Evening star., 1927-05-15

a.
siderahly over 700 miles northward. HI
guessed that they were somewhere Il
tne region OF 60 degrees north. Every
seat, every rope was coated with Ice
the snow lay upon the rails ant
gathered in little drifts in the vel
deck forward. Far away. on the port
bow he thought he detected small
iceberg. The weather was clear, en-
tirelv free from fog; the sea remained
smooth and except for the intensity oi
the cold there was nothing to indicate
that the ship was on an unusua
course. IcebergS are seen in july
down as far as latitude So They have
been met with, in rare instances, as
far south as 40 in Midsummer.
He had intended maintaining his dis
guise until something definite hap
pened, but there was no longer any
necessity for keeping his secret from
Stone.
Apparently the men in control of
the shin had also realized that their
nresence had now become public prop
erty. Bill heard the rattle of Winches
and, going forward. saw that the
rmufffed hands were bringing up pas
Sengers' heavy baggage. soon after
: purser sent for him and ordered
him to pass on the information that
passengers might open their heavy
f1tSSaSC Di4t NtSiNN Ct'@ 't-NNN
they required
lie had paid several visits to Bull
lott. The detective told him that so
far he had not been molested. though
the two men whom Bill had seen
searching his own cabin had also made
as thorough q search OF Bullotts be-
longings. :,
This move certainly puzzles me"
said Bullott. Il knew, OF course, they
north Ia St night "
There is q good reason" said Bill.
eve shall be running into the fog belt
later in the day and whether we do
or not. we are we'll off the regular
track of shipping. Unless we happen
to be seen by chance whaler or one
of the Greenland trading ships we
shall have disappeared from human
knowledge"
"But YOU can't steal ship and
hide it in the Arctic" protested Bull
They're doing it," was the laconic
Here's another point. inspector:
The farther north we go. the less dam
ger there is to the gang. The only
possibility of recovering TINS snip is
by q surprise attack in the night
there will be no night from now on
ward
of course?"
This contingency had not occurred
to the detective.
Bills plan was already made. The
key position was the wireless house.
Once he was in possession, 10 minutes
at the keyboard, and all the well iald
plans of the twenty-third degree
would come to naught. But he had
already noted that the wireless house
was guarded; he had seen man SIT,
ting in a deck chair near the door ana
the operator was presumably armed.
His only chance would come In one
of those dense white fogs which are
common in these seas.
He hurried away to find Bettv's bag:
gage and had singular good fortune,
for the Stones boxes were almost the
first to come out of the hold. With
the help of a steward he got these
down to D deck and into the sitting
room. to Betty'sss JOY, for she was
shivering in her fur coat before the
electric radiator ana Mr, l,,+ stoae' zone vs, wiIn
ing up and down the 'fittle state room,
trying tetget warm.
"What is this, stewart" he asked In
surprise, las Bill came in, dragging the
first of the big trunks, and ne, couio
have fallen on his neck when he eX-
planned.
The steward had something else to
tell, and latter he had finished Berry
took him by the shoulder and brought
hole, more interested. in. the change
that the ingenious barber had brought
about than in her own deadly peril.
.'Tt isn't YOU, Bili55?,"'. she said IN
wonder t'Your IlairZ--.sstfs 80 =
1T win take me years to get out
the henna"' groaned Bill. No man.
has ever made such sacrifice Tor a
girl as have made for9you.
She dropped her hand from ms
shoulder. and for a moment was con-
vulsed with silent laughter. Mr.. stone,
however, was less amused.
where do we finish-at the North
pole?" he asked. why, this is criml-
nal Half the wretched passengers
will die of cold and starvation"
They will be all right so long as the
oil lasts" said Bill, "but what VIII
happen If we get frozen in, ana the
OF supply goes west, shudder to
think about
But the food?"
Bill shook his head.
81 don't think there's any immedl-
ate danger there. Did l ever tell you
about Toby Marsh's mystery? He
said that food and firearms We're be-
ing shipped to New York. Wen, that
was part of the scheme. Somewhere
in the hold is q big supply of canned
food and flour. The arms, l. presume,
are rifles and munitions for the gang
1t would have been pretty difficult for
them to have brought these On board
in any other way"
But. Billy, you're wonderful She
was gazing spellbound into his face:
Where are your other eyebrows! ana
10 think that you've been coming IN
and out of the cabin since yesterday
morning and / haven't recognized
you?"
He helped them to unpack ana
Stone went off to find Lowbridge,
whose one trunk the new steward had
retrieved. All Gives radiators were
on; he was wearing a heavy fur-llned
coat. -,
benson is providence" he eX-
claimed. 1--WE been roasting ann ever
since we left town for bringing this
inc,Ibs. but he had an idea that the
incubus. but he had an idea that the
sisted upon taking it along. | didn't
know | had it until / saw IT hanging
in the wardrobe"
.'One would almost think that Ben.
son expected visit to the Arctic cir
Gle" said Stone dryly.
Give scratched his chin thought
fully. -, =.
THAT didn't occur to me, bat Il
certainly is q remarkable coincidence
should never suspect anything Of
by Joye, / wonder.
lie looked at Stone and stones eyes
surveyed the providential tyr -hneo
coat with a reflective eye. As. he was
going out he met Benson. the Valc'
wore two heavy sweaters under ms
coat and gave him, in his customary
respectful way, q sedate good morning
You seem TO have been prepared
for this cold spell, Benson"
Yes, sir, it is rather remarkable
that tho weather should change