Evening star., 1928-03-15
Mumm. as though suddenly aroused
from sleep.
And Peter answered:
ALEC Dunn"
CHAPTER XIII.
The pariah.

| &hHA EN- sAAAAs
The Pariah.
ETER sat suddenly upright In
- bed. 1t did not seem to him
that he had closed his eyes and
Il yet he must have slept little.
for the first gray streakS OF
dawn were filterirg In now through
the cabin portfolio. Capt. JoSephuS
Mun1m, in the other bed, was already
dangling his feet over the side, pre-
paratory to jumping to the floor. Some
one was knocking imperatively and re-
peatedly at the door.
Blast it." shouted the little red
haired skipper irritably, you don't
need to wake the whole ship up! Who's
there. and what's wanted?"
TITS Mr.. Garth" a voice answered
curtly. open the door!"
Sounds like his dinner last night
hadn't agreed with him!" grunted the
little skipper. as he swung himself to
the floor and opened the door.
Peter, still in bed. stared. The alley
way seemed to be literally packed with
men. He rubbed his eyes in amaze
ment. Besides Mr.. Garth. he recog-
nized the yachts commander. Capt.
Stone. who, with Mr.. Garth. had ac-
companied the Break O. Dawn's skip
per and himself to the cabin here last
| with set, threatening face, and a bald
headed. grimy faced man in a greasy
white uniform, and, fianking the latter.
still two more men. who. from their
dress were obviously two Of the crew.
The yachts commander and Mr..
Garth brushed by the little skipper un-
tremendously and came into the cabin.
Capt. Stone held revolver in his
hand; his face, eyes and voice were
hard.
Get up. you!" he rasped at Peter
And get your clothes on!"
"Of course" said Peter. q little help
lesSly. as he got out Of bed. But
what's up?"
Get your clothes on!" repeated the
yachts commander, uncompromisingly.
The little red-haired skipper project
ed himself forward.
"Damme!" he exploded; "A bit
thick. / call this! What's all the
blooming row about?"
| Humphrey Garth answered him.
Perhaps you would better get your
clothes on as well. Capt Mumm," he
said in q represSed voice; "for. though
am sure you are not involved in this
in any way. ! do not imagine you will
care to go back to bed again.
That's as 1t may bel" retorted the
little skipper. ungraciously. I'll tell
you better when / know what you're
driving at. However. If it'll please you,
viii keep, though. and no hurry about
1t. from the way you're hugging it to
your bosoms!"
/ Dat 1%n
his clothes. swept the ring of un-
friendly faces about him several times.
Mr.. Garth's face particularly seemed
TO stand out from the circle. It not
only seemed to combine an intense
bitterness with a smoldering fury, but
| It was almost ashen in its color. Twice
he glanced at Capt. Mumm. The little
skipper was growing angrily under his
breath, and, whether deliberately or
not. refused to meet his. Peters. eyes,
What did 1t mean? What was 1t all
about? His first thought had been
that. after all. some one had recog-
nized him. knew him to be Peter Blake.
But that wouidnt account for tt-ac-
count for the grim reticence on every
bodyis part. They wuuid have accused
him of It instantly the moment the
door was opened. II that were ALL
Well-he was dressed now-why spec
ulate about it? He looked steadily
| around the circle.
I'm ready" he said.
The yachts commander motioned
toward the door.
Peter stepped out Of the cabin. and
found himself under the close escort
Of the two sailors. They did not
actually lay hands on him, but for all
practical purposes they might as well
have taken q forcible grip upon his
arms, for their shoulders brushed him
on either side. Ahead Of him Hum
| phrey Garth and Capt. Stone led the
way: behind were the others-the little
red-haired skipper still grumbling. stili
irascibly demanding an explanation.
They turned out Of the alleyway.
went along aft and descended the COM
panionway leading to the deck below
and, halfway along the main alleyway
on this deck. halted before closed
door.
The yachts commander waved the
two sailors TO stand aside. moved Q
little TO one side himself. as did Mr..
Garth, and threw the door open.
For an instant Peter stood ike o man
stunned and then instinctiveiy, as the
brutal and ghastly horror OF what con-
fronted him drove In upon his senses.
he drew back q little.
No one else moved. No one spoke.
This was what It meant! This was
why he had been brought here under
guardl They were going 10 accuse
him. for some impossible, incredible
ieascn-'of this! Was he mad--were
they mad? He did not want TO look
any more. but he could not take his
eyes from the scene. On the floor
close 70 the bunk, and In front Of q
low writing table that was blotched
With huge crimson stains, lay the body
of J. George Jaffray, Mr.. Garth's Sec
retary. The mans face was half hid
den by an outfiung arm. but the neck
and the throat were bare-and red. On
the roor. Just beyond the reach OF the
outfiung arm. as though It had fallen
from neryeless fingers and rolled away
q little, was fountain pen.
Peter found his voice 1t was quiet
enough. but IT was toneiess.
Why did you bring me here like
thts3" he asked
Come inside with me-" said Hum
phrey Garth sternly. Nothing ha,
been touched. and you have a right
70 see everything es we found H."
Peter followed the other mechanical.
ly into the cabin. MT. Garth pointed
W sheet OF paper on the Tablet
was hide0usly mottled with biots thai
were not made with ink. From
amongst these biots words fashioned
tksmseiyrs--Scrawie words, some big
some little. as though written In fran.
tic haste with q pen that slitheref
unrontroliabiy In fingers from which
the strength had ebbed 10 rapid,
away that their task had even beer
left unfinished.
The words seemed 10 Peter 10 sea-
! themselves into his brain~~snd. curl
ousjy, 10 numb IL. and somehow hi
mind refused t0 function, save tina
he found himself reading the word
. over and over again
! Dunn is Peter Blake. lie did this
Give reward TO-
! Some one was standing behind him