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“CONTRABAND”
By RANDALL PARRISH North Atlantic
Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co.
“THE BEST SEA STORY IN TEN YEARS”
In quoting that statement made by one of the most widely known
book reviewers in the country about “Contraband,” we can best intro
duce this new serial to our readers. Certainly it is a tale for men
and women whose arteries carry red blood. It is as full of adventure
as an airplane battle over the trenches in northern France. Its romance
is as beautiful as a night in midsummer when the moon is round, the
mist silvery and the air laden with the odor of honeysuckle. Too,
in “Contraband” you will get a plot composed of strong lines and char
acterization as vivid as human beings can be. We need say no
more. Just read on— The Editor.
CHAPTER I.
-1-
A Yacht Party.
So many items bearing upon those >
strange adventures which have lately (
befallen me have found publication in
the newspapers, oftentimes distorted
and untrue, and resulting in letters of
inquiry from friends, induce me now
to write out the tale while the inci
dents remain fresh in memory. In
deed, I owe the truth not only to my
self but even more to her who so
bravely shared with me those days and
nights of peril.
The earlier passion of my life was
the sea, and, when others of my age
were grinding away through their
courses in college, I was apprenticed
to the merchant service in a fleet
owned by my father, trading between
New York and northern European
ports. Loving the work, and, possibly,
assisted by the fact that I was my
father’s sons, I rose rapidly, until
licensed as captain of steam, and as
signed to command the Vulcan, a
freighter of 3,000 tons. At thirty, how
ever, the novelty and fascination of a
sea life ceased its attraction, and when
my father died sufficient property be
came my share from the estate to en
able my resigning this command, and
retiring permanently from the service.
Circumstances, unnecessary now to re
late, caused me to make permanent
home in Chicago, where I soon became
engrossed in business, finding my sole
recreation in yachting upon the Great
Lakes. Such were the rather com
monplace surroundings of my life,
when, at thirty-seven, adventure sud
denly called me out into the unknown.
Nothing could have been more unex
pected than the occasion which took
me to New York. Carrington—Gerald
Carrington, the Copper King—had just
placed his new steam yacht, the Esme
ralda, in commission, and was eager
to christen it by a run across to the
ports of Spain. He wrote urging me
to become one of the party. The temp
tation was irresistible, for, as I knew
Mrs. Carrington was in Europe, the
guests on board would undoubtedly all
be men, and probably congenial fel
lows. A bachelor myself, the long hours
at sea had left me unaccustomed to
the society of women, whose presence
I avoided whenever possible. Hence,
I accepted Carrington’s invitation im
mediately by wire, hastily packed the
few things necessary for the trip, and,
unaccompanied even by a valet, caught
the Twentieth Century for New York.
Carrington lived on Long Island, and
I talked with him on the phone. There
were to be twelve in the party, the
names of two, who were former ac
quaintances, alone being mentioned in
our brief conversation. The yacht was
lying at Tompkinsville, provisioned,
and ready for the sea. I must be on
board by three o’clock the following
day, and he gave me quite explicit in
structions as to the best mode of reach
ing the vessel.
I An accident to the ferry caused me
to miss the local train which I had an
ticipated taking the next morning, and
I was consequently the last of our
yachting party to arrive at Tompkins
ville. The others were already safely
aboard when I hurried across the gang
plank, to receive the cordial welcome
of Carrington, who immediately or
dered the vessel under way. The
guests must have been gathered on the
upper deck, enjoying the excitement of
departure, for I caught no glimpse of
anyone on board, excepting some mem
bers of the crew, as the steward led
me to the cabin assigned to my use
during the voyage.
Even the brief view I had obtained
of the boat impressed me strongly,
both with its beauty and seagoing
qualities. I was sailor enough to ap
preciate all this at a glance. The
Esmeralda was a steam yacht, schoo
ner rigged aloft, of over fifteen hun
dred tons, constructed for deep-water
cruising, well manned, and aide to com
bat the storms of any ocean.
I opened the door and emerged into
the main cabin. It was deserted, ex
cept for a waiter or two attired in
white jackets who had covered a long
table suspended by stanchions from the
deck beams above, and were spreading
it with snowy linen in preparation for
the six o’clock meal. Never had I
seen a more cozy, homelike interior.
