Evening star., 1933-09-19
NsTALLAHNT TX.
Z YEs," Vern assures the invol.
" untary passengers, that
girl Is the skipper"
Captain Of this bo0t7s
~Aha0llIfelVo -

i Captain Of this boat7"
Absolutely"
THAT alters matters considerably,s
the Judge assured his fellow stowaWays
she looks like Q pleasant young woman
who would be amenable to reason. Per-
laps It would be as well II were the
spokesman In the coming interview"
They moved aft by common consent
Vern delayed long enough to take With
him q capstap bar from q small anchor
hoist. With that In his hands he un-
obtrusively took his position alongside
his commanding oficer.
The parley had already begun.
II am sorry, gentlemen" she vaS
saying pleasantly. your request that
I put back to New York would. under
ordinary conditions, be reasonable
enough and I should feel in duty bound
to accede to it. 1t just so happens that
today cannot do as you wish. can
not even take the time to set you ashore
so that you may f1nd other means Of
transportation back to the city. Un-
be obliged, regretfully, to take you with
me to our original destination"
Which is?" The judge put the Ques-
ton.
"A small island OH the coast of the
Carolinas. You will pardon me If, for
plicit."
The trio reflected on this information.
They even drew q little apart to discuss
it. After q moment they returned.
MY colleagues and l." said the Judge,
nave come to the conclusion that this
Is very suspicious cruise, doubtless
undertaken In accordance with some
purpose In defiance Of the laws Of the
United StateS''
Irene smiled. If you mean to sus-
gest That I am . rum-runner don't
mind telling you that you are wrong.
The error is pardonable one, and 7
might say that the idea Of entering
tnat profession has occurred to me, but
as yet I have not violated any of the
statutes Of our Government"
You have kidnapped three prominent
citizens" Judge Hale pointed out.
NO. not even that. You three gen.
uemen came on board this yacht of
not?"
That question was . puzzler. The
three important citizens looked at one
another In sheepish dismay. No one
OF them could recall under what cir
cumstances he had arrived in the cabin
where he found himself that morning.
You seemed to be somewhat under
the weather" said Irene
The judge and the banker looked at
each other sheepishly. The clergyman
said:
II was drugged and robbed while ON
an errand OF mercy In one Of the poorer
quarters Of the city"
HIS explanation was given simply and
directly, and there was no disputing its
honesty.
THE matter Of definition Of terms"
said the judge. "is immaterisl. Whether
we were kidnapped or lured on board
under false pretenses does not mate
rally AFFECT the case We now demand
to be taken back to the city"
"And the lady captain ofdcially re-
fuses" said Vern. "On the high seas
her authority Is superior to that Of the
church and the United States courts"
We decline to accept that authority"
The Judge took step forward and the
others more timidly joined him. YER
stan bar suggestively in evidence.
Wait minute, gentlemen" Irene
ordered. compellingiy. Il believe that
I am not exceeding my rights In de-
clining to alter the course Of this vessel
in order to return you to the port from
which I unwittingly carried you. But
for one have to admit that there are
circumstances under which the ordt-
nary rules Of life do not CO. You ought
to be taken back. But, on the other
hand. ought to go forward. I must
go forward. In case like this, con-
fiict of human wills and purposes, the
more pressing need ought to have first
call I acknowledge that the machinery
of justice in Judge Hale's court must
grind on. The organizations for the
relief of suffering must continue to
function and the financial interests Of
the United States, some of which are
vested in Mr.. MacLean here, must be
protected.
But I, too, am in q situation which
does not offer any alternatives Before
you take any rash action let me tell you
gentlemen why am doing what I am
and why I must pursue this course to
finish. If after I have told you my
story, you think that your necessities
are greater than mine I will agree to
turn back. Is that fair proposition?"
The three old men slowly nodded.
Then, with your permission, I viii
hold the yacht on our course at least
until We have finished this CONVERSE
ton"
Go be continued.)