The future outlook., 1942-08-01
SYNOPSIS

daughter OF Captain Bcnot ir
charge OF q feet of obsolete ves'
sells lying at anchor In the Chesa.
peake. Donald Colby, an sx-soldier
takes the Job as watehman. despite
the fact that three predecessor
have mysteriousiy disappeared. Al
Colby. Geneva, and Dutton. an
other watehmsn. approach the
"hontieslio," on which the girl
lives with her father, three shots
and a scream rent the air. The cap.
tain 10 not aboard. Colby and
Mears, watehman OF the m cunt
Vernon" find him in a cabin OF that
ship. dying from q bullet wound.
Asked who shot him, the captains
syss turn TO the figure Of . dead
man sprawisd on the staircase near
by. Suddenly, q sound issues from
the passagsway.. Mears dousss his
hashlight. A figure appears and
Colby tackles IL. A jet OF fame
spews forth and In its light Colby
10 stunned to sec the features of
Geneva. Why was she on the
Mount Vernon" and why had she
fred the sutomshe1 The girl
claims she thought he was "the
others." Colby snaps Don't lie !
You knew we were going to search
the Mount Vernon"
CHAPTER VII
Somewhat unsteadily. tho girl
pushed q strand of bobbcd chestnut
hair from across her eyes and got
TO her feet and stood looking at DON
aid Colby's grim figure. what has
happened!" Calmly enough. she
switched on n fashlight OF her own.
Colbystepped aside. watching her
closely. 81 suppose ninoe you have
taken such pains you may as we'll
sce."
Once by him she halted and Colby
saw her hashlight beam waver and
drop until IL encountered the gray
white visage Of Captain Benet--
who, forgotten In the turmoil, still
slumped, silently dying in the, oak
panelled passage.
"Oh, my CodF- Geneva Bcnct
gssped ss people gasp when = bul-
let strikes them In q vital spot.
"Connollyi" The tweed clad figure
sped forward and knelt at the aide
OF the stricken man. Connolly
Have they hurt you very hadlyT Say
that they haven't"
Connolly, indeed. Colby's fes-
lures were leAner than ever when
he stepped lightly back into the
shadows and. poised somewhat like
an old time gun fighter. studied the
shadow ruled grand staircase be-
yond. Mears, strangely unemo-
tional. kept his light fixed on the
oddly assorted couple.
Talk. please talki" The girl
pleaded in fearful earnestness.
'Don't die, for Gods sake. don't
diea Who shot you---was II Colby?
At that moment Captain Bcnct.
VINO apparently had another name
ms well, must have died. for all at
once his body went limp and rolled
sidowisc, untidy bald head coming
ug,ily 10 rest on he fiocr beside
the Mortified girls knee. II seemed
impossible that anybody could turn
80 pale as Geneva Benet and yet
keen their senses.
"You did this" she flung Mt Colby
in jeiky, metallic accents. IL ought
to hnve known-you'd be ono OF
thcml"
you're crazy" Colby said. then
added with acid brutality. Hes
dead, 40 quit acting and gct up
there's n lot TO be done"
The girl raised face blank save
for bitter staring eyes. Colby might
have spoken in Chinese for oil the
effect. =,
"You-you murdered himl" She
shiyered as though suddenly
stripped bare.
"You made a neat job Of getting
me here" raspcd the gaunt figure
in the military tunic. "but now that
/ am here I'm going to run things.
Get up" =,
Geneva Benet stared cmptily at
him, then her eyes wandered
vaguely 70 MeArs just before she
erumpled sidewise.
"She's tainted" Mears grunted.
He also said. "0hl" because he
found he was looking down the bar
rel Of Colby's .S2. AHey. what's the
idea?"
"Drop that gun. PYo~tof"
-Who the devil are you, anyhow =
Mears, towering over the straight
backed ex-soldier. snarled and gath
.r-a. that ~xafs St.rr.tn aa