Show Idle Me ISLAND isLAND t ETHEL H HUESTON N 1 J I IY Y r ro a 1 COPYRIGHT 1927 1927 byThe by byThe I The OO a MEI CO CHAPTER XI Continued XI-Continued Continued le 18 leOne One second she stood Irresolute doubting her own courage to open en the door Hut But memory of nand lands dearness dearness dear ness nerved her Gripping her pistol with tenso tense and nerveless fingers angers marveling mar mur even In hint terrible moment that she did not unconsciously press the trigger she opened the door A heavy y black curtain hung In thick folds fold before It She felt for tor the cornor cor nor ncr and then breathlessly drew It back hock Only de deep p blackness beyond l Following the wall on her left she he stepped slid rather b behind the thick curtain and guided by the tile touch of her lingers fingers on the wall moved forward slowly breath b by breath Another heavy curtain she felt and fingered angered red It hesitating a moment to quiet her Ier punting fears Suddenly there was n sound a voice behind tho the curio curtain In right at her hand Lets have hove a look Gay Cay ho had barely time to flatten Outten her Ier herself self the wall wull white fu face e lowered low ered erect Into Inlo her ber dark durl collar when the curtain at nt the other end moved and parted No o emanated from behind behind be hind It but Gay Gny felt fell that two men nhen came collie out cure carefully fully pausing to the heavy y folds behind I them hem and und crossed to the curtained door through which she site ho had bad entered One drew hack back the black bluck folds of curtain and alid pushed the door wide No o 0 sign of them The Tho voice volie was WIlS Ronald Ingrains They rhey are ure late Hell lIell give gho you jou ou the tho devil for taking that fellow on ou board said the other voice one strange to Goy Gay Theres nothing else t to do with him Ronald defended quickly Im Imd d l ii d If Ill I'll cronk croak him Gorman knows I wont I told him when I 1 signed on on If It you I let t him get away away- l I 1 cant can't I let t him get away I dont don't lure dare lie He had been spying on us us- us God Cod knows how long Knows Snows every everything everything thing were we're up to of cours course lIed led have hn them art after r us In no Um tints No o well we'll take him along Carman Gl con can do doas doas doas as he likes like lie He sticks sUcks at nt nothing God Cod knows Hut nut they they've nothing on mo nun so far Look theres there's the light they're coming 4 a The Tho men went back carefully through the heavy henvy curtain drawing the folds of ot It behind then them The he blackness was like tike pitch A prisoner a n spy who spy who knew everything e I They were taking him to Cannon who stuck at nt nothing Dear Hand ton I All 11 Gays Gay's fears fell from her hr dead end courage lay IllY cold colli upon her hands tier Her thoughts were quiet and consistent bout Is for them A outing They hn have e e taken him prisoner Perhaps 1 will ha e a chance to rescue Idol him with my pistol Breathlessly she site tiptoed to the edge eel so e of the curtain drew It 11 back bliCk Still blackness within lice Her lingers guided her There was n u door now nIl on the right side open but thickly lI Her ller r lingers touched It Yes s a 11 light fight They Were re ii In that room Land was In ht t that hll t loom U a prisoner She wedged her trace face up to the curtain cur I lain tain where hero but the slightest fraction of In one 1 t. t rye je c touched touchet the aperture n her ln tigers rs formed formell In tho the fol folds of cl th thA h A dozen men In III n the room roost all nil tn dressed for cold w weather ca out doors 1 e 1 I lien henn fy coats h heavy y Ill I'll Illy y hats lints gloves cloves In their hands The They were not smoking There was no it lire 1111 re In th the room but one pile pale lantern gl gling light She h Ronald Ingrain Ingrum lit lie was cans dressed as os the oth nth others ers were with it hi n u reu l er In his hand Others ethers had hull royal rt too The China there then And there mini man was was one other hands mods bound behind the low lot hair on Oil which he sat soil his mouth tightly lightly gagged lie Ill too Inn was dressed for fur the sea belt but he ht sat sal hunched down dejected cowering Oil III my dear Gay Cay nn thought tender I ly Tears fears collie to her Slit She he could fould nut not see sec the face II she It I hail had no need lr 1 U ery lIu line of hands Kami's face fall wits was clear ellor to 10 tier her heart 1011 n Ingram looked at nl his Ids Ito Ho e repay ready now no he said snit In III n II loI low law I voice nil Go lIn tine one ot at u o time Moy My Sell Sen Walk slow slim I ly foci feel your jour way uY uYI we Wl c cant can't shut how n II light Pout talk I You ca cannot 11 hut SILO smoke lint until 11 we t nl are well lout tint nut to seal Ma Hodge you jou take lufe the pris- pris l oner oller wit with wilh h you ou and go u after I I Son Sec ln The rl rest 1 full In niter after llod e eIll Ill I'll brill bring up UI the rear Not hot I a 11 I t stated II when lien we e I go u out Then he tie cros crossed od s swiftly to the dejected figure re of lIf the I Now Nov mind hut hilt I told I 01 ulu he lie said Ills voice was as