Forward, an open passage, guarded
only by silently swinging doors, led
to the steward’s pantry, and various
storerooms beyond, while beside this
opening a broad, brass-railed stairway
led easily to the upper deck. Sunlight
touched the edge of the companionway,
and flickered down through a half
opened skylight above, yielding cheer
fulness to the scene, yet inviting to the
open air. I would meet those with
whom I was destined to companion on
this voyage across summer seas.
No passengers were visible on the
deck, yet this mystery was soon ex
plained as I stepped to one side and
glanced aft. The cabin projection was
not high, yet sufficiently so to break
the force of the headwind, and besides
was far enough advanced to give ample
deck space at the stern. Here an
awning had been erected, and beneath
its shelter were gathered the vessel’s
guests. I recognized but three in the
group — Carrington, red-faced and
white-haired, a cigar gripped in his
teeth, giving some Instructions to the
steward; Fosdick, tall, slim, thin
lipped. a lawyer well known to cor
porations who desired to keep just
within legal restrictions, sat at a table,
his hand fingering a half-filled glass
while he talked to the men opposite;
and McCann, fat, good-natured, born
to his father’s millions, who amused
himself by the pretense of being a
broker, interrupting the game of cards
in which he was engaged -with three
others, to tell the latest story of the
street. Personally I cared little for
either of these men, yet had known
both, in away, for some time. The
others, judging from the outward ap
pearances, had been recruited from
about the same class —business ac
quaintances of Carrington no doubt. I
went forward, greeting those whom I
knew, and being dulj- presented to the
others.
Whatever they might have been in
a business way, and for that I cared
absolutely nothing, they proved them
selves a most companionable bunch of
fellows to meet.
The memory of that first meal in the
snug after-cabin of the Esmeralda re
mains a most pleasant recollection.
The cabin had been darkened, and the
soft light of a swinging lamp gleamed
back from snowy damask and glitter
ing silver. The center was banked with
flowers, the service was perfection,
and the chef was evidently a genius.
We lingered over the wine and cigars,
the conversation drifting where it
would.
I believe I was among the first to
leave the table and return outside, and
as my inclination was to remain alone
and enjoy the calm of the night, I ven
tured forward along the deserted deck,
until I found fancied security from ob
servation in the shadow of a small
boat. The others, as they emerged
later from the companion, outlined a
moment against the light, turned once
again aft, and resumed their old places.
Nothing occurred to break the mo
notony, and finally, wearying of it all, I
J ll
K 0 ugg
“Anything Going Wrong?” I Asked.
went below, being in no mind to join
at games with the others. I was soon
asleep.
Some dormant sense of seamanship,
aroused to new life, perhaps, by my
brief watch on deck, must have awak
ened me. For I sat up in bed, con
scious that the vessel’s motion had
ceased. All was silent; no jar shook
the keel, no footsteps sounded on the
deck above. I switched on the electric
light, and glanced at my watch; it was
slightly after midnight. Through the
open port nothing Was visible but the
dark waters, and the far-off gleam of
a light, alternating in flashes of white.
I did not know enough of this coast
IRWINTON BULLETIN, IRWINTON, GEORGIA.
line to identify the signal, yet it was
plainly evident we were some distance
from land.
Why the Esmeralda had stopped her
engines was no special concern of mine,
and I lay down again. But sleep would
not return. I tossed and turned, and
finally arising in sheer desperation,
hastily donned my clothes. The after
cabin was deserted, dimly lighted by
one shaded electric globe, beneath
which the brass stair rails shone dully.
I emerged on the deck, gratefully
breathing in the fresh night air. As I
stood there, a man descended the lad
der from the bridge, entered the chart
house and switched on a light. In the
momentary gleam I recognized the face
of the second officer, and when he final
ly came out again, I crossed the deck
so as to Intercept him.
“Anything going wrong, Mr. Seeley?”
I asked. “You have stopped the en
gines.”
