Evening star., 1940-06-04
CHAPTER, XII

officer was glancing at his wrist
watch. He was a stern-faced man,
a man who doubtless meant what he
said. Ten minutes-and no more.
He said fatty: "One minute
more. The person who has Count
Raedton's doucment has 60 seconds
to decide. Let me assure you that
we mean business. That document
must be turned over to us-or go
to the bottom.
Capt. Nordstrom stood in the
stern of the lifeboat You wouldn' t
sink us for a scrap of paper? You
couldn't be that cold blooded?"
"The document" the submarine
officer snapped.
Nordstrom faced the people in
the boat. He looked pleadingly at
Nedya, at Bert Cavanaugh, at Phil
Lawrence.
HAS any one in this boat the
paper?"
No one answered. He made a
helpless gesture toward the men in
the submarines coming tower.
"The person must be in one of the
other boats" he said.
II think not" came the officers
blunt reply. Then: THE time is
up!" He turned and barked an
order to the men at the deck gun.
wait minute!'
Cavanaugh's deep voice was like
the report of gun. He was stand
ing up on the thWart facing the
coming tower.
"Well?"
Destroyer to the Rescue.
There was a mocking smile on
Cavanaugh's lips II don't think
you're going to sink any boats,' he
said. He raised his arm and pointed
out across the water. Look"
Every one stared in the direction
he pointed. Light glowed against
tthe blackness, lights of ship that
was travelling fast.
Nordstrom gave yell. ITS a
destroyer! 1t picked up the Ven-
tura's SOS!"
The men on the submarine began
an excited shouting The crew be-
gan dropping down through the
matches.
Phil and Cavanaugh grabbed up
their oars and showed the boat
away from the submarine. Row."
Phil shouted. Everybody row!"
The men bent to the oars. The
submarine began to submerge. Capt.
Nordstrom sent up flare. The
destroyer swerved toward the sig
nal.
Five minutes later it was within
hailing distance, its speed slack
ening. Nordstrom shouted, Sub
marine!" And pointed toward the
spot where the craft had submerged.
The destroyer's officers ordered the
boat to keep pulling away. Five
minutes later. looking back. Phil
saw depth bombs hurtling from the
destroyers deck. The dull intona-
tions came rumbling up through
the water.
They kept rowing. The lights of
the destroyer lay far behind Ahead
other lights gloWed against the
darkness, the lights of an ocean
liner. The big ship was standing by
to pick up the Ventura's survivors.
The four lifeboats converged on it.
Meets Babs on Deck.
The S. S. North America drove
steadily westward. The morning
was bright and the sea very calm
Phil Lawrance rose and dressed
in the clothes which the steward
had brought him. He went to
breakfast and afterward started out
for a turn about the promenade
deck. He met Babs Martin on the
portside. She had been strolling
along with her head bent and the
corners of her pretty mouth droop-
ing dejectedly. But she looked up
and smiled brightly.
Hello, Philip" she said. Fancy
meeting you here"
And you" he said. But it's
rather nice, isn't it?"
Its swell From now on I'm
going to greet every morning with
a great big laugh"
He took her arm and linked 1t
with his. Walk with me, Babs.
And tell me we really are here safe
and sound"
Il think you'd better pinch me,
too she replied. Il keep fearing
I'm dreaming. I never want to be
so nearly war casualty again"
Have you seen Nedya this morn
ing?"
I've been waiting for you to
ask" Babs said. "Yes I saw her.
We we're put into the same cabin.
She is very much broken up, Phil,
over what happened to Count Raed-
ton. 1t was a shock for her to learn
that he had not gotten off the Ven
tura."
She's taking it hard, eh?"
eyes. She told me he had always
been kind to her, ever since she was
a child I guess some people can
find something to like even in a
rascal like that Count Raedton.'
Phil nodded. He said, I'D like to
see her Babs."
mo Phil Not yet. Give her a
little time to grieve"
"Well-all right. But look in on
her occasionally, will you?"
Babs made wry face, "Oh, sure"
she murmured.
Leaving Babs, Phil sent a long
radiogram to his superior at the
embassy, explaining in detail what
had happened to him from the night
Bert Cavanaugh's men had shang-
haied him aboard the Ventura.
After that he went in search of
Cavanaugh, and found him in a
smoking room.
Cavanaugh was settled lazily in
an arm chair, SNUG self-satisfied
grin on his lips. Hello, Lawrence" :"
he said. Pull up chair"
Phil said, Hello, hello" in an
easy, offhand way. He sat down
opposite the man and occupied his
self with cigarette. He said fl
nally:
II suppose I owe you an apology,
Cavanaugh."
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