Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-02-21
By WYNDHAM MARTYR
COPYRIGHT IN THE o. g
wNU Service

his pocket pad of paper. "Metzger
said on many occasions that there
was no reason, because / commenced
voyage, / should ever finish it. Leary
said that it would not take him ten
seconds to pick me up, break my neck
and dump me into the ocean,"
He turned to look at the two men.
Their confusion was intense. They
knew denial was useless.
Don't give yourself such concern"
the Boss admonished; sit was per-
fectly natural thing tc say. Self-pre-
servation is the first law, one is told.
could put you each one in danger
of your life and you know it. / am
not in the least offended. / have no
doubt the doctor here has his own
plans for my sudden death, and that
Sam, although he has resisted tempta-
ton, will eventually fall into it."
Bettington looked at the man with
amazement. He was calm and cooi.
His smile was unabated. He looked
at four men, whom he believed to be
murderers, and unrepentant, and de-
fed them. With what weapon, Bet
tington wondered, was this to be ac-
complished.
"What a fool l should have been to
come into ship like this without safe
guarding myself firstl In my home
city there is a lawyer who attends to
my business. Recently he made my
viii. When this voyage is over shall
go back and destroy letter on which
it says, Not to be opened until one
year from date In that letter is an
account of the life and works Of each
of you gentlemen. have also given
myself the trouble to pen memoranda
concerning our cook, Kenzie, the Sec
ond engineer; Grammar and Ham,
ner. l shall talk to them tomorrow,
but l think you will find it advisable
to watch over my health very care
fully. If am killed you go back to
prison, all of you"
"What do you want us to dor
Leary asked anxiously.
do your duty without giving Hal
lett cause for offense. l don't want
his suspicious to take such shape as
will make Railway distrustful."
THAT d--n boy, Bob. is in the way"
Sam grumbled. "We're all like one
happy family down there in the fore
castle and we have to keep mum be-
cause of him. l believe he's been
planted there for a purpose"
The Boss shook his head. "Mr Rad
way told me all about it. He is the
girls brother. sent on board as sort
Of chaperon."
''She may need one" Sam sniggered.
"She's sure little beauty!"
"None of that" said the Boss sharp
ly. 1--WE are here to make money
and not to fool with women. Don't
stare at her. Sam; can see you
brighten her. I'll break any man
here who disobeys my instructions"
"a man has his rights on sea as
well as land" Metzger observed i'm
partially. IF see pretty woman
on shore stare at her. and il see
a pretty woman aboard l do the same
thing. Sam likes chickens, don't.
I'm all for class. Railways wife
she's class" We
The Boss was impatient for them to
be gone He waved them to the door.
~ only insist you disarm suspicion,
and God knows, with faces like you
three carry, that's hard work. don't
want you and Sam fighting over a
girl"
"Me and Sam?" said Metzger.
'sWe're not rivals" Metzger had de-
cided by this time he did not like the
doctor He remembered what innumer-
able occasions there would be for him
and Mrs. Railway to meet and. it mace
him exaspefated that his duties we're
not of a different sort. "The Doc
here and are the ones that would get
scrapping, amt WEI"
Bettington turned his back Oh him.
When they had gone, he looked at the
Boss.
"If those two brutes got loose,
there'll be hi to pay"
II keep them chained" said the
other. "Im glad you seem to be get
ting on with those women. I'm keep
ing Railway quiet. Find out what
women friends Mrs. Railway has. You
may have to write to them later and
the use Of any pet names is always
advisable. 1t should not be difficult
for you to find out what want"
.'Why not?" Bettington asked coldly.
Because Mrs. Railway is a woman
and women always trust the wrong
man, as their history proves. She
thinks you are the soul of probity be-
cause your face masks your soul so
well. Those men who have just gone
advertise the seven deadly sins when
ever they look at one. and are less
dangerous"
Il like Mrs. Railway" said Betting
ton, ''and no matter what l have done,
according to your ideas, no woman
need be afraid of me. You were right
to warn Merger. You may as well
tell him that if he tries to force him.
self on Mrs. Railway, l shall give him
beating"