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“CONTRABAND”
By RANDALL PARRISH
A War Sea Story Abounding in Adventure
and High Romance
Copyright A. C. McClurg & Co.
CHAPTER XXll.—Continued. I
—ls—
— know not what time passed as I
held her in my arms, and whispered
those words repressed so long. Almost
had I forgotten where we were, the na
ture of our Surroundings, the fate
which threatened us. I could remem
ber only her, the velvety touch of her
flesh, the welcoming light of love in
her eyes. I know not what we talked
about, conscious only of the joy of
being alone together, with every bar
rier between us swept away forever.
The sunshine poured In through the
open port, touching her hair with
threads of golden light, and leaving
a bar of brilliance across the state
room deck.
Yet I imagine the respite was not
long. There came a sharp rap upon
the wood of the door, bringing us In
stantly back to a realization of our po
sition. Her arms released me, and I
arose to my feet.
“What Is wanted?”
“It’s a few minutes till noon, sir,"
said a voice I failed to recognize. “And
I’m to tell you to come on deck.”
“Quite right, my man, I’ll be there
at once. Stand by to carry the instru
ments.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
There was a certain cheerfulness
and respect in the voice, which con
vinced me that the fellow was not
among the ringleaders, but the hope
■of making him an adherent to our
cause vanished when I opened the
■door, and recognized Dade. The man
was too weak, too much of a jellyfish,
to render his friendship of any particu
lar value. Besides Dugan was also in
the cabin, leaning idly against the
stair-rail, but quite as evidently on
guard. I nodded to him, but he only
condescended to stare in return, and
the look in his eyes convinced me that
he had not yet forgiven the rough
treatment accorded him a few hours
before. The memory made me smile.
“I’ve seen you when you looked hap
pier, Dugan,” I said carelessly, “but I
imagine you have nothing on Jim
White.”
“To h—l with yer,” he growled sav
agely. “If I had my way ye’d have no
tongue left to get smart with. Get
along now after yer things.”
Dade followed me into thfe captain’s
stateroom. He was obedient enough,
but reluctant to talk, no doubt afraid
■of being overheard by Dugan.
The conspirators were grouped on
the after deck waiting my arrival, and
I followed Dade up the ladder, deter
mined they should perceive no change
in my demeanor, which might awaken
suspicion. McCann’s manner was far
from cordial as I approached, but I
thought it best to ignore his churlish
ness.
“You were long enough coming; per
haps you still think yourself in com
mand?” he said savagely.
“That would indeed be a stretch of
the imagination,” I replied, holding my
temper, and motioning Dade where to
place the sextant. “However, Ido not
think I have wasted my time—it is still
two minutes of twelve.”
He growled something, but I busied
myself with the observation, only anx
ious to make it accurate enough for
my own use. Whatever figures I re
ported, it was absolutely necessary
that I know myself the exact position
of the ship. Nor did I dare to juggle
them greatly In my report, for while
McCann was far from being an expert
navigator, he yet possessed a smatter
ing of knowledge, which rendered him
dangerous, and he was very sure to
check up my figures with every care
possible. However, I fooled him by a
point or two, sufficient for my purpose,
and wrote down the result on the back
of an old envelope, while stowing away
the correct figures in my own brain.
Although the air was balmy enough,
the wind from the southwest almost
directly in our teeth, yet there was a
look of the north about both sea and
sky, which would have convinced me
that we were approaching higher lati
tudes without the aid of my observa
tion. Without being able to explain
the phenomenon the seaman instinc
tively recognizes northern waters.
Now, as my eyes swept the wide circle
of the horizon, vainly seeking the
gleam of some distant sail, the heav
ing expanse of water, the overarching
sky were almost alike In color —a
cold, repellent blue, misting into gray
afar off, as though particles of fog
Ailed the atmosphere. Indeed it was
this which interested me the most, this
vague evidence of floating vapor, for
I knew enough of these seas to sus
pect that this might prove the fore
runner of storm, already preparing to
sweep down upon us out of the more
northern mystery. Others must have
noted the evidence also, for Liverpool
crossed the deck to where I-stood, leav
ing McCann with the chart in his
hands.
“What do yer think o’ that sorter
mist out yonder?” he asked, indicating
the distance by a sweep of the hands,
and striving to make his gruff voice
sound friendly.'
“It may mean nothing,” I answered
civilly enough. “I have never sailed
these waters, but my guess would be
that there is a storm brewing to the
I north of us. What does the barome
| ter say?"
“A slight drop in the last two hours;
I nothin’ much yet, but it don’t look
good to me.”
