The evening world. Newspaper, November 9, 1915, Page 17

The Devi nnn Capone OTROrse OF PRE Lis seme Treo oe Ameria Corr) takes camer trom Mt i Biage 0n old New Pegisnins OF0 or Latter Meher 6 Retan temo! Troe ree fare Kiges to sip wee hawle or ot mrstery Frembatim te go beeriiy ormet ty Dowhietey Page @ On) CHAPTER II. The Dead Manin the Passage. Kut Sang was dropping downstream as I locked my stateroom and made my way to the upper deck to get @ Inst look at Manila Ae 1 etood at the rail of the hurri- cane deck Petrak came up from the foredeck and stood at the foot of t ladder leading to the bridge, where | ould hear Capt. Riges pacing to and fro and speaking through the trap to the helmaman about the course. The Hittle red-hended man grinned at me and set to work polishing the knob of the wheelhoure door, and not until that mtnute did I realize that he had come along with us in the Kut Bang. And he I!kewise reminded me at once that it was I who had brought him aboard, I glanced up the companionway to Captain Riggs, and had a mind to go and speak to him about Meeker, but I disliked to invade the bridge, @acred territory at sea. He was standing just at the head of the lad. der then, and could see me. “Would you mind the pesetu, sir?” asked Petrak. «J remembered that he had brought my bag aboard, and, finding a peso in my pocket—five times what he had asked for—I gave him the coin. “Here,” I said; “take this, and keep out of my reach, I've seen quite enough of you for a time.” “Please don't tip my crew,” Captain Riggs called down to me in a pleas- ant manner. “The steward's depart- ment must attend to the passengers, for we are short-handed on deck, and I can't have the men running er- rands. “It's for services rendered,” I told Riggs, and he nodded as if satisfied with my explanation, and turned away to the other end of the bridge. Impuisively I started up the Indder, determined at least to tell him what I suspected of Meeker and let him judge for himself, or be on his guard against the old impostor, whether he liked my tale-bearing or not. As I put my hand out to take the ladder- ward, Petrak thrust himself before me and barred the way. “Can't go on tho against orders,” he said. One of the men who had brought Meeker’s organ aboard had the wheel, a jong, lanky cockney he was, from what I could see of him through the window of the pilot house, We were well clear of the ships at anchor outside the breakwater when four bells—six o’clock—struck, and Harris came up and went on the bridge, passing without apparently seeing me. He growled something to Petrak, and the red-headed man went toward the forecastle. “Mme for Rajah to have the bell go- ing.” said Riggs as he descended to the hurricane-deck and greeted me affably. “What do you say to going below and seeing what's on the table?” We found Trego at table. He looked up, and made no attempt to conceal his surprise at seeing Mecker, who had come down with us. “Ah! Mr, Trenholm,” he said to me, and we shook hands, arfd the Malay boy gave me the seat opposite him, “Mr. Trego—allow me—the Reverend Meeker,” said Riggs. “Bo you and Mr, Trenholm have met before?” said Meeker, evidently aston- ished because Trego spoke to me with- out an introduction. “Old friends,” and I winked at Trego, to the further mystification of the pseudo-missionary, who took the seat beside me. Captain Riggs took the head of the table, so that he was be- tween Trego and me. “And this is Rajah, the mess-boy,” said Riggs, indicating the black Ma- lay lad who stood behind him, clad in a white jacket with brass buttons, below which he wore a scarlet sarong reaching to his bare feet, and evl- dently fashioned from an old table- cover. The hilt of a kris (Malay dag- ger) showed above the folds of his sarong, and the two lower buttons of the jacket were left open, so that the dagger might be free to his hand, He grinned and showed his teeth, “Dumb as a dog-fish, but can hear lke a terrier,” aid Higgs. “bricked him up in the streets of Singapore, where he was sort of an assistant magician, He's quick with that knife, gentlemen.” bridge, sir; The