Evening star., 1927-05-12

N ~ ~ ~ ~
EMMY. 'sI have mad passion for
dying we'll dressed
The steward fingered to gossip, and
Bill was not averse to his company.
I've never known a voyage like
this: nothing's happened" said the
steward. Dead and alive voyage, l
call it,
What do you want TO happen""
asked Bill.
oh, nothing" said the man vague
ly; "only stewards like to see
something doing. 1t doesn't seem
natural for voyage TO be--well, just
voyage. You're an American, sir,
aren't you?"
Il have that popularity" said Bill.
Doesn't it strike you that things
are very quiet on the EscorialE OF
course, a fancy dress ball wakens
them up bit, but lord nothing to
what / have seen III my time. Why.
I've known the smoking room to be
full from the beginning of the voyage
to the end That was in the days
before the ships went dry" he said
regretfully.
After a while he made reluctant
retirement and Bill was left alone.
From time TO time he walked down
the promenade deck and glanced left
and right. AT least he expected some
appearance Of Laffin's men and his
nerves were on edge. But all that
he could see was the empty sweep
of the deck and all he heard was the
Scruhscrubscrub overhead; the watch
was making the decks presentable for
the day that soon would dawn.
Was he mistaken. after all? Had
I ta{- astA at-n, III
that he saw the doctors hand in
everything--he remembered the pois-
oned water. the midnight intruder to
| Stones suite Bullott lying
| wounded in his cabin &" q" No some
thing was afoot--some diabolical mis-
chief that he could not fathom.
The second officer came down the
stairs from the upper deck. He was
| wearing his heavy sea boots and had
/ evidently come straight from duty on
/ the bridge,
! Cant sleep?' he said with pleas.
| ant smile. I'D like to change places
/! with you.'
! Above him he heard the voices of
! the watch. The quartermaster was
/ giving an order and grumbling In iurid
! language at the inefficiency Of one of
| his team. And then his heart leaped.
/ He saw the door of Betty's room open
! slowly--he saw her peepng round the
/ edge of the door and her smile reas-
sured him.
| I've lust wakened IN Js il very
late?"
| Nearly a." he said.
Il don't think / can sleep any more.
| Won't YOU so and lie down."
| lie shook his head and with a little
nod she closed the door and he heard
| the lock snap. At any rate he could
walk on the deck for few minutes
| and he was glad Of the respite.
Yes the watch were at their work.
their long scrubbers moving leisurely
he heard the swish and swirl OF water
as 1t was thrown across the deck. the
| bubbilng of the hose pipe-pleasant,
homely sounds that filled him with a
sense of security
lie was wondering whether any re.
ply had come to Bullott's radio and
mounting the companion, he walked
along the bridge deck and tapped at
| the door of the wireless hut. The
| operator on duty opened it for him.
Hullo. any more messages" he
asked. The old man properly turned
YOU down! He sent a radio to New
/ York to ask il YOU were batty.
Haven't had a reply yet"
Have you got a message for Bui
Iott?"
What's the good He's not here
is he? He's the man that fell over.
! board in the channel.
He's here. all right" said Bill.
He closed the door behind him and
sat down on the operators table.
There's no wire for YOU, There's
one from Esyard. whoever that MAY
be. and it is intended for the captain.
Il think that is the one I'm waiting
for said Bill
/ Cant give 1t to you SON" said
the man briskly. 1T belongs to the
skipper. I'll give it to him as soor
as he wakes. Yards Of it,"
DO the words Kent and Sussex ap
pear in the message?" asked Bill
Good Lord. you're a thought read
er. Yes. they do. They're code, though
aren't they? Otherwise it is a plain
English message, can tell YOU. Some
| thing about Kent and Sussex and
| proceeding Immediately. There's lash.
ings of code wide for the captain
six pages of it,
| "My friend. you'll be wise it you
wake the captain and give him that
message" said Bill earnestly. "You
| don't know what may depend upon
! it,"
| The operator grinned.
| 'I know what would happen If /
woke him." he said. Life would lose
| it's SAVIOR for three or four voyages.
| "Hullo. who's that"
| Somebody had knocked at the door.
| He unfastened the catch and threw
| 1t open. For second he did not see
| anything, and then out of the dark
! ness came a black shape. masked
| from head to foot; the two eyes gilt
( tering through an opening in the
cowl and the barrel of pistol covered
/ him.
Don't move. don't touch that In
| strument or you're a dead mani" said
a gruff voice. "In the name Of the
| Proud Sons OF Ragouso / order you
| to step out and step lively"