McCann joined us, the chart still
half open.
“There seems to be plenty of har
bors along this Newfoundland coast
line,” he said. “Do you know what
they are like?"
“Only what the map says. The
whole coast Is rugged and rocky, dan
gerous for any vessel larger than a
fishing schooner. There are govern
ment mail boats calling at those
smaller towns during the summer
months.”
“How far are we to the north of
St. Johns?”
“Two hundred and fifty miles, ap
proximately.”
“Which makes us about due east
of this White bay indicated here?”
“Yes; but there is not even the name
of a town given; all that country is
wilderness, I take it. Why do you ask?
I thought you had decided on St.
Johns?”
“So we have,” in no pleasant tone,
and crumpling up the chart in both
hands, “but I thought if there was a
more quiet port to the north it might
be safer. There are apt to be war
ships at St. Johns. However, we will
keep to that course." He turned to
Liverpool.
“Where’s White?”
“Forward somewhere.”
“Have him come aft, and take the
deck; It’s time for dinner."
I shall never forget that meal—not
the first, but the last time we were all
together about the table in the after
cabin. Not that anything occurred of
special interest to this story, but I
doubt if ever a stranger company, un
der stranger circumstances, was ever
gathered together, even at sea. Mc-
Cann rapped at Miss Carrington’s
door, and she received his invitation
to join us with a graciousness of man
ner which must have surprised the
man.
Liverpool, who sat at the lower end,
his uncombed red thatch more conspic
uous than ever, appeared decidedly
ill at ease, but his presence failed to
embarrass the rest of us, or interfere
with the game. Dade, at McCann’s
orders, helped Philip Bascom from his
cabin, and found him a place at Miss
Carrington’s left, directly opposite the
New Yorker, the two men greeting
each other with a stiff bow. I had not
seen Bascom for some days, and could
not help being impressed with his ap
pearance of illness, his face having a
positively ghastly look. Yet he seemed
equal to the occasion, entering into
conversation with the lady, and even
occasionally addressing a remark to
McCann, who replied in assumed good
humor. Wine was served, although
previously I had no knowledge of any
being on board, and the party devel
oped into a rather pleasant occasion.
The girl played her part well, and
I could read Bascom’s bewilderment
as he endeavored to join with them in
the same spirit. To relieve his em
barrassment, I managed to keep up a
desultory conversation with him, al
though my thoughts were busy enough
elsewhere, endeavoring to figure out
the meaning of all this byplay. It was
a decided relief when the party finally
broke up, and McCann conducted the
lady back to her stateroom, pausing
for a final farewell at the door.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Depth of Despair.
McCann’s manner changed instantly
with the closing of the door, although
he indulged in no remark, except to
order Liverpool to take charge of the
deck, and permit White to take his
place at the table. He passed me by
without a word or glance, and dis
appeared into his own stateroom, the
farther one aft to starboard. I waited
until Dade had assisted Bascom to re
tire, and then sought my own berth
to think the whole affair over. Bas
com’s appearance shocked me, and I
felt there was a death look In his face,
but our own perilous position kept my
mind from dwelling long on this theme.
There was little —nothing, in sact —
that I could do. I must be content to
leave Vera to evolve some means for
the final overthrow of these men who
held us prisoners. Dubois remained
in the cabin on guard, probably with
instructions to prevent my holding any
private interviews, and the only assist
ance I could give lay in the juggling
of figures, in which 1 could not be too
cautious.
The main doubt assailing me had
come from a dim suspicion aroused on
the deck by McCann’s questioning, and
a sly glance exchanged between him
and Liverpool. Were the fellows really
contemplating making a landing else
where on the Newfoundland coast, in
stead of at St. Johns? This was not
impossible, and the fact that it would
take us thoroughly by surprise would
appeal to the conspirators. Yet I dis
covered absolutely nothing on which to
base such an assumption. McCann was
evidently in no haste to reach the lati
tude of St. John’s, and take to the
boats, for the Indian Chief was pro
ceeding with greatly reduced speed,
IRWINTON BULLETIN, IRWINTON, GEORGIA.
• and, as the afternoon wore slowly
away, it seemed to me we were scarce
; ly moving, the reverberation of the
: screw being barely perceptible. To as
sure myself that the course I had
. mapped out was still being adhered to,
I ventured into the cabin for a glance
■ at the telltale compass. We were
: headed to the west of south.