captain was obviously proud of ! his queer bodyguard and servant, “It is a pity that he should be al- lowed to carry a fearsome weapon, which is a menace to his fellowmer aid Meeker, shrinking away from the boy. “I believe he would slay a hu- man over a trifle.” “Absolutely harmless unless he has | some reason for anger,” laughed Riggs, somewhat amused at the nervousness of Meeker, “Has to pack that cheese- tenife—Chinks pick on him if he don't. ee The Tale of an American's St Adventures Aboard & Treasure Ship Ferdinand the Evenin Give bim @ wide berth, though, when they me thet Dlade Quick with a” "De you carry deadly w . Mr Trem hed Mecker = “iho you) epprove of the bearing of armet” aud, 1 always have & weapon at ! replied seriously “One ne tell when it wil be needed in thie country, and I believe in always ve-| in, ready for an emergency Indeed! And is it possible that! you have @ dageer concealed upon | ur person? | No dagwere; but this ts my right! bower"——tapping the butt of the| Pistol on my right side—"and thie ia} my left bower,” and I tapped my left wide. Mr Trego burst out laughing at this, much to the discomfture of Meeker, who mlared at him, and edged away from me. “And do you carry such death dealing machinery, Mr. Trego?’ asked Mecker, @ eneer in the auestion. | 0 reached for his malacca cane, n instant he had whipped it apart and presented @ delicate point to- ward Meeker, who recoiled at the suddenness of the unexpected thrust. “With me at all times,” said Trego, when the captain stopped jaughin “And my cabeen—eet ces one beeg arsenal, like you call it in your lan- guage, Yes.” “A pitiable example for the heathen,” said Meeker. “I trust that you are not armed to the teeth, a: the expression goes, captain.” “I don't want to spoil your appe- tite,” sald Riggs, “Of course, Mr. Trego needs those things, as he in”. “A passenger,” said Trego, giving the captain a quick glance. “A passenger,” said Riggs blankly, “To be sure, a passenger.” He changed the subject abruptly by saying: “I signed the two men you brought aboard, Mr. Meeker, “What are their names?" “That I do not know for certain,” replied Meeker. “I believe the chap in the navy pantaloons is known as—Buckrow, and the other, the tall Briton, is called ‘Long Jim,’ or some such name, by his companions. They both appear to be worthy men, and {t made me sad to see them on the beach in Manila for the need of pas- sage to Hong-Konk, or some other place whe they would be more ikely to gt a ship. “That is why I interceded in their behalf, and it is very kind of you, captain, to make It possible for them to better themselves, for {dle men in these ports fall into evil, and It ts best that they should keep to the sea. They were both well spoken of by Mr. Marley, who has charge of the Sal Home. “Two sailors that I see?” Trego asked the capt “Mr. Meeker brought two men aboard with him to carry his gear,” explained Riggs. “They wanted to get out of Manila, and, I was short-handed for Chinks, I let ‘em work thelr passage. They signed with the commissioner, and will get four Hong-Kong dollars for the trip.” ‘Trego frowned as he toyed with bomboo napkin-ring, but said noth- ing. “Your red-headed chap 1, good man at the helm,” said Riggs to me. “He's got the wheel now, and, with the other two, I'll have good quarter- masters, The Chinkers are poor steerers.”” “Meester Trenholm ees breeng aA sailor, too?” demanded Trego, turn- ing his black eyes on me in a manner that I could not understand, “He brought my baggage aboard,” sald I, somewhat annoyed. “He of- fered his services to Captain Riggs, 3 hired, and it is no affair of “The little man with hair of red?” persisted Trego. “Decidedly red.” Knowing, as T did, that he had charge of the ship—a fact which he evidently wished to keep from Meeker and me, judging from his signals to the captain—I understood in a way his interest in the crew, “Pardon, captain,” sald ‘Trego abruptly. “I must go to my cabeen for some cigarettes, Soon I will re- turn, I hope you will be here.” It struck me that his suggestion that Capt. Riggs walt