The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-05
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
(Continued)


deck, almost invisible in her black
wrap.
Back along the deck a Stateroom
door opened and some one stepped
out on deck. Mary hesitated uncer-
tain whether 10 turn back. The
other moved to the rail and stood
there apparently unaware Of her
existence.
The girl stepped farther back into
the shadows and stood silent wait
ing for him TO go away.
Who could it be? She tried to
estimate what door it was he had
come from-Louise's door came first,
then Bruce's, then De Loma's. He
was not tall enough to be Bruce. He
must be The Fly.
TIE stood a moment or two
Il 4 longer. then glided away down
the deck so softly that she was not
aware Of it until he had gone. That
was curious
Without stopping to think, she
kicked off her slippers and slipped
silently along the wall after him.
At the first gangway she climbed
quickly up to the sun deck and hur-
ried along to take refuge in the
shadows under the lifeboat perched
there
Peering cautiously over the edge
she saw him leaning over the taft
rail, looking down at the little
dinghy bobbing about in the uneasy
sea
Looks like a storm coming up"
A voice just beneath her caused
her to jump The Fly also must
have been startled for he swung
about quickly.
Out of the shadows almost under
Mary's nose the sailor on deck
watch appeared and strolled over to
the rail to join him.
Storm, eh?" He turned back to
staring at the sea.
The sailor apparently was lone
some for some one to talk to, and
was not to be easily repulsed.
Yes, sir, it certainly looks like
we we're in for a good one. See
that black patch over there? That's
one forming or I miss my guess.
You can actually see them form out
here sometimes. The breeze has
gone down, too, and that's always a
sign. And the barometer's drop
ping. Don't believe he will be much
of a blow coming from that direc-
ton, though.
Il sure wouldn't want to see much
wind, with us stuck up here on
this reef like this"
How are you coming on that
radio?" the other asked GROSSLY, as
if making the youth beside him
directly responsible for it.
But the sailor continued cheerful.
"Sparks told me there wasn't
chance to get it working. Some
body's jimmed it proper He thinks
we'll just have to stick it out here
until some fishing party comes
along or the patrol comes around
to check up on the light"
Captain said we'd wait another
day and then if no one showed up
he'd send a couple of men along the
keys in the dinghy"
VOU mean you could make it to
n Key WeSt-90 miles-in that?"
De Iona pointed down at the small
tethered rowboat humping awk-
Wardly about beneath the stern.
Sure. If the weather held good.
When you got tired of rowing you
could just beach her on a key and
take a rest. They're only a few
miles apart.
And farther in you'd be bound
to pick up fishing party that
would take you on in to get help"
Why hasn't some one tried that
before this?" De Iona demanded.
We've been out on this reef in this
damned sun for four days"
We'll, you see, this is the only
good boat That cockleshell up
there MARY held her breath as they
turned to look up at the lifeboat
behind which she was concealed)
isn't any good-that is, for much
of row.
And we'd have to take the only
two pairs of oars we have If a
storm should come up and the party
had to get over to FIT. Jefferson it
would be ticklish business in that
tub"
Crouched under the boat, she had
been too intent on the conversation
to notice the little black cloud of
which the sailor had spoken. which
had grown until it covered half the
western sky.
An occasional squirt of wind ruff
fed the sea, which otherwise lay
classify quiet under the moon.
THE two men apparently became
L conscious of the approaching
storm at almost the same moment.
See? What did I tell you'll" the
sailor pointed. Here she comes. 1t
won't be a bad one, because you
can see the edge of it there along
the horizon, but it will be plenty
damp while it lasts. Better get UNI
der cover sir. I've got to get my
Oilskins'
The Fly stood where he was
after the other had gone, staring
at the rolllng-up mass OF cIOuu.
Suddenly he snapped his fingers,
Strengthened with sudden decision,
and she saw him take something
from his pocket.
There was a sharp click then he
melted along the deck in the same
noiseless way he had come.
A wisp Of stray cloud flying ahead
of the storm blotted out the moon
Just then. Mary scrambled from
her hiding place and ran back
along the top deck.
There was still light enough to
see that the deck below her was
deserted.
What ought she to do? Rouse
Bates? Was it really the click of a
cartridge chamber she had heard,
Aiy1er