The man Simms was on guard, lolling
against the butt of the mizzen mast,
i with no one else visible. To test his
■ orders, I turned toward the closed door
of Miss Carrington’s stateroom. In
■ stantly he was on his feet to interfere.
“You are not to do that, sir.”
“Not to do what?”
“Speak alone with the lady; those
' were my orders.”
I raised my voice in remonstrance,
but had scarcely uttered a word, when
McCann emerged from his stateroom,
: leaving the door ajar, and crossed the
deck to face me.
1 “What is the trouble here, Simms?"
1 he asked, the harshness of his tone dif
' sering greatly from the pleasant con
versation at dinner.
“Mr. Hollis was going to rap on the
■ lady’s door, sir.”
1 “Oh, he was, hey! Well, now see
■ here, Hollis, you understood that you
• were to have no communication with
any prisoners aboard, didn’t you?”
“I was not aware that Miss Car
' rington was considered a prisoner.”
“Well, whether she is or not, she is
no longer to be bothered with your at
tentions," with no attempt to control
! his temper. “I consider that you have
broken your word. You will go back to
: your stateroom, and stay there.”
“Supposing I refuse?”
He grinned, exposing his teeth like a
' great cat.
“I wouldn't advise you to try that,”
' he sneered, “for there Is crew enough
on deck to man-handle you to a finish.
' You can go In quietly, or I’ll call them
1 down, and have you thrown in. So
1 take your choice.”
I looked at the two of them, eager
! enough myself to make it a fight. Yet
what was the use? Any excuse en
> abling him to confine me more closely
■ would evidently be to his advantage.
’ I conquered myself, and hands
• clinched, crossed the deck space, and
i entered my stateroom, closing the door,
i I heard McCann laugh, and say some
i thing to Simms; then I knew he crossed
i the cabin, and went up the stairs. To
t better control myself I thrust my face
; out through the open port, breathing in
: the salty freshness of the air.
I Suddenly I became aware that others
■ had entered the main cabin. There was
. no sound of voices; nothing to tell me
I the purpose of this invasion, yet I felt
। certain that, at least, a dozen men had
i descended the steps from the compan
। ion. I stood erect listening; there was
I fumbling at my door. Had McCann
i changed his mind? Were they about to
■ attack me in force? Revolver in hand
■ I took a step forward, half-ready to
. welcome any open hostility.
I “The first sea rat to open that door,”
I called, “will get what’s coming to
t him.”
There was a mocking laugh in an
swer, in which more than one voice
. joined; then White growled reply:
“No one is a* cornin’ in, mister; an'
: damn me, if you're goln' ter get out.”
. I grasped the knob, throwing my
. whole weight against the wood. It
- . -
“You Are Not to Do That, Sir.”
yielded scarcely half an inch, just
enough to reveal a stout bar. This
time I was a prisoner beyond doubt;
they had left me no loophole of escape.
But why? What had I done to warrant
them in breaking their pledge? Could
it be that McCann had no further use
for me? no desire for another observa
tion? If this was true, then it must be
the men proposed deserting the ship
that very night, and taking a chance at
getting ashore in one of those northern
bays. And they had nailed me in to
die like a rat in this hole, when the
Indian Chief went down.
For the instant, as this fear gripped
me, I was dased and incapable of
.thought; helpless to even clearly com
prehend the full horror. Ido not be-
Jieve it was my awn situation which
so completely unmanned me, but the
remembrance of Vera. What would
become of her? She would be alone in
McCann's power without a human be
ing to whom she could appeal. She
would be forced into the boat despite
her struggles, laughed at, and mocked.
She might even be compelled to wit
ness the slow sinking of the ship carry
ing us down into the depths. And then
—what? The vision I conjured up was
agony, and I sank back upon the stool,
my face buried in my hands.
It is not even yet clear In my mind
how the remaining hours of that after
noon passed. I was conscious only of
a mad, impotent rage. Wild schemes
flashed through my brain, only to fall
of execution. There could be only one
reason for McCann’s action —desertion
of the ship, that same night. If the
mutineers were really, as pretended,
intending to land their boats in the
harbor of St. John’s, they would re
quire my services for at least another
day yet. No one else on board could
place the vessel at the point desig
nated. Their actions, however, plainly
evidenced that I was no longer needed,
and that their plans had been changed.
Indeed no one held communication
with me all that afternoon; occasion
ally I overheard movements In the
cabin, but could scarcely peer through
my door, and was unable to ascertain
who were present, while the few words
distinguished brought me no specific
information. That some movement of
secret importance was going on aboard
seemed more than probable. I became
Impressed with the conviction that food
supplies were being conveyed from the
lazarette to the boats and stowed away.
