Evening Star Newspaper, March 22, 1931, Page 79

U Thrilling Mystery and Adventure on a Deserted Schooner. A Story W hich Will Hold You to the Last Word. Now he narrowed his eyes, squinting in the “Hello!” he exclaimed. “There’s no one on “Be gad, I believe you're right,” said the “Get me my glasses, will you, Mr. Loughridge?” Quickly the captain swept the deck of the schooner with the binoculars, bringing them to rest fimally on the high, sloping stern. “Western Star,” he read aloud. “Seattle. No, there’s no one on deck.” He paused, the glasses still leveled, went on quietly. “Not even at the wheel. It’s lashed.” He lowered the glasses. “wWe'd better look into this,” he said. “She seems deserted. Have a boat launched, Mr., Loughridge. We'll board her.” Twenty minutes later Capt. Dunning, First Mate Loughridge and four seamen, including Anse Barkly, an old windjammer bos'n, stood on the deck of the Western Star. The deck was clean and tidy, the schooner's sails full-set for the southeasterly trades, and THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 2, HIP OF DEATH. By John V. Watts. The bos’n was stretched out in the mate’s bunk. Mad, black rage surged through Lough- bridge’s brain. 'Immm.mmm.mmu. Below, the ship was as tidy as on deck, “I will, sir,” the mate answered promptly. “Fine. Then I'll give you a man to share the wheel with you.” Dunning glanced around at the seamen. “I'd lke it, sir, if ye don’t mind.” It was old Barkly speaking, from the wheel. “It feels good,” he continued, apologetically, “to get the spokes of a windjammer between me fingers again, sir.” The captain glanced at the mate and received an agreeing nod. “Very well, then,” he said; “that's settled. You should fetch Honolulu in five days if this trade holds up.” He extended a huge, gnarled hand to Loughridgé. “The best of luck, son,” he said warmly. An_hour later the Coldwater, dropping off swiftly to the south, was but a formiess bulk on the horizon. At 8 o'clock there was only a smudge of smoke, and by 10 even this friendly token had been erased by the fast increasing miles. The Western Star rushed along beneath a windy, restless sky. ‘The first night passed without incident. The along at a good 12 knots. The mate and old Anse divided the hours into alternate eight-hour watches at the wheel. The second day. too, passed without incident. But at midnight Barkley, relieving his superior at the wheel, spoke in a troubled voice. “There’s downright queer going om 1931, Mustrated by Paul Kroesen. below, sir,” he began. “Something ye'd better know.” “What is it?” said the mate. “It’s just this, sir—there's some one else on this ship besides we two.” mate became serious. “Well, who is ®? Have you seen him?” “No, sir. That I have not” In the bin- nacle light the old seaman’s face was strained, “It was this way, sir. At 6 bells I turned in for a short nap below. About an hour ago I swoke, feelin’ warm. There was somebody in the cabin with me. “K was pitch dark, sir, an’ I couldn’t see him. I could just sorta feel him there, sir— lookin’ at me. I got up quick on my elbow an’ e" Hi it ) “I didn't think much about it, sir, at the ° time. And food's been disappearin’ from the. galley. “How do you know?" “I got two loaves of bread, sir, out of the store last night. We had one at mess. This “I took it,” he said gruffly. “I was hungry “The bread, the door closing, all that other stuff. Forget it.” The mate grinned, for he was young, glanced at the sky and became busi- nesslike. . “The wind's stiffening up a bit,” he “Keep an eye on that mains’l and if it DAWN was just breaking. The wind was where he had left it—south by southeast— and it had neither increased nor decreased in force. The sea was a smoky, tumbled mass, wmthemylky. There would be no sun y. of grog to quiet me nerves? I found the stores.” “Go ahead, but be careful below,” “I had a run-in with your night prowl just before daybreak. Now mind yourself we'll set a trap tonight and catch him." But the trap was never set. when the mate, tired from a with the surging, sweeping old Anse’s absence, lashed ing went animal in him. He turned; , his fingers curled like claws—then suddenly froze in his tracks. The Thing was standing in the door, regards