The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-09-29
opa fatsEaatioual Nl3,ziao cenpaug

opening. Lanyard groped for tho
adjustable magnets IN their racks
and one by one removed and
dropped them TO the grating at
the foot Of the pinnacle.
The compass ought now to be
Just as constant 70 the magnetic
pole as a hummIng- bird to one
especial rose.
Guiding himself by a hand that
lightly touched tie rail, Lanyard
reGained his chair, carefully COM
posing himself in the position IN
which he had been resting when
the lights went out.
The next instant, however, he
was on his feet again. A beam OF
light had swept across the saloon
skylight. coming from below. the
beam Of portable electric torch.
It might have been the signal
for the first pieclng sceam Of
Lame Delome. A pistol shot with
vicious accent cut short the
scream. After a brief pause sew.
eral more shots rippled in the
saloon.
Then the torch.ltght found and
steadied upon the mouth Of the
companionway. Against that glare.
a burly figure was simultaneously
relieved, cunning up 10 the deck.
AS It gained the topmost stop a
final report sounded in the saloon,
and the figure checked, revolvel
slowly on a neel, tottered, and
plunged headforemost down the
steps again.
A moment later the lights came
on. and Lanyard went below.
His bewildered gaze discovered
first LANE Delorme. Her fingers
were clawing her cheeks, her eyes
widely dilate with horror and
fright, her mouth was agape. and
from 1t issued, as by some mechan.
ical impulse, shrek upon hollow
Shrek.
On the opposite side of the sa.
loon Monk lay with purple face
and protruding eyeballs, far gone
toward death through strangula-
ton. Phinult, on his knees, was
removing a silk handkerchief that
had been twisted about that scraw.
ny throat.
at the foot of the companionway
stops, Poninot, no phantom but the
veritable Apache himself, was
writing and heaving conyulsiyely:
and even as Lanyard looked, the
huge body Of the creature lifted
from the floor in one last, heroic
spasni. then collapsed, and moved
no more.
Viewing this hideous tableau. ~.
preciating what 1t meaut-that
Popinot, forearmed with advice
from a trusted NqLartor, had sta.
toned himself outside the door to
Monks stateroom. to waylay and
garotte the man whom he expect.
ed to emerge therefrom laden
with the plumber Of Monks safe
Lanyard appreciated further that
he had done Mr., Mussey a great
wrong.
For ne had all the time believed
that the chief engineer was lay.
ing trap for him on behalf OF
his ancient shipmate, Captain
Whitaker Monk.
Lanyard stepped acoss the dead
bulk Of the Apache and planted
himself squarely in front Of the
woman. Selling her forearms
with his two hands, he used force
to drag them down to the level Of
her waist, and purposelk made
his grasp so sIrong that his
fingers sank deep into the soft
flesh.
"Therel" he said-that's' over,
Lame. The beast is done for. Now
forget him = and realize the debt
you owe good Monsieur phlnuIt."
With a gTiE. that gentleman
looked up from his efforts to re-
vive Captain Monk.N
"t'm a shy. retiring violet" he
stated somewhat supertluously, ;
"but II the world will kindly lend
It's ears, I'll inform It coyly that
was some shootin'. Have a look,
will you, Lanyard, like a good fell
:, =