Supper was served early in the
cabin, but was evidently more of a
lunch than a meal, no attempt being
made at formality. McCann, Liverpool
and Miss Carrington were at the table
together, but, while I could differenti
ate their voices, conversation was car
ried on in such low tones, I could
make little of it. When they left the
table Vera went to the piano, and
played and sang all the time White
was eating. My little peekhole gave
me a glimpse of McCann, leaning
against the mizzen mast, his eyes upon
her. No offer of'food was made me,
nor did I see, or hear Bascom; if he
ate at all it must have been in his own
stateroom. Finally the music ceased,
the two exchanging a few apparently
friendly words, before the girl excused
herself, and returned to her room.
I sat down to think again—hopeless,
my mind on the same treadmill. What
could I do? What effort of mine was
possible" There was no means by
which I could escape from the state
room ; I was like a rat in a trap, and
McCann intended to leave me there to
drown. Within an hour, perhaps; cer
tainly before midnight, those devils
would desert the ship, and take to the
boats. Already I was practically
dead; certainly as helpless to prevent
the consummation of this villainous
plan as though fathoms beneath the
sea. How deathly still it was on
board. Suddenly it occurred to me
that Dade had not even cleared the
table; at least I had heard no rattle of
dishes, or any evidence of work. Such
neglect certainly must mean that Mc-
Cann's plan was known to all aboard
of his own company. I opened the door
again, noiselessly, its scant quarter of
an inch before It was stopped by the
bar, and sought to look out. The space
gave me no view; there was a light
burning, but turned so low as to leave
the cabin in semidarkness. I waited
listening, but no movement told of any
presence. For the fourth time I tried
my knife point on the bar holding me
prisoner. It barely scratched the wood,
for I could not force the handle
through the narrow opening. I might
smash it by shots from my revolver,
but that would leave me unarmed, and
create an alarm which would fill the
cabin with men; besides the severed
ends of the bar would still hold the
door secure.
I straightened up, my heart beating
like a triphammer. Something strange,
unaccountable was occurring in the
cabin. I could make nothing of it; not
even satisfy myself that what I seemed
to hear was an actual reality—yet
there was a sound like a blow, followed
by a barely audible groan, and the
sliding of a body to the deck.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Hand of Fate.
It seemed an age I stood there, bend
ing to the narrow crack, hearing no
further sound, and unable to guess
what had occurred In the semidarkness
of the apparently deserted cabin. I
could distinguish no movement, not
even'the sound of breathing. Then a
soft whisper-spoke almost in my ear,
causing me to start back as though
stabbed by a gun.
“Robert I”
There was agony in the utterance
sufficient to disguise the low voice, yet
I could not doubt the Identity of the
speaker.
“Yes; I am here; what has hap
pened?”
“Oh, don't ask that. I hardly know
myself. It was all impulse, despera
tion. Listen; they are going to desert
the ship Within an hour. McCann told
me. I—l let him believe I would go
with him to save my own life. I—l
didn’t know what to do. All that was
left me was to pray and watch.”
"Yes, dear heajrt—but what hap
pened? you must speak quickly. They
all left the cabin, and went on dack."
“Yes; to provision the boats; they
are lowering the two forward ones
now. I was told to get my own things
ready.”
"No guard was left here below?"
“Only Dade; they knew you could
not possibly get out, and they had no
fear of me because I was so fright
ened."
"And what became of Dade?”
She caught her breath, At •
sob almost inaudible.
“I struck him; dear, there was no
other way. Maybe I killed him, but —
but I never meant to do that. I used
the only weapon I had—an iron leg
from my washstand.”
“Don't worry; it was either his life,
or ours. There is no one else then
belowN’
“Not—not now.”
“Is there any way of loosening this
bar? I cannot even determine how It
is fastened; there were no cleats.”
I could see her outline as she stood
there, feeling with her hands; then
realized that a length of iron was in
serted between the wooden bar and the
jamb of the door; there was a crunch
ing sound, not loud enough to be alarm
ing, and the bar fell, but was caught
before it struck the deck. Instantly I
was in the cabin, and had grasped her
hands still clinging to the leg of the
washstand.
“You brave, dear girl!”
"Oh, don’t, not now!” she pleaded,
drawing back. “What shall we do?”
“What do you know?” I asked. “Tell
me as quick as you can.”
“They are lowering the boats. He
will be back for me In a minute.” -
“Yes, I know; but .they mean to
open the sea-cocks first?"
“I was not told; no one has come
down this way.”
