The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-03
Madnaan's Island
Copyright 1897 NEA Service. Inc.

start the enginew
Startled, She turned to look at
the cabin portfolio from which
the unfamiliar voice had come.
In the shadows she saw a thin
face below which was the point
of a revolver.
"Do what l tell YOU" her as
sailant advised.
Frantic with fright, Kay did
not dare to call out to Melita and
Priscilla on shore. She realized
in sudden panic that, any mo-
ment, the man could fire at her
friends from the cruiser. That
voice might we'll be the voice of
fanatic or mad man.
Almost in a daze she went for
ward. using the hand-rail atop
the cabin and expecting every
second to be shot as she attempt
ed to obey the mans orders.
Just do what told YOU" the
voice came to her again. I'll stay
here. | don't want your friends
to see me just yet
Kay slid onto the forward deck
and lifted the anchor. Then, in
side the pilot house, she started
the engine. The little Chinook"
began to move forward. Now the
sound of the motor drifted shore
ward, and she saw Melita and
Priscilla Jump to their feet.
Ignoring their startled cries,
Kav gave the boat full speed,
praying that she could get out of
range before the mad stowaway
harmed the puzzled girls on shore.
Poor Prissy and Mel! Kay
thought. They're sure to believe
I'm leaving them in the lurch!
Pulling the wheel hard over,
she attempted to veer away from
the island and out into more open
waters. But this strategy quickly
came to nothing when the voice
instructed from the cabin, Keep
on the course you had"
Trembling in every fiber of her
young body, Kay obeyed. w
what do you want me to do-and
who are you?" she called.
There was no answer. No sound
at all except the low throb of the
engine and the pleasant fall Of
water away from the bow. Kay
did not speak again. And, remem-
bering the face and the ominous
barrel of that revolver, she kept
the little ship forging ahead.
Ashore, Melita and Priscilla,
forgetting the danger they had
imagined as being somewhere in
the wood, stared aghast at the
swiftly receding stern OF the
Chinook"
For a moment neither cohld
speak; and then Melita said, in
queer, low voice, That's not like
Kay. She wouldn't leave US here
when trouble popped up"
mot urless she had a darned
good reason. But | can't under
stand it. There was no one else
aboard the boat, and Priscilla
stopped suddenly. Then, white
faced, she tugged at Melita's
sleeve. "Melita! There was some
body aboard with Kay! Look at
those footprints of the man who
damaged our dinghy. They come
down from the wood, but they
don't go back to it"
Melita stared at the marks on
the wet sand. "How hould we
have been so stupid?" She turned
to Priscilla helplessly. What can
we do? We're marooned here
and Kay aboard the Chinook
with IA murderer
They felt no more helpless
than Kay Dearborn, clutching the
wheel of the little cruiser. While
she stood there, wondering what
was to be the next order from the
voice below, she was conscious of
a presence at her back. She knew
it was the man whose face she
had seen at the portfolio, and she
dared not look around.
He was in the pilot house now.
She could hear the dripping of
his wet clothes on the floor.
"Are you giving her full
speed?"
Kay nodded.