The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-09-17

VI GSAAOCos 4A0A1JS WHICH tA4CJ hoA
almost reached the top of the
engine, they came to a steel door
on a landing, and upon opening
it found themselves in little cor
ridor. Various cabins opened off
it with enameled signs over the
doors; Second Engineer; Third
Engineer; Engineers Mess.
eff this is their mess, there must
be some way of reaching the gall
ley from here" said Neill. sand
from the galley we can get into
the dining saloon"
The cabins had been stripped Of
movables, but there were still
quaint reminders of the officers
who had once occupied them; pic
lures tackled to the walls, rusty
pens on the desks, stained pen
wiper. Behind one of the doors
Neill found a good oilskin coat.
The air of the corridors was
close and dusty. Though the vessel
had long been out of use, the
characteristic ships smell still
chung to her, smell compounded
of paint, oakum and grease with
a faint admiXture of bilge-water.
AS they pushed through doors and
turned corners, Janet murmured
fearfully: will we ever be able to
find our way back again?"
NELL laughed. "Our motto is
Forward Honey!"
They found the galley, an i'm
menSe room with aacopking range
extending almost the whole width
of the ship. p
Beyond lay bakery, butcher
shop, refrigerating rooms and
pantrieS. They pus h e d open a
swinging door and found them
selves in a saloon big enough to
seat six or seven hundred people.
Their fiashlight was not strong
enough to reach into the corners.
The chairs had been removed but
the tables remained fixed to the
floor. Neill's light picked up a
piano against the wall. Putting
down his burdens, he turned back
the cover and struck a few cords.
THE Ocean Bluesl" he said,
grinning.
Janet laid her hands on his.
Don't! Don'tp
Nobody can hear us"
"It isn't that. The music fills
the ship with ghoSts!"
Finding The Royal Suite
IRON among the litter of things
L stored in the big saloon, Neil
picked a coil of thin strong rope
and q ball of tarred Irvine that he
said would come in handy. Adding
these things to his burdens, he
led the way up the grand stairway.
He figured that the saloon was on
E deck, starting with the boat deck
as A. On D deck they found sleep
ing cabins. but they were narrow
and cramped.
"The most expensive accommo-
dations are above" he said. I'VE
might as well take the best"
On c deck the rooms were big
ger and arranged en- suite, each
with its bathroom. They confined
themselves to the portsside of the
vessel, that is to say the side with
windows looking away from the
shore. Neill would not be satisfied
until he had opened each door and
looked in. Amidships they found
a suite larger and more luxurious
than any other. 1t consisted of
parlor with a bedroom on either
side. The parlor had two pairs of
French windows opening out on
a little private Ieranda or deck,
with a row of heavy plate glass
windows overlooking the water.
This is certainly the royal
suite" he said. "Just our style"
Janet who had borne herself
with good courage since coming
aboard, began to shake when the
strain relaxed. ooh. Neill!" she
faltered.
He took her in his arms and,
dropping on a sofa, held her close
until she quieted. What she had
been through was too terrible to
be talked about yet. Whatever had
happened, she was dearer to him
than his life.
Afterwards he opened the win
dows to sweeten the air. The whole
suite was paneled in rare woods.
The movable articles had been
carried away. but the thick car
pets still covered the floor, the
luxurious overstuffed couch eS
were in place. also the built-in
furniture which matched the pan
elling-wardrobes, cabinets, dress
ing tables. desks. He called Janet's
attention to the stout bolts on the
inside of every door.
You will feel safe behind those
when | have to leave you"
Leave me?" she said appre-
hensively.
We can't stay here indefinitely.
We only have food enough for two
days and two bottles Of water. I
have to find out what is going on.
and get you clothes and make ar
rangements for complete get-
away"
wen can 90 IL li j must
You'll be safe here" said Neill.
The fact that they keep all the
doors locked proves that they
never trouble the cabins OF the
ships. The decks and the engines
keep them busy"
fcstYFssA, 1857. ~ EslSs-s Fsss.wJ
Janet tells Neill what happened o.
the yacht, tomorrow.