The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-09-25

now"
Now it's all right. Good Lordi ~
you knew how hard 1t was for me to
keep still while that blackguard was
talking But here we arel Peek
M! He stood aside, and pointed
through an aperture.
Nellie looked. Beyond the door
opening there was no standing space
only black hole that went straight
down. Beyond was the iron buu Of
the ship. and to right and left the
iron framework of the ribs. The door
itseir was cut with exquisite neatness
IN the wooden sheathing that framed
the cabin walls. The space was not
more than foot deep, and probably
not more than a yard wide. Down the
outer face ran a sort of iron ladder
really little more than a succession of
! narrow cleats.
That ladder leads down into the
hold," explained Carr. i've got a
snug little room down there, with half
dozen runways leading fore and aft
and cross ship"
Carr turned Captain! II you'll
go down first, Miss Archman can fol-
low, and I'll come last and close the
door"
Captain Bunker hesitated. he had
been In command of ships too long to
relish taking orders from mere lad.
Besides, he was large man and the
space looked very narrow. whats
idna D, ho Inl
I'VE can hold the cabin"
No! We can't, captain. They're
twenty to one; and they're armed and
we're not. Besides, we've got to think
of Miss Archman. We can't fght. but
/ think we can escape. II you'll trust
me"
"Oh, all right !" Captain Bunker
spoke sulkiy. but he stepped into the
chute. Nellie followed quickly.
Carr came last. AS he reached the
bottom he clicked an electric button
and bulb flashed out, showing room
dozen feet square, plainly one of the
disused spare rooms of the ship.
Nellie cried out In delight, but
Bunker looked disguised. Also he was
hot and breathless and was suffering
from his wounded head. "I don't like
this, Carr" he rasped. 81 don't like 1t
bit You've betrayed the trust put
in you. I never thought you'd be
stowaway. OF course, it's for the best,
I suppose, but I'm disappointed all the
same. I'm disappointed"
Carr looked little downcast. "I
don't think you will be, captain" he
protested hastily; mot when I've had
time to explain everything. Just
| now"
Nellie was listening eagerly. TT
, doesn't need any explanation she
cried. "Mr. Carr did just right; I
think it was perfectly splendid of him
and the bravest thing ever heard of.
oh! I don't see how he dared shut
himself up down here"
Carr laughed, but he did not move
from the foot of the chute. He
seemed to be listening for something.
IT didn't shut myself up altogether"
he protested. "I was In and out all
i the time. For instance, left a note in
Miss Bess' stateroom, telling her to
warn Captain Bunker that somebody
was going to try to steal his orders"
"Good Lord! Was that you? Why
didn't you leave It In my roomT
"Because-Hark Carr strained
his ear up the chute. False alarm ~
he said a moment later. IT didn't
leave 1t there because Price was in
and out too much. and was pryinG
into things too closely. didn't sus
pect him of anything serious-I sus
pected somebody else then-but
knew he was prying. So asked Mis-
Bess to tell you"
"And 1t was Price that got the pa
pers, after ALL" grunted Bunker.
"Was itf I'm not sure. OF course
l don't know much, you know-onl,
what l could pick up by listening
But, Inf inclined to think Price tolt
| you the truth about himself. l 60
that map of his, by the way"
you did?"
"Sure thing. got 1t and l packet
1t In the lunch basket he was fixini
to send ashore with Mrs. Archman ant
her party. I guess they've found 1
all right by now. But we're wasting
time. Listen. captain. You know thu
shipi The passage outside the dool
yonder"-Carr pointed-'leads to thu
! forward cargo port. Miss Archman'i
boat Is probably still lying close along
side. When our absence Ii discov
cred and the alarm is given every
body is sure to rush to the cabin
When they're all there we've got t
run forward and drop into the boa
and pull like thunder. Seer Hark 7
| Once more Carr listened.
Then he turned and nodded. "Jus
a moment" he cautioned and ran VI
the ladder.
At the top he stopped and peeret
through the peephole.
Price stood in the middle Of thu
cabin, revolver In hand, looking dazed
ly from the empty chairs and the loos
ened ropes to the vacant room
Every instant he changed position. al
some creak of the ships structure