, 1924-10-08
can have gone wrong, Mr. Archman,

II is your snip and
Archmani Lord George started. So
1t was Bess' father upon whom he
had CHANGED. Well and goodl He
slipped his pistol Into his belt and
ooh a step forward.
Good evening, Mr.. Archman |" he
said quietly. I'm delighted to find
you'll"
Two suppressed EXPLANATIONS and n
sudden thudding of feet came from in
front. Lord George could barely see
the men, but he knew that they had
faced around. Don't shoot I" he
called l~aughingly. "Im alone and I'm
a friend. l repeat. Mr.. Archman. that
l am glad to find you. Your wife and
younger daughter are waiting for you
only n few yards away. We came
down on the Ell Rio"
MY wife and Bess- Who are your"
I'm n Johnny Bull-Lord George
Caruthers. Flash your torch on me
and satisfy yourself. If you like. Ahl
Quite right. You see I'm alone. Now,
If you'll allow me. III come nearer and
explain"
There was a pause; then Archman
spoke quietly. "Come nearer If you
like. If you are from the Ell Rio, God
knows you are welcome"
Lord George came forward briskly.
I'll cut 1t short" he said. "for 1 fancy
we're all in a hurry. It's this way
Swiftly he told about the voyage Of
the Ell Rio, the shore excursion. and
the mutiny he had witnessed from the
mountain top.
AT this point Archman groaned.
Good Heaven he breathed. mel.
lies on board"
Nellie? Your daughter7"
Yes! We heard this afternoon that
a ship vas lying here. Nellie heard II
first and left at once. saying she was
going on board. l was detained. As
soon as I could, I hurried after her.
but when I got there she was gone
gone in the only bontLand darkness
had shut down. I could see the lights
of the ship. but I couldn't make any
body on board hear me, shout MS ]
might. And I had no boat. you know.
I sent back for one. but It couldn't be
brought until low tide. I am Expect.
ing 1t now; but-but Nellie has been
gone for nearly six hours. Godl II
drives me mad, mad! You-yOu know
who was on the Ell Rio. Tell me, why
should the men mutiny? Captain
Bunker is not n hard MASTER"
81 don't think 1t was a question Of
discomfort. Things have been happen
ing all the way down." Lord George
told of the attempt to signal, the dis
covery of the destroyer lying In wait
and the passage OF the Danish-speak.
Ing sailors. Somewhat to his surprise
the story seemed to encourage Arch
man.
IF that is ALL" he breathed; eff
that is all-all will be we'll. Already
they guess that-that-no matter |
They will treat Nellie with all re-
spect. Take me to my wife and to
Bess." He made a step forward.
Abruptly the third man. who had
not yet spoken, broke in. 1.-The DON I"
he said. "She comet"
Archman drew n long breath. MAY.
be we would better watt" he said
1.-The moonlight will reach the FL Rio
in n few minutes. And II the destroy.
er is near" He paused impressively,
perhaps 1t will be-" Lord George
hesitated. "But-hang It all, l hate to
croak. you know, but I'm afraid you're
In for a n disappointment. We saw
the trouble from the mountain. and the
destroyer didn't take any part in It.
No boats came or went, and the de.
| stroyer didn't follow when the Ell Rio
started In this direction. I'm sorry,
but I don't believe It had anything I'd
do with the mutlny. 1t doesn't look
to me like nm ordinary mutiny. II
looks to me more like what you Amer.
leans call a put-up job"
charlottesville is lost |"
"Oh. no. The game isn't played
out yet. These chaps don't want L run
away with the ship. or they'd have
gone before now. They're waiting for
something. and as they've moored the
ship close to here It looks as II they
wanted to find you. Anyhow. I'll wager
, they'll be coming ashore In the morn
ing. and when they do-well. wen
have m innings. And. besides. there's
that destroyer. 1t didn't come here
for nothing. ! suppose you know why
II did come. by the way7"
Archmnn hesitated. He seemed "a
be turning the situation over in his
mind and trying to resolve whether to
explain at all. and. II so. how much.
Again the third man broke In.
ship I" he said. "Seei"
Black against the silver water the
mnsts and tunnels OF the FL Rio pro
truded themselves. The shadow OF the
mountain had left them bare and II
was retrenting slowly downward.
Archman looked nj II n nodded
slowly. Then he fnced toward Lord
George. There is n reason for the
destroyer's coming" he said. But