“Whoever is given that job would
use the mainhatch, or the ladder to the
engine room. You do not know if all
the crew are on deck?”
“The man White yelled down the lad
der to somebody, whom he called Tony,
to use only the one screw—do you
know a man by that name?”
"Aye, Tony Rappello, the head fire
man ; he could keep the machinery go-
Dade Was Unconscious but Not Dead
ing. Now one thing more—where havt
they confined Leayord and Olson?”
“I haven’t dared ask," she admitted
“I did not suppose they would leave
the ship tonight, and thought I might
find some way to discover this for my
self.”
"You have no hint?"
“Only that the boy Moon carried
food forward from the table while I
was at the piano.”
“Forward? on deck?"
“No; down the passage amidship.”
“Good; that is what I supposed, and
it gives us a far better opportunity to
reach the men than if they were being
held in the forecastle. They are in the
petty officers’ quarters, no doubt. Now.,
listen, dear. McCann may come for
you at any moment. You must go back
to your stateroom, so that he will not
suspect. Leave the rest to me, but de
lay him in every way possible.”
“Am I to go with him?”
"Only as a last resort. If I can re
lease Leayord and Olson in time to act
we’ll back the game. This probably
depends on how long you can keep Me
Cann on board.”
“He must not suspect your escape.’
“No; I'll attend to that.” I caughi
her in my arms, and kissed her, feel
ing her arms twine about my neck
“You must go now, dear. You trust
me?”
“With all my heart.”
She crossed swiftly to her state
room, stepped within, and partially
closed the door, yet. I felt, stood there,
watching my every movement. There
was no longer hesitancy on my part;
our lives hung on the next few min
utes, and I had already determined
what I must do, and how. Action, the
chance to fight, inspired me; I was no
longer a caged rat. but a man able to
cope with these villains face to face.
The first thing to be done was to clear
the cabin, so that anyone entering it
would have no suspicion aroused. Time,
time in which to work, was my one
great need, and this could only be had
while McCann believed me still to be
a helpless prisoner. I caught up the
wooden bar from where It lay on the
deck, closed my stateroom door and,
fitting the nails back Into the old holes,
drove them In tightly with the iron
Vera had used to pry them free.
Dade was unconscious, but not dead.
I only needed to touch his flesh to as
sure me of this fact, yet the fellow
neither stirred, nor groaned, as I
hastily dragged his body into the near
est open doorway. He should have
been bound and gagged, but I could not
waste the moments for that job, and
satisfied myself with closing and lock
ing the door. Then, for an instant, 1
stood, panting for breath, uncertain as
to my next move, taking hasty survey
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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of curtains between its planes.
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WHERE HE DREW THE LINE
Driver of Balky Horse Would Not
Stand for Any Witticisms Di-
rected at Quadruped.
A horse attached to a milk wagon
deliberately tied up Herald square
traffic recently by lying down in the
middle of Sixth avenue and beginning
what threatened to be a day-long sies
ta, muses a New York writer. The
driver went about his arrangements
deliberately. Evidently the horse’s
sleep-walking proclivities were as a
primer to him. The principal ingre
dient of his preparations was a care
fully seletced torrent of language, and
this soon brought an admiring crowd.
But, as always in a crowd, there are
those who know better. ‘Pull his
tail,” advised one. who wouldn’t have
dared do it himself. “Ever try build
ing a fire under him?" suggested an
other. “Make a noise like a carrot,”
said the third wise man. And then
came the blow that shattered the
serenity of the driver. '.Aw, get a
real horse,” sneezed an individual.
Then it was that the driver turned and
lunged savagely about him. By the
time the police arrived to scatter the
crowd the driver already had it in
flight. And to the police he explained
in tierce tones his creed of loyalty:
“Dey can kid me all they wanter,
see? But when dey tries to start some
thin’ about the horse —then I calls ’em.
I won’t stand for no man to kid me
horse. See?”
No Figure of Speech.
“Jaggs told me a new light broke
on him last night.”
“I know it did. His wife smashed
the lamp he had just bought on his
head.”
Don't think because a man is an ex
cellent mathematician that he always
counts with the fair sex.
Some men never appreciate home
until they are miles away from it.
Iw
Iliff 'TYomen
whose sensitive
nerves often yield
to coffee's harmful
stimulation, appre
date the change
resulting from a
ten days' trial of
-INSTANT
PostuM
INSTEAD of COFFEE
Such a delicious
drink makes the
change easy and
better nerves make
it a permanent one.
“There's a Reason
