Show I L I r By Vt Louis Joseph Vance Vance T OF jf MINUTE CYNTHIA BE M IN INU U T E fl LOUIS Copyright JOSEPH 1911 V VANCE ty NCE J JI I r CHAPTER XIV Continued II gi tot hi teeth tooth upon his hr purpose I to forget nor yet jot to t ii moved noiselessly forward placing F a at C tho hp Ta rail beneath the r- r r. r JI hi b. found himself in a ac- ac 1 with overy phase of their It rho Iho cynthia was ai approaching Lh he conclusion ot of her voy voyage e the omi omi- ml- ml t Done oas DUS finis to her hor It story ry was imminent f Some distance ahead insensibly gain f breadth and tho seeming i of f sub sub- an on island of of t fair aize SIze d dark and dense in lii the midst of t glimmering sp spaces ces of sea ea WIna aaa Lad sky iky like th the pond pendant ant of a necklace I I great anat reat stone stono in n a chain of at lesser or CT like tho parent of a brood of tint nameless little Islands blands mere of at sand and coral pin coral pin rf k dots dote upon the charts had scant doubt about Lb identity of 01 the l larger r er shape pf Jt f fas lt it was waa as Coffin Cay aa Rhode called It Toward it a nt snails nails pace tho the Cynthia CD thia i shouldered on on seeming scorning with an allief efi ef- ef i lief ct of oc to pick and choose its ita fr channel forging or in sullenly a Ii pale pILle glamorous incredibly f fl vault saut of ot night On Op either and nd d n a multitude of dangers veined reined tho ebony of ot the sea with a net net- ork ert of ot threads thread of dim smoldering greens and and ana purples or bcd it with wido areas or Qt milky fire re roro oro the waters in imperceptible creamed over ovar submerged ledge lId reef reet awash lunah or along the pale r bea beaches of ot the tho o congregation ion of M o Old l livid and deformed the wraith ef of f a world long lone cold colda a lato late moon hung hong I Ft little ways above the eastern eastorn horizon its Its p r rays y tempering with mth wan the manufacturing in fA the ie t e vat vast calm night ni ht enfolded void vol voIda a of false dawn Tho The v vM we- we M glassed it darkly An Au h affection n of ot suspense hung hunt in n the as u if U it were vero impregnated with frith some come atran strange stimulating gas Crittenden himself was sensitive to it H He wound hit his nerve tenso tense with expectancy e o- o tancy as though he h hung hun upon the islat is- is isIt lat n of 01 f some soma terrible succession of ot veta his his' every sense and instinct lien to probe the meaning of each com com- coKen co- co Ken aoa but weirdly significant incident inci ent nil nd a sound From Prom tho bows came the canorous droDe of the leadsmen from the bridge A l soft loft scuffle of ot feet feet- the whine of ot a tte quadrant wanting grease greas l laconic la- la conic conle directions dire tona Claret Clarets g 8 voi voice voice voice- 1 Sot SoI 2801 I SteadY Keep her hot off antiphonal the ye Ci aye ayo sir air I II of at t tho the fellow at the wheel occasionally a brief subdued s muter of comment from the the r ric c constantly from the interior of th the ip D the h avo and rumble of machinery checked to half speed and obedient to the and clanking clank clank- lug ing of t the tho engine cn e room telegraph as incessantly from under tho th tb bows a lin down the t e aides a sibilant wash awash Af 4 tur r some omo time wearying and grow grow- ng under the strain of waiting Crittenden took a turn down tho the deck dec l t Soft stopping ho h camo to the tho Tail rail J shaft abut the smoking zoom room and stopped to analyze the discovery that tb t the vessel t u as' wing s-wing nJ followed toU w 01 T y another other astern sand land far a cluster arL of ot lights tights flanked by e D and anz red rca dog ed We the wane wake of ot the l turning and twisting t to the Convolutions of the tortuous trail she a blazed blazed- way visible long after she had PAssed in the ha smoking re Wa inae e of the waters to The The I Orion he surmised Later attracted by a mumble of E voices behind him he turned and kim him Jelf If t. t unseen unseen a acquired a vivid mental mantel sketch ot of a scene revealed by the the open Hoor Ocr of the smoking room of of three ree Sea en grouped round a a. table with mth a bot- bot fl 0 fland and glasses before them j. j on tho the jae ne as hand Thurlow indolently smoking differently amused Perez on the ther other leann leaning forward his stout person and his han hands s vivacious with of ot ar argument and ande exposition bode between tho the two sitting with folded arms in stony m mutiny in like an unite cRusts blush h of humiliation due to toj hi he j 1 Ignominy of the pass to wh which ch Ja lack k If t. t foresight and confidence misplaced d brou brought ht him SO apparently he was not lot yot yo rene rone- fide won Ld won over like sardonic Pro Provi Provi- vience vi- vi dence enee ence to this tho side ide t 1 with the heaviest cst ar- ar Thoughtful Crittendon Crittenden moved for for- forWard Ward a again in On Jn un the way he be was passed an exhilarated person ono one of ot the ip without officers officers I without at at- I acting his notice Then he heard board the wn n as a's voice at the bir smoking roo room win win- Shay Lobb you ou sash send wireless wireless' Mon n. n ne message to ll AU right Coming I Crittenden drew