The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-12-23

/ OF a conversation 1 heard today,
| because feel that, while there may
| be nothing TO It, 1t is we'll that you
| be forearmed. In short, the men
| contemplate mutiny and murder"
IT'S a Ie;" roared the captain.
And If you have been interfering
again with the discipline of this ship,
/ )r meddling in affairs that don't con-
| Germ you. you can take the conse-
quences. and be damned I don't
care whether you are an English
| lord or not. I'm captain of this
here ship. and from now you keep
your meddling nose out Of my
business"
As he reached this peroration. the
captain had worked, himself up to
such a frenzy OF rage that he was
fairly purple of face. and shrieked
he last words at the top OF his
voice; emphasizing his remarks by
loud humping of the table with
one huge fist. shaking the other
in Clayton's face.
Greystoke never turned a hair. but
stood cycling the excited man with
level Eaze.
Captain Billings" he drawled
finally, II you viii pardon my can
dor, I might remark that you are
something OF an ass. don't you
know"
Whereupon he turned and left the
cabin with the same Indifferent ease
that was habitual with him. and
which was more surely calculated to
raise the ire Of a man Of Billings
class than a torrent Of investives.
So. where as the captain might
easily have been brought 70 regret
his hssty speech had Clayton at
tempted 70 coQc,liate him, his tenn
per was now irrevocably set IN the
mold in which Clayton had left Il,
and the last chance OF their work
ing together for their common good
and preservation Of life was gone.
We'll, Alice" said Clayton. as he
reJoined his wife. II had saved my
breath I should likewise have saved
myself a bit OF a calling. The fell
low proved most ungrateful. Fair
" jumped at me Ike a mad dog.
He and his blasted old ship may
60 hang, for aught I care: and until
we are safe off the thing l shall
spend my energies in looking after
our own welfare. And rather
fancy the first step to that end
should be to 20 to our cabin and
look over my revOlvers. I am sorry
now that we packed the larger guns
and the ammunition with the stuff
below"
They found their quarters in
bad state of disorder. Clothing from
their open boxes and bags strewed
tSe little apartment. and even their
beds had been torn to pieces.
Evidently someone was more
anxious about our belongings than
We said Clayton BY jove. I won
der what the bounder was after
Let's have a look around. Alice. a1d
see what's missing"
A thorough search revealed tho
fact that nothing had been taken
but Clayton's two revolvers and the
small supply of ammunition he had
saved out for them.
Those are the very things I most
wish they had left us said Clay
ton, and the fact that they wished
for them and them alone is the most
sinister circumstance Of all that
have transpired to endanger US since
we set foot on this miserable hulk.
What are We to do. John?" asked
his wife. 4 shall not urge you To
go again to the captain for l can
not see you affronted further. Pos
sibly our best chance for salvation
lies IN maintaining a neutral posi-
ton.
II the officers are able to prevent
mutiny. We have nothing 10 fear.
while if the mutineers are victorious
our one slim hope lies in not having
attempted TO thwart or antagonize
them"
Right you are. Alice. Wei keep
in the middle Of the road"
As they fell To in an effort to
straighten up their cabin. Clayton
and his wife simultaneously no
ticed the corner of a piece of paper
protruding from beneath the door of
their quarters. As Clayton stopped
TO reach for It he was amazed to see
it move further into the room. and
then he realized that Il was being
pushed inward by some one from
without.
Quickly and silently he stepped
toward the door. but, as he reached
for the knob to throw It open. his
wife's hand fell upon his wrist
No. John" she whispered. They
do not wish to be seen. and so We
cannot afford to see them. Do not
forget that we are keeping the
middle Of the road"
Clayton smiled and dropped his
hand TO his side. Thus they stood
watching the little bit Of white paper
until it finally remained at rest upon
the floor just inside the door.
Then Clayton stopped and picked
it up. It was a bit OF gr1my. white
paper roughly folded into a ragged
square. Opening 1t they found a
crude message printed In uncouth
letters. with many evidences OF an
unaccustOmed task.
Translated. 1t was a warning to
the Claytons to refrain from report
ing the loss OF the revOlvers, or
from repeating what the old sailor
had told them-to refrain on pain OF
death.
Il rather imagine we'll be good"
said Clayton with a rueful smile.
About all we can do is to sit tight