for him was more in the nature of a command than a request Rajah served coffee again, and the three of us fell silent. It was an awkward situation, for we all felt embarrassed—at least I did, as a re- sult of Trego's displeasure over the method of recruiting the crew. w ished that I had left Petrak on the Mecker took an old newspaper from his pocket and unfolded ft on the table carefully. “I think I have something here which will interest you both," he ba- gan, “It concerns—my glasses! Will you pardon me for a minute while I get my glasses from my room? I'll he back presently,” and he bowed himself out I glanced at the passage and won- dered tf T would have time to whisper to Riggs about Meeker before the Ietter urned But just then Meeker came back and closed the bulkhead door behind him, adjusting lin «i! ie Up tho n paper as he took his seat “My dear sirs." he resumed, “T want to read this little article to you and then I'll explain it more fully to you. am sure that you will find It of in- Mr, Trenholm, as a Nterary man and a membor of the press, even ff in no other way, and you, my dear pt. Riges, will be interested be- use it concerns the sea, and you y have some knowledge of the vets, When Twas in Aden four—no, five vears ago It was—T met a most rentloman, Most remark- told me a story that was ‘ange, and” Interrunted by the bulkhead door fiving onen violently and Rajah, with his hands thrown un and terror in his eves, ran toward Capt, Riges, making frantic efforts to frame words with his Ups, w “Sally Ann!” cried Riggs in alarm, jumping up. “What the devil has happened to give the boy such a turn! He's nigh out of his wits!” Capt. Riggs ran to the door and [ followed him with my hand on my pistol, Meeker crowding against my shoulders, In the dim Hght oozing into the passage we made out an in- distinct figure, “What in Sally Ann's name is this?” shouted Riggs, darting out and seizing be T gaa which he pulled toward the eht. It was the body of Mr. Trego, stabbed to the heart, the gailors sheath knife which had killed him Il in his fatal wound, CHAPTER IV. The Red-Headed Man. ENTLEMEN,” sald Rigs, “I may as well tell you that this man is down on the passenger list like yourselves, but at the last minute before we sailed he showed papers as supercargo and an- nounced that he was in charge of the ship, and that he represented the charter party. Tho truth of his state- ments was borne out by a messenger from the owners. He told me that ho would explain {It all joon As We Kot to sea, and now he has been killed. Is it any wonder I am upset about it?" "Tt is passing strange,” said Meeker. “Will you have to turn back to Manila on account of this?" “My last orders to proceed to Hong- Kong at the best speed still stand. The Dutchman, Rajah—the Dutch- man,” and he made @ sign to the Malay boy to call the second mate. The three of us gathered at the ond of the table and steadied ourselves in the minute and waited for the Dutch- man, who soon came clumping down the passage. He nearly stumbled ov +r the body lying just outside the coam- ing of the door, and then stopped and stared at the dead man. “Gott!” he said, and then looked at Riggs questioningly. “Take the bridge and have Mr. fiarris muster the crew—all hands, and look sharp,” said Riggs. “Have every man Jack of ‘em up here, and let us see what they have been about. Have Mr. Harris muster the crew! Hear me? Don't stand there like @ barn-owl! Helieve Mr, Harris, aud have all hands aft He hurried away, and that was the last I ever saw of the second mate of the Kut Sang, Rajah and a Chinese eatlor spread old canvas close to the door inside the saloon, and lifted ‘Trego's body on it. Harris came up the passage and leaned against the door, He had on an old pair of dungaree trousers and a jacket that had been white, and his bare feet were thrust into native heel- Jess slippers, “This 1# a nice mess, ain't it?” he growled, looking coldly at the scene before him, ‘Who let the knife into dim?" ‘ “That's what we want to find out at once,” said Riggs. “Have all hands up here, the watch below and