Evening star., 1927-05-17


- he saw the ship come to anchor,
watched the lowering c@ a boat
and the skin coated crew pull to-
ward the liner. \ gangway had
been lowered and presently a man
staggered inboard and vent dumping
up the steps on TO the deck, being re
ceiyed by Hale who took him straight
away to the bridge.
The consultation was a long one and
II was nearly o'clock before the cap
tain of the Thomas Inland went back
% his ship and such passengers whose
portfolios faced that way saw her get
olp her anchor and sidle in toward the
liner She was made fast by mid
night and Bill waited to see whether
his fears We're well founded. If the
tanker passed a pipe around to re
Dlenish the nearly empty tanks of the
Escoria then Laffin's plan WAS some
thing different from that which he an
ticipated. But no attempt was made
10 oil the ship, and, Watching them,
Bill saw the forward derricks in ac.
tion They were lowering on to the
deck of the tanker the boxes which
had been taken from the purser's
strong room Bill waited only long
enough TO see this, then went back 80
Stone
The American was sitting despond-
emily on a settee, rug over his legs,
his hands thrust into his greatcoat
pockets.
fWhere is Betty?" asked Bill. II
was not the moment for conventions
lity.
''She is in her cabin. Why"
IL want her to come With me.
He knocked on the door and Betty
came out.
Put on your coat" ordered Blu.
and when she had obeyed he led her
hc ~ n hiC p9hin
II had spent the previous night
with an ak and screwdriyer. The
brackets which fastened the wash
star 10 the wall had been removed.
He pulled at the pieces of furniture
and dragged it aside. disclosing
small. irreeuarly shaped aperture,
leading apparently into a large linen
cupboard. though it was now empty
and had not been used that voyage.
"Stay in this cabin until | tell you
10 come out | will lock the door on
yoA and bring you food, 1t Is ahso-
lutelv vital that you should not make
" ur presence known Should any
body try the door get into the linen
cupboard and pun the washstand TO !
you"
Before Betty could reply somebody
in the alleyway called Bill by his as
s,lmed name. lie hurried out, locking
the door and putting the key in his
pocket.
purser. HE is wanted at once on the
bridge, and Miss Stone also.
4 haven't seen him" lied Bill.
MAYBE he's down in the saloon or
the drawing room"
Go find him." said the purser I'M I
patiently. THAT devil up above IS
Bill remained in the library long |
enough to satisfy the purser, and re-
turned with the message that neither |
Stone nor his niece could be seen. ;. ;,
Go up and tell him yourself, |
proaned the purser, and without the |
slightest trepidation Bill interviewed /
the raging Harvey Hale.
He was dumfounded to discover |
that at least one member OF the party |
was a prisoner. Give Lowbridge sat
In the charthouse. a detected man. his |
wrists fastened with pair OF snip
irons. ;. !
yours that if he doesn't produce the |
Stones I'll cut his heart out OF him.
yelled Hale. ,
He had been drinking heavily. and |
in spite of his boast that liquor had |
no effect upon him. his voice was
thick and his step unsteady.
What is this, what is thlsf asksu
n iGSLV VOICE, anu 4OOhilS iNNhANA ~'NNf
saw Latin entering the charthouse.
He still wore his gaudy uniform. anu
though it was mainly covered by a
naval greatcoat he contriVed to snow
the hiit of his sword through Silt III
the side of the garment.
THAT is not the way, my frlend.
will have these matters done IN my
own way. which is naturally the best
wav. You are speaking of my wife
and her respected relation. Let me
send a message TO her, polite mes
sage, and an escort BETTING her dig
nifty. You understand, Hale"
II don't understand anything. /
&, owled the man, Except that | want
those people on this bridge, ana N
going to get 'em here
DR.. Latin waved dignltled hand. |
You are no longer in control. J.
your commodore, your grand master
III supreme authority of the twenty
third degree
Bill saw Hale end forward as |
though in the act of bowing. Then .
c~me the quick bright f. -sh OF /
knife. Twice the man struck, anu
with a cough Joshua Latin, doctor 81
medicine, fell on his knees. swayed |
for second. and Hale struck for the |
third time The old man went down, !
and did not move aoain.
Thus passed Joshua Laffin, IN ms
sin and his madness.