Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-20
Continued From Yesterdays Starr
THIRTIETH INsTALLMENT.

A BALL was in progress that
" night at Greenwich Hospital,
~ and every officer, with the ex-
4 4 ception of the watch on his
majestys torpedo destroyer
Meridian had gone ashore to join in
the festivities. The destroyer, one of
the fastest of her type, had just been
assigned to special duty. and it was re-
ported that the crew was to be in
creased.
On this particular night the sentry
on the gangway saw a boat approach
ing the ship and challenged it. Upon
being told that the boat carried an
urgent message for the commander, the
sailor went to call the officer of the
watch. At the latter's order, he told
the messenger to come aboard with the
letter. There were two muffied reports
and the officer and man died at their
posts.
Almost instantly the destroyer was
boarded by 20 yellow-faced little men,
and the crew, taken by surprise, many
OF them sleeping, was Summarily dis
posed Of. Although there were ships
anchored all about, none Of them saw a
thing that would lead them to believe
that there was anything wrong aboard
the Meridian. An officer of a tramp
steamer that was lying nearby said the
next day that he had heard noises COM
ing from the ship that sounded like
shots and that he had thought it rather
strange that sailors should indulge in
rifle practice at that time of night, but
ne had said nothing to any one Of what
he had heard.
OF the entire crew. only one man
escaped the attack of the india rubber
gang. He leaped overheard and swan
h1tf nxy lima
he had made himself heard and had
been hauled over the side, black
launch had approached the destroyer
and Golly Oaks and his band Of gun
men had gone aboard.
Already the signal lamp had flashed
summons to Capt. AikneSS, and, in a
few minutes, a swift motor launch had
brought the captain to the ship. He
had with him the two guards whom
Golly mad assigned to accompany him,
but Anna and Lila were missing.
Golly tried to question him, but the
captain was so terror-stricken that he
could hardly speak. He managed to
Whtmper something about a fire.
Well talk about this later, and I'll
settle with you when I have more
time" yelled Golly. Now get up to
the bridge"
The mooring was already slipped
The Meridian was due to leave that
night. and the engineer had steam up
The possibility that she might not have
full head Of steam had not occurred
to Golly, although AikneSS had drawn
his attention to that chance.
Already the flremen were below, stok-
ing frantically. A quartermaster took
the wheel. and the destroyer went
down stream, gathering speed rapidly
Later on Golly, in the officers cabin
interviewed Capt. AikneSS.
Now let's hear your story" he said
violently. And be sure it's a good
one"
Aikness told Golly what he could OF
the escape of Lila and Anna from the
apartment in the Arbroath Building.
Got out on the roof through a trap
door, did they" growled Golly, Scowl-
ing. II never knew that there was a
trap-door there. And I've been over
the place half dozen times"
1T was under the plaster" said AK
ness, lin the little hall of the living
room. I sew q notice on the wall
under some torn wallpaper. They
must have found that. 1t was a fire
notice, and 1t said that there was a
trap-door in the roof"
And they started a fret" incurred
Golly. ITO think that I was the one
WIZ gave Gil HCt1OL lic OCCC4N-
in little animal! She said she wanted
to clean her coat, and I believed her!
Well, I'll go back and get her, one of
these days. don't usually miss what
60 after" He showed his teeth in a
grin, but he was not amused.
WED better make speed while we
can" urged AikneSs. They'll be after
us in no time. We must crowd on
every pound of steam"
BE after us. will they?" snarled
Golly. Haven't told you that I've
taken care of all that? We're picking up
the first l.. and M. boat and lying
alongside of her. There's one due out
Of port this afternoon. And, II they
send cruisers to catch me. I'm sinking
that l.. and NJ. boat. passengers and
ALL Dye hear? I'm blowing the whole
outfit to smithereens. And with no
danger to us. Those boats don't carry
guns in peace time"
So that wdk the plan to which Golly
had referred so darkly on another &C.
casion! Capt. AikneSs gasped at the
wickedness of it. To wipe out an en-
tire shipload of human beings!
The destroyer continued at full speed
ran risks that would have turned re-
sponsible shippers hair white, and
came. at last, to the open sea.
There she goeS!" Golly stood by
the side Of Capt. Aikness on the bridge
focusing q pair Of night glasses upon a
ship that was rapidly approaching. Il
can pick her up. I've got man on