all. Muster them in the passageway, and let them in here one at a time, the white hands first. We've got to get at the bottom of this affair right away, Mr. Harris.” “Like as not somebody'll know the knife, cap'n,” suggested the mate. “That's it, Mr. Harris, Bring ‘em up here with @ sharp turn and no lay- ing back, and you be here so I can find out what every man has been at in the last quarter of an hour~you know what this means.” “A most mysterious affair—most raysterious,” agreed Meeker, shaking his head and fingering bis sbell crucifix. He was interrupted by Harris bawling in the passage, and the Chi- nese stokers swarming up the fire- room ladder, chattering and yelling to their mates below. The news of the murder had spread through the ship and had created @ great tur- moll. The mate thrust a man into the doorway, whom I recognized as one of the men who had brought Meeker's organ on board, “Here's one of the new men, sir,” said Haris, “Baye he bas been for'ard since going off watch. He's next at the wheel, air.” “Now, then,” began Riggs, with Pencil poised, “what's your name in the ship's articles?” “Buckrow, sir,” said the sailor, star- ing at a lamp, and avoiding the figure of Trego almost at his feet, “Now, then, my man, where have you been in the last hour?’ ‘For'ard, turned in, sir,” replied Buckrow, keeping his eyes on the flame of the lamp. “Bee this dead man here?” “Aye, air.” “No, you don't—look at him! you have @ band in this?” “No, sir.” He took a quick glance at the dead man and fastened his eyes on the lamp again, “Know who killed him?” “No, sir, “That’ Dia all for now." Tuesd Harris led forward the tall cockney T had seen at the wheel, He sald his pame was Crannish, and he spelled it for the captain, who examined the crew list to verify him, He said he was known as “Long Jim" by his mates, He did not seem to take the murder as @ sérious matter, but an- ewered Capt, Ri! questions calm- ly, his eyes roving over the interior of the saloon, taking us all in very coolly. Crannish was dismissed and the next was Petrak, He impudently winked at me as he stepped into the light and hitched up hie trousers in a nonchalant manner that was amusing. He had his shoes in his hand and he had evidently dressed tn @ hurry to obey the summons of the mate, “Petrak’s my name, sir, and they make a joke on my head by making me out ‘Dago Red,’ sir, Beeg bos'n “He was relieved at eight bells, sir; has the wheel im the Dutchman watch,” explained Harris, “Where did you go then?” demand- ed the captain, ee right in, sir, after a bit ofa “Where were you at one bell?” put in Harris, giving the captain a sig- nificant look. orard in my bunk, sir.” “You He," drawied Harris coldly. “Ye passed the galley ports a minute or so after one bell was struck. 1 saw ye. ‘Not me, sir; never anything like that, sir, beggin’ ye're pardon.” “Yeu, ye did, and don't ye ite to me,” retorted Harris, “Yo didn't go right for’ard when ye come off watch, 1 heard ye yarnin’ with Buvkrow, or what's his name, just after ye passed the galley. Yer phis showed plain to mo as Cape Cod Light on a clear night.” “Where's your knife?” said Riggs suddenly, leaning forward and py ing at bis belt, “Left in my bunk, sir, Top one, first to port as ye go down—right at the head {t ts, air, in some straw.” Send @ man for {t, Mr, Harris, Is in the sheath, Petrak?” it You ONE OF THE MANY THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO ARE READING THE EVENING WORLD'S Complete Novel Each Week? Hf not, yeu are rebbing yourself of the richest fiction treat ever offered to the readers of a newepapor. The Evening Werld, every week, prints a novel by some famous author, These novels are issued complete in six large daily inetalments. They are selected with a view to euiting the tastes And the tremendous success of the plan has long been of all readers. demonstrated. In The Evening Werld's “COMPLETE NOVEL BACH WEEK” series ie the foremost work of euch “best-seller” authors as R: rt W. Chambers, Here Roberts Rinehart, Rupert Hughes, James Oliver Cur- woed, Morgan Margaret Widdemer, George Rendelph