Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-03-28
CHAPTER IX-Continued


The voices were toe far of for any
of the prisoners to hear what was
said. But they knew some dreadful
scenes of violence were being enacted,
some such scene, perhaps, as that
which had ended in Hallett's murder.
Mrs. Railway spoke In a level, hard
voice. She addressed her remarks to
Crosby Todd.
81 suppose you realize by this time,
what chance we stand If Doctor Waite
has been killedT
The thought that he had gone bravely
to a doom which could not be averted.
and had gone from group of people
who plainly did not trust him, was
horrible to her. She had always es-
teemed ingratitude among the blacker
sins, and now she was forced to ac-
cuse herself Of it. 1t was strange,
she thought, that the only thing he
had ever given her was loaded auto
matte pistol. But there was no other
gift so welcome to her. Images Of
Metzger's grinning face came unbid-
den. She took the weapon from a
drawer and counted its six cartridges.
Bettington was alone on the upper
deck. He had plenty of steam. Drunk
or sober, Kenzie was good engineer
and would have no shirkers. His his
tory was curious. He had been an
engineer on many ships, plying in
many seas; but always he had been
obliged TO serve on vessels whose en-
gines were worn out, whose machinery
would invariably be on the point Of
giving way. Never in all his service
had he shipped on a vessel whose en-
gines were even passably good. Then,
almost miraculously, he had been
picked up by man who knew his
past misfortunes, held them club-like
over his head, and brought to the en-
CINE room of the Albatross. 1t was
not drink which made Kenzie weep
when he saw the vertical, inverted,
compound condensing engines, which
took their steam from an Almy water
tube boiler. 1t was unbelievable joy.
His dreams were realized. He was
glad that Metzger, who knew next to
nothing about marine engines, left him
alone. No priest in the Gothic cathe-
dral was more reverent than Kenzie
before his charge.
Sam and Metzger, flinging all care
aside, started gambling. Each knew
the other had money. Metzger was
the better player, but he was handi-
capped by certain fear of any tricky
play. Sam interspersed his games
with anecdotes of men he had pun
ished dreadfuliy for cheating. Inter-
ruptions such as these cramped Metz
gers style of play. Sam was not GO
ing to be such good picking as he
hoped. Sans favorite form of punish
ment, it seemed, was semi-strangula-
ton. 1t was risky punishment, Sam
confessed, because in the heat of the
moment one might go too far, "An'
you know it in minute" Sam said.
There's something about guys face
whose been squeezed bit too hard,
you won't never forget"
"Dio mio! Metzger said petulantly.
LET us talk of something else"
Anything you say" Sam returned.
"Wot about?"
"There is only one subject" Metz
ger said; he kissed his hand airily and
raised his black eyes to heaven:
'Women!''
Sam reflected on this for a minute.
1t was not easily he shifted his base.
This woman business had been settled
hours ago, and he told Metzger so.
They were to be kept in the fore part
of the ship until Limon came in sight.
1t was only then that the services of
the surgeon would be no longer indis-
pensable. He chuckled heavily as he
thought of the doctors surprise.
"All in good time" Sam declared.
"No use hurrying."
Metzger was annoyed when Antonio
Pereira, the cook whose name was en-
shrined in literature, came in with a
plate of the same sort of caviare sand
witches he had been used to make for
Railway.
Pereira was in the mood to talk
of his conquests which had ranged
through many seas. Metzger, usually
interested in such matters, wished
only to be left alone with Sam. 1t
was almost midnight before the cook
turned in.
There is man like me-" Metzger
said. HE has no use for caution.
tell you women love that kind. He
has lived, while you" Metzger
shrugged his shoulders. "Poor Samn
"What do yer mean, poor Samp"
said the other irritably. Sam was
stirred TO indignation. He poured
forth accounts of his amours. He
grew almost eloquent. But he still
told his friend that his agreement
with the navigator must be observed
for safety's sake.
Sam allowed Metzger to lure him
on deck where they sprawled luxuri-
ously on two great wicker chairs.
Metzger set out to tempt his COM
panion. Deliberately he sought to
evoke images which should Danish
prudence. He pointed to the silhouette