Evening star., 1927-05-13
CONTINUED from Yesterdays STAR
THIRTY.THIRD INsrALLMENT.
CHAPTER Ii.
The Control.

TIME curious mixture Of ponip
and argot would in any other
circumstances have aroused
Il Bill to merriment, but now, as
something cold gripped his
heart. he knew that the hour of crisis
had arrived and followed the operator
to the dark deck.
There were other cloaked forms
there Bill counted 10; there were
probably more.
Get into that cabin" ordered the
spoke man Of the Proud Sons, and his
companion obeyed. Take off all mes
sages that come. shoot anybody who
atfnr1pts to open the door, and 1t the
worst comes 10 the worst, destroy the
instruments and smash those valves.
"AH rirht growled the other.
"Where is your cabin?" demanded
the chief spokesman.
aft What is the game" began
the radio man.
Don't ask questions. Take this
man TO his cabin and lock him IN.
What are you?" He was speaking to
Bill, and Holbrook was happy in the
thought that he had not been recog-
nized.
I'm a passenger" he said:
Keep him here. Go forrard, you
men"
The mask who was evidently in
command lowered above his fellows,
q veritahle giant. Bill saw them NOV.
ing forward toward the bridge, ana
presently they were lost to view. lie
heard nothing till there was cry and
the muffled sound Of a shot. one oil
the men who were guarding him said
something in a low voice. What is
was Bill could not hear.
He guessed what had happened he.
fore two of the rohed men came along
the deck supporting limp f1gure
that in the growing light Bill recog-
nized as the officer of the watch.
"Put him in that second cabin"
What had happened to the captain?
His stateroom was Immediately be-
hind the bridge. Bill was to learn.
when that skipper comes to his
senses handcuff him and keep him
locked in his cabin. Seventy-nine and
so, go forward and search his cabin
for arms. The armory is behind. I've
got the key of that. Don't interfere
with the stewards unless they get
fresh--the passengers are to be kept
quiet"
A figure came running up the ladder
and saluted.
Control established in the engine
room, SIR" he reported.
MuSLer the uPCh QdhuS Slls S<dlu
the tall comma nder. GO hack to
them, Sam, and say a few short words
about what's going to happen If they
give us any trouble. You know the
line of talk that'll scare that trash"
When they brought the injured Off
c. along they had pushed Bill back
against the rail. and now that their
attention was directed to some hap
pening elsewhere, he seized his oppor-
tunity In a second he had slipped
over the rail and went down the
stanchion hand over hand. and appar-
emily his departure was not noticed.
The watch had disappeared from
the deck-evidently they had been
shepherded aft. AS he darted into the
companionway he caught sight of the
night steward and whistled to him
softly. In a few words he told that
startled man what had happened.
"You people are safe" he said.
s"They may slin the passengers, but
the stewards will carry on as usual.
want a stewards suit from you.
Can you fix rle?"
Does the captain know?"
'I guess he does know" said Bill,
without troubling to explain. This
IS fact, steward. and there's no sense
in asking questions. Can you get me
a suit? If sos get 1t quick"
The steward led him down to an
unused cabin. in which, as Bill sus-
pected. he slept, contrary to the ships
regulations. From a locker he pro-
duced suit Of white ducks and Hol-
brook changed instanter. His scheme
was simple one. He guessed rightly
that the pirates would take little no.
: tice of the ships staff, so long as they.
carried out instructions. In this ca
pacity he might have an opportunity
of protecting the girl.
He was no sooner dressed than he
borrowed the stewards razor and
lather brush, and although he was
clean shavep, he made a marvellous
transformation of his face, for he re-
moved the rather heavy eyebrows
that were a feature of his face. The
change was so marked that the stew
ard at first hardly recognized him.
II know a crook who used to walk
past the man who was looking for
him on the strength of shaved eye
brows,' said Bill. ut is little
wheeze that I remembered in time.
Now go forrard and see the purser, If
they haven't already got him. Tell
the chief steward-he knows me-
what. I'm doing and ask the rest of the
men to keep their mouths shut. This
means money for them when we reach
New York"
what are they going to do to us.
sir?"