Ches- ter, Louis Joseph Vanes, Edgar Rice Burreughe and meny others of equal eslebrity. “whet up “What tounded « YY * » hot #0 eure of that.” retorted 1 me nfees, Mr Tren that 1 wes somewhat surprised ( you oa f two p ” vet otentt that y ought on rd with you. You The Vittle rat hee heen bout Manila all day! t 1 was to be rid of } nti took him as @ member of the Ten pound I was to get for a killin’ of that chap the “That's what sliver " ay, They'll hang they'll hang me!" As I tarew my hand back, my wrist wan eeteed and T turned to eee Rajah behind me, holding my arm tn a firm rip. He menaced me with his kris and erinned entmly Captain Riges stenned up and ree Neved me of my p that Tha t and T knew made a fo f myeclt by the Kut Sang, Mr. Trenholm,” r said: "Ro your insistence to be a Dassencer w wiay © fellow-man was it? fam shocked beyond means ure!” “You hound!” T sereamed. “You have plaved your cards well, you and your little red-he scoundrel! If think To am a spy you will tut, Sally An sald Capt “We can't have any of that Hold your tongue, sir, or I'l have you In Irons." “He's a Japanese apy,” Taaid. “Fle's no miasionary at all but a spy, and the fool believes that Tam in tha Russian services. He tried to hold me in Manila, and wpen T would not laten “she has taken this way to div me, probably have me hanged! It's all a plot”— “That will do,” commanded Rigs. “You have not beem tried yet, Mr Trenholm. You can tell that to. the judge, If you go on this way T wil be compelled to make a priponer of you. Lam not taking that rad chap's word for what he says about you but if you go on ke this T will have to put you in confinement. Other- wise, you will simply be restricted your cabin until we reach Hong-Kon, T will have to make sure that y¢ have no more arma, and if you will promise to remain in your room, that will do until this matter is turned over to the courts, and then you may wtate your case.” “Aro you not going to put this man where he can do no more harm?" asked Mecker. “You can see for your- \Keif that. my life will be in danger Unies this man is made @ prisoner, |T protest against his being allowol | his Hberty—I have no desire to be |} found in my bed as poor Mr. Troge was found here a few minutes age « will be protected,” said the q mo “Mr. Harris, is that you? “Can't say, air,” said Potrak, 100K- iraye Mr. ‘Trenholm here to his room, Ing about nervously, and feeling @t and remove all his luggaxe and seo his belt. that he has no more arms, even #0 “Can't say! Can't say! You can't og] As '6 ponngy nase Then lock 4 ' im in his root say because that's yer knife right Nin! In tm Coen ed, 1 was Kk there under yer eyes! That's yer iy stateroom, Harris first Fr knife and you killed this man! tvery weapon from my luggage; even “Never killed him, sir, and nobody eked in my razors. ‘There I was left, alone and prisoner, ‘The steamer was rolling else, strike me blind if I did, and fitvily. At every roll, 1 heard somo- that’s the truth, sir,” said Petrak ¢ thing rattle on the boards under my gedly, but in spite of his brave show- bunk. 1 duly investigated, and f drew ing there was a whimper in his voice forth from beneath the bunk a key. and his knees trembled. E unding out of my berth, 1 went to door with it, certain that it was @ “Did you have an accomplice?” and had asked Meeker, and I thought 1 saw Cau- some sort of @ signal pass between them, in the old- lock, and it turned back 1 tried the knob, and the door eusily. Buckrow arrived from the forcastlé swung inward, 1 closed it again and debated fe some time what I should do, and, clding that. anything could n yelled Petrak, worse than lying idle in @ up my mind to venture out Riggs if 1 could with a leather sheath and @ knife in {t. He handed it to Harris. ‘There's my knife! “That's it, just as [ said, and Bucky upon Captain found tt ls my nine whens Tamigdt fr. or do @ little spying on my own was, strike me blind! count to learn of any new develop- Capt. Riggs was nonplussed for a ment since 1 had been dismissed from ssitated, Then the saloon and imprisoned. second at thie, and he