He stared at me through the dark,
blinded still perhaps by the glare of
the chartroora, and unable to recog
nize my strange voice. Yet he was a
yachtsman, trained above all to cour
tesy.
“Nothing serious, sir,” he announced,
civilly enough. “The engines are new,
and not well adjusted yet; a bit of
shaft went wrong, and has to be re
paired.”
He turned away, but at that instant
my eyes caught the flashing of a bea
con away off to the southeast.
“What light is that out yonder, Mr.
Seeley? We must be well beyond Ea
’ton?”
He glanced in the direction indi
cated.
“Those white flashes? That is Old
field point, sir. Are you acquainted
with these waters?”
“Not intimately, although I retain
some memory of the charts. I saw
merchants’ service on the old Atlas
line.”
“A fine line that,” he acknowledged
। heartily. “I made my first voyage, as
1 cabin boy, on the Mohawk. You are
; Mr. Hollis, I presume, sir. I overheard
Mr. Carrington tell Captain Turner yon
were to be one of the party aboard.
Well, good night, sir; I must make
certain the watch is awake.”
He touched his cap courteously, and
disappeared beneath the shadow’ of the
bridge, leaving me again alone, unde
cided whether to return below, or en
deavor to walk off my sleeplessness.
I scarcely know what idle curiosity led
me to stroll along the narrow deck
space, around the cabin to the loung
ing place at the stern. I stopped sud
denly in surprise, staring across at the
opposite rail, questioning the evidence
of my own eyes. There, clearly out
lined in the star glimmer, was plainly
revealed the figure of a woman. Some
instinct of fear, or, perchance, a slight
sound of approach, must have apprised
her of my near presence, for she turned
instantly toward me, bending slightly
forward, her face visible in the shad
ow; and then, before I could either
move or speak, she fled along the port
rail, vanishing immediately behind the
protection of the cabin. I felt sure
that her parted lips had uttered a
quick exclamation, and her startled ef
fort at escape was sufficient to urge
me to pursue. Who could she be?
Why was she here on board the Esme
ralda? Above all, why should she be
so eager to escape observation?
I ran forward across the deck, and
quickly explored the passage between
: the cabin and rail. It was clearly vis
ible in the bright starlight, but the
■ swiftly fleeing figure had totally van
; ished. I reached the steps of the com
panion, and gazed down through the
glass doors. The light below revealed
nothing, the cabin remained quiet and
deserted. Not a shadow rewarded my
search, either on the open deck, or be
low. Yet surely this was no dream,
no hallucination, no mere vision of the
night. The woman had actually been
there; I had seen her plainly enough;
had even heard the echo of her voice.
There was then a woman on board—
a woman who sought to hide from ob
servation; who ventured on deck only
when she thought it entirely deserted,
and who fled in fright from discovery.
I even felt a vague impression of her
personality—she was young, slender of
I form, dressed in some shimmering
gray stuff, a light, fluffy scarf conceal
ing her hair.
There was nothing more to do then,
although I prowled about for some
time peering into dark corners, and
turning the matter over and over in
my mind. It must have been nearly
daybreak before I fell asleep again in
my own stateroom, nor did I awaken
until the steward announced the last
breakfast call, by a vigorous rapping
on my door.
Carrington was seated alone at the
table when I entered the cabin, linger
ing over his coffee, and he remained to
keep me company, seemingly in a gen
ial mood in spite of the delay.
He lit a cigar, and leaned comfort
ably back in his chair, looking amiably
across at me through the bluer haze of
smoke.
“Rather nice bunch of fellows for a
cruise, don’t you think?”
"Quite so, although I only knew two
I previously.”
• "Yes—Fosdick and McCann. The
others are either bankers or brokers;
fellows I meet every day or so in my
business, you know. You have never
done much in stocks?”
I shook my head.
“My business education was in an
entirely different school,” I said qui
etly, ignoring his lead. “My father
never speculated.”
“I know his feelings on that subject,”
and Carrington chuckled, as though at
a pleasant memory. “I never advocate
speculation myself, but have never
shown any qualms of conscience
against betting on a sure thing. Per
haps we can discuss this later —before
our voyage ends.”
“This, then, is more of a business
than a pleasure trip, sir?”.
