Belt Valley times., 1924-09-18


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Nellie looked. Beyond the dool
opening there was no standing space
only a black hole that went straigh
down. Beyond was the iron hull o.
the ship. and TO right and left tbs
iron framework Of the ribs. The dooI
itself was cut with exquisite neatnesi
In the wooden sheathing that framed
the cabin walls. The space was not
more than a foot deep. and probably
not more than q yard wide. Down the
outer face ran q sort OF iron ladder
really little more than = succession Of
narrow cleats.
-That ladder leads down into the
hold" explained Carr. "Tve got q
snug little room down there, with half
a dozen runways leading fore and aft
and cross ship"
Carr turned. ~Captalni II you1I
20 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 a mere lad.
Besides. he was q large man and the
space looked very narrow. What's
your ideaY' he demanded doubtfuIly-
I'VE can hold the cabin"
"Nol We can't. captain. They're
twenty to one; aDd they're armed and
we're not. Besides, we've got to think
OF Miss Archman- We can't fight, but
I thins we. can escape. II you'll trust
me-
-Oh. all rightI" Captain Bunker
spoke sulkily. but he stepped into the
chute. Nellie followed quickly.
Carr came last. As ne reached the
bottom he clicked an electric button
and a bulb flashed out. showing room
a dozen feet square. plainly one Of the
disused spare rooms Of the ship.
Nellie cried out In delight. but
Bunker looked disgusted. Also he was
hot and breathIess and was suffering
from his wounded head. II don't like
this, Carr" he rasped Il don't like II
a bit. You've betrayed the trust pui
In you. never thought you'd be .
stowaway. OF course. It's for the best,
! suppose, but I'm disappointed all the
same. I'm disappointed
Carr looked a little downcast. Il
don't think you win 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 r. she
cried. "Nr. Carr did Just right; !
think Il was perfectly splendid Of him
and the bravest thing I ever heard Of.
OH ! don't see how he dared shut
himself np down here
Carr laughed. but he did not move
from the foot Of the chute He
seemed to be listening for something.
Il didn't shut myself up altogether"
he protested II was In and out all
the time. For instance. left note In
AIlss Bess' stateroom. telling her to
warn Captain Bunker that somebody
was going to try to steal his orders"
Good Lord Was that youf Why
didn't you leave II In my roomr
"Because-Hark r. Carr strained
bis ear up the chute "False alarmi"
be said . moment later. 7 didn't
cave Il there because Price was In
and out too much, and was prying
INTO things too closely. didn't sus-
oect him OF anything serIous--T sus-
,ected somebody else then-but i
Knew he was prying. SO asked Miss
Bess to tell you"
"And Il was Price that got the pa
,era. after all," grunted Bunker.
@was itf I'm not sure. OF courss
don't know much, you know-only
wfat could pick up by listening.
But, I'm inclined to think Price told
ron the truth about himself / got
hat map of his. By the way"
"YOu dldF"
"surs thing. I got II and packed
I IA the lunch basket he was dxing
o eend ashore with Mrs. Archman and
,er party. guess they've found II
IN right by Row. But we're wasting
fine. Listen. captain. You know the
'htpl The passage outside the door
render Carr pointed Heads TO the
onward cargo port. Miss Archman'a
'oat Is probably still lyins close along /
ida When our absence IL diseov-
red and the alarm Is given every.
lody ia sure to rush 20 tha cabin.
whem they're all there we've got to
un forward and drop into the boat
'nd pNIl Tie fhsndeEs ssef Hark Z.
)ncs more Carr listened.
Then he turned and nodded "JaHs
i moment" he cautioned and ran up
he ladder.
At the top ne stopped and peesed
through the peephoIe
Price stood IN the middle o. che
abln. revolver in hand. locking samasa-
, from the empty chairs and the lpos
med rNnAH % the vacant K@@Hn1