back into the dow wow pf pt an ari angle le the wireless tor oper ope- ope r passed him him unseeing and heed heed- Greenaway J to to the thc allure unquestionably of ot th the bottle yield yield- and and the party in tho tha smoking 1 room Thurlow clamber lamber to tho the I Page ge slip Blip hastily down again and jung n n descend the tEe companion companio nis 1 box o on the main deck ladder a B D stirred j in Crittenden's 1 was as thoughts instantly forgotten in r that the dis die y Claret too il Coffin Bay Bar Wo was i. was now leavin leaving Tj the In in WIde enfolding t r had bad been relieved arms armst of o duties as pilot Lobb Yeng Ye- Ye ng DK Supreme authority and as en cau caught ht sight ht 0 of Claret the they to a volley y of orders ordera and th scurrying footsteps of en o on the forward deck deck d tho the thoas ex ax- c groan of the e engines 85 as they fill ur urn the tho and tho rattle of tho bower Vcr o chains thin thiu fj- fj minutes the tho ship ne achor or swung still and ana peaceful tor save sa or of wireless and the tho at VOICes ot of gathered in the n foro r room for lor a final toast to sue suc their berths Ily Iy j Crittenden was nt lIe had pursued Ret l- l down the maIn nian ted companionway f UI I C Cabin him bim as ho he turned to go aft Lw as hIs he be cried in an arresting feet found the deck of bf the az saloon ai rUed iliad the first officer wheeled that tho they were ware alone ot of the tho color w beneath hi his ekin veil ne e demanded with lye ve flut feIDt If an ag- ag What d dou ou want traveled from CrItten I dirk and immobile that faco face to tho the presented t to him the muzzle dame S varan beAutiful C little Cr Still more alarmed ho he made toward toward his t t but coat ut ht better ot of It ft tit demanded Critten l ad d the he other tr t und i command L 1 tp o I hands ands above your head bead J I He Ha walked up to th man maD thrust thc tho nose of his weApon weapon into the tho back otI of ot hi his neck and coolly e explored lored tho pocket Clarets Claret's motion b bad d betra betrayed ed It con on taine a heavy navy revolver Liar Liar observed Critten Crittenden re ye tle Uey He threw both weapons his own as well first officers officer's us as the offic officer r s a across the saloon table U Now Now he be pursued in in a IL level Javel c voice were we're on on even even terms Why did you ou lock Miss Grayce Gray in in the stateroom with me met that to you JOU Claret et tried to turning Answer my question Why Why I f I Fl I didn't mean mean mean- Claret stammered stam stain his fa face e ashen Jokel Joke l Whom ha have ve you told about about It Tell TeU tie the truth yo you contemptible hound Plainly claret meditated mendacity but from rein a a shifty glance at Crittenden Critten Critten- den dene a 8 blazin blazing eye eyes found reason to chan change e his mind Captain Lobb he said sullenly Mr Mr Perez No r Noone one else ebe I Greenaway I didn't didn t mean any ny harm It was simply a n. joke joke Very Vel well Crittenden snapped your your sense of humor needs u revision reUlon Put up p pJ J your our our hands what do you mean meant mean faltered Claret stArin staring I HI warn you t to guard rd I yourself I intend to knock you down Youre You're said to be a fighter a bully bull bulla a bucko I mate prove it Do you yaw OU bear licarI Pm Pin stoin goin going to knock you down I Then when the fellow still hesitated and with hasty sidelong glances sou sought ht means of ot esc escape pe Crittenden lifted nl nib hand and da dashed hed its knuckles across Clarets Claret's mouth with staggering force and a report like a a. pistol shot snot His lips Up-s bruised cut and bleeding in ina ina in ina a face wHite wEite with rage rago and pain Claret leaped back threw himself into ti light fight ht ins ing poise loiS feinted fainted deftly once or twice then hen with a cultural wl lowered his head and bor bored d in to battle Deprived of the moral support of his weapon he be had needed the blow to rouse him to join Join issue with a a. man man not riot p physically his hs is inferior And he knew bow how to use UM his hands bands Crittenden however conceded nothing nothing noth noth- in ing to him in such skill and had bad needed nothing to warm hi his blood He Be held bald himself alertly watching t h n and meeting Clarets Claret's 5 endeavors with mth st steady ady eyes eyes' an ana and anda a low slow cold eold smile Suddenly ho stepped I aside avoiding an infuriated rush TUsh and shot and his left fist like Jike a hammer into the passing face Hi His ri right ht following it with inconceivable in conceivable rapidity had all its ita weight i ht and passion behind it Claret lifted of off his feet grasped wildly at air and went down a crumpled mass of ot ins insensible insensible in- in s sensible nible flesh He lay la in a a. tumbled heap breathing nor moved during the long minute that Crittenden waited Then Then 1 a little disappointed the latter left him I and moved around the te table picking up the revolvers be he had bad thrown there For the first lint time it occurred d to him to fo examine e that presented to him by Cynthia He a. a little to find it lacking That thou thought ht he was precisely like Madame Savaran n a woman coura courageous enough h to buy a weapon and to use it