, 1924-09-10
CHAPTER XII
Cross and Double Cross


For a full minute Nellie stood in the
doorway of the cabin. staring with
round eyes at the scene before her
at Captain Bunker's bound form and
bloOdstreaked face and at the form OF
the ex-steward as he stood leering BY.
Then she started forward. Captain
Bunker" she gasped. "Oh! Oh!
What has happened? What does 1t
mean? The sailors acted so strangely
and-and low"
Bunker's face grew grimmer than
ever. 1T mean that this hound
here"-he glared at Price-"has led a
mutiny and that the scoundrels are
in control of the ship. Come inl I'm
sorry 20 see you here. but l think
you're safer than you are on deck"
"But-but-you're hurt, You're
bleeding" Nellie ran forward. "why!
You're boundl Oh. how cruel. how
wlcked!" She swung around on Price.
Cut these ropes at once" she ordered.
AT once-io you heart"
Price shook his head. I'm sorry,
miss" he said but / can't. We had
a devil of a time before we could tie
the captain up and we don't want to
have to do ii over again. He amt
much hurt. you know"
Nellie stamped her foot. Then I'll
unite him myself" she flashed. and
bent to the ~fastenings.
Hold on!" A note of sternness
crept into Prices voice. LET those
knots alone. lady" he ordered. If
you let the captain loose I'll shoot
him. Understand? was going to
do 1t anyway when you came on board.
Just you sit down" The man ges-
tured toward one OF the vacant chairs
at the table. "I don't want to hurt you
or any of your friends; but I'm going
through with this thing now, no mat
ter what II costs. Sit down and let's
talk things over"
But Nellie shook her head. Nor"
she said. 81 won't sit down. I'm
going to dress Captain Bunker's head.
You can talk while I'm working"
"oh, All right. Just ms you like.
I did what / could for him. hut II
wasn't much. I'll be only too glad TO
have you go ahead. Captain Bunker
isn't much hurt. really. His heads too
hard"
Price laughed smoothly and easily.
His voice had again become obseQul-
GUS. ave been trying to persuade the
captain here "a see sense" he went
on. but he won't do IL. Perhaps you
will. Anyhow. I'll try. ! always try
persuasion before l try--er-stronger
measures. I want to know all about
things ashore here. First. l want to
know how many men your father has"
Nellie raised her Eyes from the cap
tain's head. "f1l tell you nothing"
she said fatty.
"Oh. yes you will You'll tell sooner
or later. and you'd better tell
For an instant cold f~eroclty spoke In
the mans tone: hen he slipped back
into his old smooth manner. But a
child could have told that IL was mock
Ing.
Maybe you think this Is just a sud.
den fash -in-the-pan mutiny." he said.
1T amt. As I've just been telling the
captain. II Amt. rightly speaking, n
mutiny ut all. It's piracy. planned
weeks \ IOu TeintiuDer bHc Hisht
that Morbach was killedf'
"Morbach1" Nellie sought In her
memory. moi Yesl You don't
mean TINT"
"Yes. ! do. I'm the man who car
ried him into the Grant cottage. MOI
| didn't kill him. Quite the contrary.
lie ran me down and came near kill
inr me. He was crazy to see your
father and he talked about millions
OF dollars and all that. you know.
Well That interested me. ] was just
getting away from New York with
my share OF the loot of the Steenth
National bank and | was ready for n
fresh layout. So. to cut the story
short, | went out to my buggy and put
on another hat and coat and came
bnck md said I was Mr.. Akin. Gee |
Insulted myself some when I did IT,
BEFORE I'd be n shrimp like AkInl-
However. | got the packet and cleared
out The doctor and the Grant girl
were pretty excited. and ! got away
with the stunt. They'd seen me only
n few minutes. and the dim light