hesitated, ‘hen the sald ond rete mo notes he looked at Buckrow, 4 and slowly made my way forward to ing to get past Harris into the pas- go if there was a light 'n Captain fod sage again, Kiges's room. efore | had gone far “Buckrow! Walt a minute, my | heard a murmur of voices, and then 1 Where’ knit saw a sliver of light from the Jamb of man! Where's your kni Ft from the jamb oF u door, There “My knife?” said Huckrow gkolng on in the captain's room, but L amazement, “My knife?” could not distinguish the voices, L “Yes, the knife you had when you Went on to the forward end of the were here first, Where is It now? It superstructure and discovered a port “4 A hole in the captain's cabin partly ain't in your belt,’ open, and by going up three steps of Buckrow reached to his hip, and the bridge ladder | had a partial view consternation pulled his face into of the room. varying expressions as he found his Captain Kiges wae fully dressed, and sat at a shelf which dropped from sheath empty, But we knew bis &%* the wail, He was sorting out papers, tonishment was simulated, and Harris, the mate, was standing “It it hain't gone! Some of them over him, talking, : cussed Chinka must ‘ave a tooken ft, "You. must bo ‘imiatakén, T heard the y. “Make me third cook If I bel” ex- “That's all very well,” said Riggs. claimed Harris who seemed to be in “The red-headed one is our man." An irritable mood, “I know what I'm “Where's that bleedin’ knife? ieee 4 ong Buckrow, fumbling at his belt. ally Ann's black cat, Mr, Har- * put in Rigs. ris “That's your knife there in the red | “All T ask ye to 120; eap'n, 1s come yn and have a look at it for yer- tellow’s sheath, and this bf inet self, That's what this ts all about, I'm until it 4# turned over to the Judge. telling ye! We got somethin’ on our Put this man Petrak, or whatever bis hands, { tell ye! We've got to do name is, {s in irons, Mr. Harris; and pometnin' about it right away or we'll you, Buckrow, you know mere than jive more froublp. What if the crew you'll tell, Mind what you're about or you'll be clapped in trons, too,’ Marked machinery along with your mate here, Have the @nq tinned milk! T gay tinned milk body wrapped with some firebars, Mr. I wash my hands o' the whole cussed meas if ye don't loo Harris, to be buried in the morning. gee for yerself. Gome nee ay fron 4 in Mr, Har- ptatn sa sible! If'—— That’ Double irons, Mr. Harris." at it" “I never done for him, and that gent (Fou locked tt over in good shape knows it,” watled Petrak, as Harris a Ment.” satd Capt. Riggs, evi- dently in doubt to ‘put his hand on his shoulder to take ‘4 Mt oda tee oe as shou'd thin away, To my amazement, Petr&k 20. Tt fo eG pointed his finger at me you know, Mr. Ha “What's that?” suid Iigke sharply, machinery: ant nee His down an “The gent in the white suit Knows What more yo want? They aren all about it. I done for this chap, and gywitene | somehow, and that's malt the writin’ chap, that 1 brought his ag the nose on ver face, Thad. my bag aboard, paid ine for it, Bald he thumb on it, tell you, Come na!” would, and gave ine some of the ' Reluctantly the captain aeognane |money on deck to-day, You saw him, Jed hiin, and they started toward. the cup'n—you saw him handin silver, sir, @ the storeroom, where dered his bo followed them. y T heard Harris muttering “L don't like the pass had or. olselesaly I went along He's in ft, too, ani “What does this mean, Mr. Tren- |holm?" shouted Kiggs. “I remember {mon that I did see this man taking gers and I money from you and I told you not to don't these whites in the be tipping the crew, What have you crew hey knpw one another, I'm to tellin’ ye, ‘The long chap and Buck- y ‘He was to give me ten pound”— vow galled with Hetrak, They pretend ee hie fens whem he walehin’ of ‘om. Mee how hell was eo emart handin’ over bie knife to the re b wher «ot ine jam? i where did we get them three Jewrie~ ine writin chap brought the little re4 killer, and the gareon ‘ ; te\low 004 Baahrow Lacks ny me, op o-—ped we " t ** ' « Admural aboard “Mr of Riggs getting fool enour the Devils Admiral, are