He laughed, watching the smoke
rings rise lazily in the air.
“Well, hardly that, my boy. My hos
pitality is not to be so strictly limited,
ram Q
—
W Mb
He Lit a Cigar and Leaned Comfort
ably Back in His Chair.
However, no doubt, we shall discuss
some matters of business importance
before our return. By the way, you
have some idle money, I hear?”
"Not a large sum at present, al
though it is true I control some capi
tal.”
Carrington pushed back his chair
and arose to his feet.
“That is of no immediate impor
tance,” he said carelessly. “But in my
judgment, we are not far away from a
great opportunity in finance, when it
will pay well to be on the inside. It
may interest you to know that a cop
per pool is being organized.”
“I suspected as much; you have some
news?”
“Exceedingly important news. Lis
ten, Hollis, this is strictly confidential
and worth your thinking it over. Only
two men on board know the truth.
There will be war in Europe—the big
gest war ever known in history—within
a month. Do you realize what that
will mean, for instance, to copper?”
“I can imagine, sir. But if we are
on the verge of such a sudden rise in
market value, why do you leave New
York for a long voyage?”
Carrington smiled, stroking his gray
mustache.
“A natural question, perhaps coming
from one not acquainted with my
methods,” he answered good-humored
ly. “Because I prefer to be thought
out of it. Everybody on the street
is aware that I am at sea. I thus
escape being interviewed, importuned
for information. I am unsuspected of
being where I can manipulate the mar
ket. The Esmeralda is equipped with
a powerful wireless outfit, and we have
on board the most expert operator
to be procured in New York. I shall
be in direct communication with my
office every hour of the day and night.
Tomorrow, once safely beyond Point
Judith, I shall explain my plan; mean
while, Hollis, think it over.”
He turned toward the stairs, but I
stopped him, more deeply interested in
something else than in his rather vague
financial scheme. The girl on board;
was it possible she could have any con
nection with this affair?
“By the way,” I spoke with an as
sumption of carelessness, “Mrs. Car
rington, I understand, is at present in
Europe?”
“Yes, in Switzerland; I have cabled
her that she had better return as far
as London at once.”
“You seem very confident as to the
truth of your advices.”
“I am; I know the men who have
reported to me.”
“I see; and consequently there are
no women on board?"
“Women?” He made a swift, expres
sive gesture. “Certainly not. I wrote
you to that effect, I believe; at least
I so instructed my secretary. This
voyage is primarily a business affair.
Why should you ask that question,
Hollis? You have met all my guests.”
I hesitated, yet determined to put
him fully to the test. If he knew, ei
ther his face or manner would betray
him. irrespective of his words.
“I imagined I saw a woman on the
deck last night, when I ventured out
to learn why the engine had stopped.
No doubt it was an Illusion.”
“It surely must have been,” his voice
evidencing surprise, “for I give you my
word there is not a woman on this
yacht. What, to your mind, did the
creature look like?”
“Nothing at all definite, a mere out
line in the gleam of the stars. It may
have been an odd combination of
shadow, but, at the time, I felt con
vinced the vision was actually flesh
and blood.”
Carrington laughed heartily.
“Dismiss it, my boy,” he said, his
hand gripping the brass rail. “We
may indeed have ghost women on
board, but no flesh and blood ones.
Better join us on deck, and let the sun
and wind clear your brain —perhaps
the champagne caused the mischief?"
“Hardly,” I answered, adopting his
mood, “as I did not touch any. How
ever, I will join you presently.”
I watched him disappear through the
companion, stirring my coffee noncha
lantly enough. Yet I w 7 as not satisfied;
Carrington did not know, possessed no
suspicion; nevertheless I remained
convinced there was a woman on
board the Esmeralda.
CHAPTER 11.
I Meet the Mystery.
Before the evening meal had ended—
the- party still lingering in the cozy
quarters below over theb' coffee and
cigars—the yacht once again got under
way, and steamed slowly eastward down
the Sound. It was already dusk when
we returned to the deck and resumed
card playing beneath the awning, elec
tric lights sparkling overhead. I never
recall a softer, sweeter air. The men
behind me were again discussing the
war news, but their voices scarcely
reached my ears. Once I leaned for
ward, observing the red and green
lights of an approaching steamer, as
our siren spoke, but was altogether too
negligent to cross the deck and watch
the stranger pass by.
