Evening star., 1940-05-31
CHAPTER TX.

was oiAc VI tlle passengers
shouting the alarm. Instantly, an
hysterical confusion rose. Doors
opened noisily. People rushed into
the passageway, talking and shout
1pg, one or two screaming or laugh
ing in Shrin nervousness.
Phil Lawrence stepped out into
the passage and watched the rush
to deck. Passengers were in various
stages of undress, but all carried
lxebelts. Eddie Shane was at Phil's
elbow, his mousey face scared.
S"Chee, pail" he muttered And
Gcan't sWim!"
Get your lifebelt," Phil said.
And 60 up to your boat station" !"
He STROBE forward as he saw
Nedya coming from her room. She
had a fur coat over her nightdress,
4nd lifebelt in her hand. Phil took
her arm
Don't be frightened, Nedya," he
I'D. The submarine will give us
. chance to abandon ship"
I'm not afraid, Philip" she re-
piled.
Phil was awear that the Ventura's
lights had been BACKED out. The
ship was driving ahead at full
speed, its engines throbbing duly.
The deck underfoot gave a sharp
lurch as the boats course was
changed.
The submarine was dropping to
stern by the maneuver. But then
from its deck came a blossom of
yellow-red fire. The crash of an
explosion followed instantly. A
shell shrieked over the Ventura.
There was brief moment of quiet,
then the submarines deck gun
flashed again.
The Ventura did not stop. It
drove on, zig Tagging. The lights of
the submarine fell farther behind,
and after third shell shrieked
over the fleeing ship its light dis
appeared.
The Ventura's second officer
came down on the bridge. He
shouted:
EVERYBODY to his boat station!
A torpedo may come next"
This time the passengers obeyed
There was a rush along deck.
Lifeboats Are Prepared.
Phil and Nedya went to the for
ward boat on the starboard side.
They passed Count Raedton stand
ing at the railing, staring out across
the water. He was stiff1y erect, a
dark scowl on--hiS Scared face.
Nedya said, "Sergei comet"
"a ~ -
Two of the crew had the ifeboat
ready to lower from its davits. The
half-dozen passengers assigned to
that boat were huddled nearby,
silently waiting. Phil and Nedya
stood little distance away. Babs
Martin appeared and came to them.
Women and children first" she
said. Some fun, isn't it? Phihp?"
Phil reached for her hand.
Doesn't anything subdue you,
Babs?"
I'm just talking to keep my
courage up. Actually. my teeth are
chattering. How long must this
suspense last?"
ut may last long time" Phil
said.
1t did last long time The Ven
tura kept zig-zagging for hours.
The passengers remained at their
boat stations. -Four hours passed
before the ships officers felt that
the danger was over. They an
nounced that everyone might re-
turn to their rooms if they wished.
A few did go.
Nedya left Phil to 60 to Count
Raedton. Babs was conversing ami
matedly with fellow passenger.
Phil saw Bert Cavanaugh, and went
to him.
s"Do you think we've lost the sub,
Cavanaugh?"
Cavanaugh shrugged his shoul-
ders. He said, Did you see any
identifying marks on it, Lawrence?"
No 1t was too far off,"
"It really meant business. It'll
be too bad if it spots us again. Well
get torpedo without warning this
time"
Reveals Counts Demand.
"You think the captain should
have stopped?"
! AA4oo . 1l4o SdtdlldUSll
said: Then: Count Raedon went
UP to the bridge and demanded that
tie Ventura stand by"
S"He did?"
Cavanaugh nodded. "He accused
the captain of endangering our
lives. I never realized the count
was so humane"
Probably thinking of his own
skin" Phil suggested.
mo -" said Cavanaugh. Il don't
think So"
Phil gave him a curious glance.
''What do you mean?"
Bert Cavanaugh gave another Of
his shrugs. He lighted a cigarette
and in the glow of the lighter his
face was frowningly thoughtful.
Phil said, You're reputedly an
International crook, Cavanaugh.
And notorious gambler. But for
a crook and a gambler you Ger
tainly are mixed up in the queerest
games"
$50 what?"
Intrigue and secret papers. :.
That rather makes you look like
a spy, Cavanaugh."
ga secret paper could be as good
q haul as bag full of jewels"
came the reply. "As good and better.
Jewels are hard to get rid Of"
sSCavanaugh, tell your man Gre
gori, to keep his distance from Babs
Martin. He's liable to get hurt If
he doesn't"
"All right. I didn't want him to
annoy Martin. If he tries anything
again, I'll take care of him my
self"
He nodded and walked away.
Changes Course Constantly.
The Ventura continued to run a
constantly changing course, its lights
out. AS the hours passed it
seemed that the ship had success
ff11xy t1n r,,hv rvl..