you? That's all newsy f talk end water-froat eoasip” “T ain't so doggone sure about that, cap'n —bein’ @ don’t suspect nothin here, but from what Chips Akere tor me before he died. after the lose of tue Bouthern ( devil by t fidn't they find @ sex. or ina store in Shanghai? xo down In typhoons ere POD ater, I'm tellin’ vody ever saw thio Admiral, sure enous’, it, but ships jown in deep waver at got off or @ life- oF & door found in Bhar what ye Ther © t . heen bloody work fn th or four years in these yok at the Legaspl: aever 9 man jack out of ber, and salled from Manila, as we did, for Hong-Kong, admitted and never heard of, Steamer she was, too, right in the steamerct They say the Devil's Admiral got her, and I mor'n half believe it.” CHAPTER V. Treasure! ALLING Rajah to carry a light for them, they made their way to th jtore-room, I listened from bebind the door they entered the room and turned a lantern gleam oa ita contents I heard enough to get the drift of their conversation, although I could not seo what they were doing. inned milk,” said Harris, and he laughed. “Let the boy hold the lHght,” said the captain, “Pry it open a bit more, Harris, and let me have a good, square look at it, I don't belleve there's more than one box, at that— which wouldn't be no great trouble for us." “They made It fast right enough,” growled Harris. “I never see no tinned milk nursed so particular as this, blow mo if 1 did! But when I started thie side so's I could get my thumb tn, I was Jerry Smith—here, cap'a—quick while I hold this side out—put your thumb tn there and feel the aidge.” “Tt fools like this, Take the Mght from the boy and hold it down, ao I can get a look at it—no, let him keep it, Mr. Harrie-you hold the board out so T can see it in good shape down, Rajah, down, low, #0." I tried to see what they were doing, but all T could make out was Captain Riggs as he bent low between me and the object on which the light wae turned, I put my ear back to the key+ hole, Sally Ann! Sally Ann!” I heard Captain Riggs exclaim, and then he whistled. “Blast me if ye ain't right, Mr. Harris! knew I was right," growled Harris, “Can't fool me with that—it felt like It and looked lke ft, and that man Trego fits into the game te a T. I thought he was a mighty shady eus- tomer from the first look I got at him, when he come alongside and bossed things. When he got that knife throwed in hing T thought I'a come down here and fiavp @ look around on my own hook, and thar ye be, cap'n. “Hut Sally Ann! What are we go- ing to do with it? We can't leave it wer" be it would be better, at that," said Harris, “Dut I look at it this way, cap'n—#omebody knows It's here, that's what. Maybe the parson; may- be that Mr, Trenhum; maybe Petrak knowed about It; maybe Buckrow and Long Jim knows; but, anyhow, who- ever had that knife hooked into Trego knowed, and ye can put that in yer pipe and smoke it.” “It does look queer,” Riges. “Now, look what I'm sayin’ oap'n, We got short-handed quick thar in Manila, didn’t we? I been turnin’ that over in my mind, too, Somebody out the boatswain, didn't they? The po- ice got that Lascar quartermaster who we had for lampmany, didn't they? That's two men gone, ain't it?” “Well, I don't see what all that has got to do with this,” said Capt. Rig; “Yo don't? Look a here! One of our men cut up; @ red-headed little sailor has a hand in tt of some sort; 4 parson tells the police our lampman done it, and thar goes another of our hands. Who do we git in thelr placo? A parson for @ passenger and two men of his own he brings aboard, Looks like he made room for ‘ein, cap'n.”” “Well, what does it all mean? You suppose this ts what they want? “Ye don't guess they killed the bos'n and this ‘Trego just for friendship sake, do ye? Lf ye want to know what my personal, private feelings are, it looks like we've been boarded by the Devil's Admiral." “Sally Ann's black cat!" eald Riggs, “That story was started by some sea- lawyer full of gin, and the newspapers took it up for fun, There ain't no more @ Devil's Admiral than there ia @ Blying Dutchman,” (To Be Continued)