The fact was I could not banish en
tirely from mind the recollection of
that woman whom I had seen in this
very spot the night before. I had ac
tually seen her —i.t was no vision, no
dream. No doubt Carrington had faith
in what he said, and possessed no sus
picion whatever of her presence on the
yacht. But she was here nevertheless
—why, how, for what purpose, by
whose help I could not conjecture—but
that she actually existed and was hid
den somewhere aboard, I had not the
slightest doubt, and I must solve the
mystery alone.
But how could I prove the vision
true? how establish, at least to my
own satisfaction, her identity, and. pur
pose? I thought it all over again and
again. If Carrington was unaware of
her presence—and of this I really no
longer felt any doubt —then she must
have slipped aboard unseen, or, per
chance, aided and abetted by one of the
crew. Somewhere below, where discov
ery was not probable except through
accident, she was kept in hiding. Yet
to accomplish this she would need as
sistance. She must have had aid in
getting aboard unseen; someone who
knew of a vacant cabin, and who could
supply her with food. Only an offi
cer could hope to do this without
arousing suspicion. Except for the en
gineer, Gault, whom I had not seen,
but who was hardly in a situation to
render such service, there were three
who might be accomplices—the cap
tain, Turner, and the first and second
officers —Hatch and Seeley. I dismissed
all thought of the first two almost in
stantly. Turner was an old sea-dog, a
former naval officer, unapproachable,
and an extremely strict disciplinarian;
while Hatch was a tall, lank, slow
spoken individual, never guilty of the
slightest civility to anyone. Neither
of these would ever aid and abet a
woman under any conceivable circum
stances.
Os the second officer, Seeley, I re
membered Carrington had mentioned
the fact that he had been in his em
ploy for over ten years. He was the
one most likely to listen to the plea of
a woman, and to be deceived by her;
and besides, as I suddenly recalled, it
was during his watch on the bridge
that the girl had ventured on deck
seeking the fresh night air.
What is your guess about the
girl? Do you suppose she is a
spy for some foreign govern
ment who wants to get to Eu
rope in a manner less public
than the regular steamship lines
offer?
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
More Appropriate.
"Your hired man, out there under the
tree, is a most picturesque figure," said
the stranger with the flowing necktie.
“I should like to paint him; and—”
“Sartin I” replied honest Farmer
Bentover. "Paint him all ye want to.
But it would do him more good to sand
paper him. He is petrified.”—Kansas
City Star.
AN OPERATION
AVERTED
Philadelphia, Pa.—“ One year ago 1
was very tick and I suffered with pains
rin my side and hack
until I nearly went
crazy. I went to
differentdoctors and
they all said I had
female trouble and
would not get any
relief until I would
be operated on. I
had suffered for four 1
| years before tins
I time, but I keptget-
U ting worse the more
medicine I took. Every month since I
was a young girl I had suffered with
cramps in my sides at periods and was
never regular. I saw your advertise
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of a woman who had been saved from
an operation and this picture was im
pressed on my mind. The doctor had
given me only two more days to make
up my mind so I sent my husband to the
drug store at once for a bottle of Lydia
E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, and
believe me, I soon noticed a change and
when I had finished the third bottle I
was cured and never felt better.’’ I grant
you the privilege to publish my letter
and am only too glad to let other women
know of my cure. ” —Mrs.THOS. McGon-
IGAL*3432 Hartville Street, Phila., Pa.
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W. N. U,, ATLANTA, NO. 43-1917,
Activity of Russian Women.
As Russia was the first country
where women were given control over
their inherited property, and as Petro
grad has had for some years the larg
est medical college for women in Eu
rope, it is not strange that women
have taken such an active part In the
military campaigns. In all the revolu
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haps, to the government, than the
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of the women amazons are revolution
ists and that their military experience
was sought for the opportunity It gave
them to spread their doctrine,
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The flower which we do not pluck
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