the side Of the deck house, and, leav-
Ing the girl to hold herself upright
as best she could. began to hack 1t
loose. Working with feyerish lmpa-
tience, ne realized suddenly that his
companion had deserted the place
where he had left her and was also
tugglng and slashlng at the lashings
OF the raft. These finally yielded to
their blind attack. Without the ex-
change of word the two grasped the
sides and showed the thing hard down
against the port rail-
swat now" he cried exultantly.
"Stay behind, and brace yourself
against the hatch-Cover I'll get under
meath and lift. Once on the rail the
two of us must shove II free over
board"