or try to tD 0 in lii a moment of emer emergency ency and at atthe atthe atthe the same time too c careless and inconsequential Incense Incense- of humor to trouble about keeping keepin it loaded Clarets Claret's revolver however was ready f for i immediate employment With a final fiance at t its owner Crittenden t took ook it away with him him Keenly alive t to the inevitable consequences con eon sequences s s of ot his action a. a as as indeed he be h had ad been from the first fint though bough h heedless heed heed- d. d l less ess of them he be went up the companionway com coin p and nd again n out on deck stepI stepping step step- I ping p ing U lightly and end warily in a h humor flushed with excitement ripe for f or mischief It mattered little to him n now ow what he did or what happened to nh h him im so 80 that he might bring confusion i into nto the ranks of the conspirators inome in s some ome small degree confound or frustrate t their heir delli designs s. s Ho He noted little chan change e in the tho aspect o of f the ship since he had followed Claret b below elow the decks were as before deserted de de- de- de s only from the direction of the tho s smoking room aft Bit audible sounds sound o of f animated celebration and below on t the he foredeck Thurlow Thurlo was still disturbing disturb disturb- t in ing ug the peaceful hour with mth the spiteful c of the wireless spark That sound resurrected and revivified d t th the he halt half formed plan Crittenden had bad c conceived at si sight ht of Thurlow and then h had ad set aside without consideration to follow ollow f and punish Claret And it found h him bim im apt fallow to a a a hint in hi his desperate deserate des dM- hp p erate extremity He Be took a a. stride forward then on p prudent reconsideration reconnoitered II aft f Th The rhA vIew framed by bv the smoking r room oom window reM reassured him There TheT were lU assembled all involved in the plot a and nd the workings s of ot the ship Thurlow a and nd Claret Rhodo sitting rebelliously re- re b bellio sly apart apart apathetic to everything s save ave the bottle and glass at his elbow A A. spirit sd-it in the habits habit of t the tho others indicated led a sense of ot dan dangers ra p pass passed assed d success success assured Crittenden Crittend n reviewed reviewed re re- v viewed the scene scone smiling grimly his x hardening Th Then n without ut permitting himself time timeo timeto timeto t to o weigh the risks he be het turned back to t the he forward companion ladder and s down to the main deck having apparently concluded his communication to the Orion was standing s in the doorway of tho the wireless house lighting a cigarette i arett preparatory t to o rejoining his as associates Surprised by the thu thud of Critt Crittenden's feet teet as ashey t they hey left the ladder he looked up and i into nto the mouth of ot Clarets Claret's revolver Unperturbed and impassive siv he be blew out the match to tossed sed it from him ejected twin clouds of at smoke from his nostrils and remo removed ed the ei cigarette Jette from bis his mou mouth h only Ion long lone enough h to inquire Well Wll WU w ats at's eating you Crittenden t Back Bek up up u the the other falling in with his cool humor without t the poi poise poiso bf iF his weapon II Get Get inside isId there and arid Ill I'll explain No harm intended intended but but if von vou yell Ten or kick kiek up a a. row of kind kiDa Pit lI have ve to treat you you you- unkindly Thurlow looked him over with a a. loss less dispassionate eye stepped negligently back into the cabin and into a chair his operating table hi his bill attention concentrated Crittonden n following fol lowin lowing him over the threshold shut tho the I door and with his unengaged ed hand shot tho the bolts Now he said laid in a level leve tone ton we ewe will proceed to put t a severe crimp inthis in inthis inthis this gay flay swindle Please dont don't make it it unpleasant by iy trying to object or put up a a. scrap Im I'm deadly serious usand and thi this I thing ia Is going oln to go RO through h the wa waI I plan it Do you tou understand me met Clearly Thurlow lifted his brows I and Jau laughed bed quietly tho the matter mat mat- ter tort The matter is personal Crittenden Ci in the same ame manner I J wont won't bother you with the story of ho how bow they made me sore soro But this game is ii I up so far as a. Perez et al al are con con- Please turn rot round n- n swit switch h on os L your juice and nd call un Key West SS' SS Why asked Thurlow without mo moving n S If Because f I want to n I and you can send it bit easier esier than I though I-though though J Im I'm 1 m in enough h of a dab at sending myself as myself as you know know to to put it through h without your yo assistance e. e la IU T f fact t you you can claim I I did it it if you rou want t to when the storm breaks I suppose you know what thi this means if they find it out out to to you you Call CaU Key West Weal insist insisted d Critten Critten- den It And AnI hurry burry up about it Hl His manner manDer was instant peremptory Thurlow appraised ed it it with ith a tolerant rAnt hal half smile mile and an 3 good gave gase in You lou certainly have got ot the most est ways waya he drawe humorously humor humor- and and |