low lo In If you yuu slake make he the slightest I hound tho 1110 effort to get clot 11 1111 11 I lio hI turned his revolver fl In his ls that that for or your pains I You know this place you know this you cove cove jou haven't a u chance chane In the Ibe worl world 1 to escape n Be ready now fellow fel tel low lows Ions s. s The men stood up drew on their glov gloves s. s Gny Gay i slipped away from the curtain back bac to the tile second one beyond be be- yond ond It A boat bont Is coming they coming they are taking Hand Rand with them they them they are all nil armed and he Is bound How lIow her thoughts raced t l Outside In tn the night again she stood flat fiat against the wall and waited It wn was In n her heart henrt to touch Rand nand as ashe ashe ashe he passed to to draw him out of ot theline the theline theline line as they walked perhaps escaping notice In the darkness Motionless she ehe waited cool coot alert holding her breath There was sudden sound on the shore of the cove e the low tow plash of oars a low tow whistle the scraping and grinding of ot a n boat bont on the sand and again the low tow whistle Then without a sound Bound from within the curtain at nt her br hand hond was drawn aside The Tho little Chinn Chinaman man came out and nd padded softly down toward the till shore Ills hits head hend lowered looking neither neith er to right nor left lett After Atter him came carne the tall toll man Hodge of course a revolver re re- volver In one hand the other thrust through the bound hound one of the orison orison- er Gays Gay's fingers rs ached about out her liei pistol but she knew any ony use of ot It at that moment would mean man only death to and to herself as ns well Perhaps later luter she site might hove have a 0 chance he he was os a strong swimmer swimmer swimmer-If If she could only manage to release the bonds that held him Still from behind the curtain came the silent closely cloaked figures one after uffer another silently and at ut last no more Inure Ie But th there re was a sound within the tho drawing of ot curtains the click of ofu ofa u a latch the tilde slide of a n wooden frame frome Guy Gay did not hesitate Stumbling a little she moved mo out swiftly Into the I rue t ai I I r tine lit o ui U. a aly nt I y men 1111 ly Iy automatically unhesitatingly she followed them but In her blindness she he fell full tull length on the Ronald Ingram came cume upon her from behind She felt Fhe touch of his hits boot bool at her shoulder Get up d n d-n n It and be careful l I lIlls Ills voice olce was low less than thun a 0 whisper whis whis- per Gay Gny scrambled to her feet and hurried bur hur- ried after the others A hand band Will was held out from the boat boot to assist her und and she was VIlS swung up In her turn with Ronald Ingram behind her the thelast thelast last lost man onO on O 0 K K breathed breathe a voice from frolD the boat Yell Yeh Lets Let's go go goThe The boat bOllt boat bont crunched on the sand again swept Into tite the water The oars dipped the waves A line flue ex ei- came over Guy Gay She was daring death deuth with hand Lf U she could not contrive o to save sa him then she wh who had selfishly refused to share his hilt life would gloriously share hi his death deuth I Tine The boat bont headed swiftly out to sea sa and the tine one salt spray touched heV be face CHAPTER XII No 00 one questioned Gays Gay's presence In the boat buat no Sue one su so much as ns looked her way or offered her a wort word She dropped upon the bench cowering just where re t site she ie was ails pushed In lu the pushing pu hll crowd Il Shyly hI ut at first she kept bei ht face fate lowered Into luto her collar but Liter gaining ginning courage site she dared to 10 look u about ut III In search u of f ham Her ller l' l eyes ejes lS l'S found him tutu ut at last where he lie sat sut crowded between two others other on the he opposite side cud and there was no oo opportunity for fur her hei to tu draw nearer to 10 him tutu 1 tit lit that moment The three men Ingrum Hodge illidge with the one olle In lu charge of or the bout stood to together and talked Guy nas us Iw beside them but hul their O voices cs were wen so low lulY that bite bhe could ld catch only scat scat- d words nords of I he they sold ald n and none hut but Ingrains Ingrain's whose voice lIke was fu familiar r. r lounging Hanging around Io o o d d u n It business Is one thin thing but hut Murder Ill Is murder l o us liS you jou like but bui butI I en cant iii have c u n lund hunt In It Nothing o on me rue but smug smuggling gling II cud nIl Pew cut coast running years tn 15 ut lit most 1 Ive I've e got gilt mine salted silted away too ton believe lle me tint Was rus It 11 1 ly Iy who ii held had come cume to tier her In ill the tho rove cute with the bullet buller wound In 10 Ids his brow t Not nl Ingram then ben who caused thou that gashing grilling wound but another tier Carman to whom Ihl they were taking Rind Kami Guys GUs lingers fondled t her Iler pis pis' tot till tentatively cly ely but hilt well welt she realized that nay any such action would be worse than folly fully for fur these were desperate men and they were armed Ingram Ingrum might 11 stick slick at nt murder In III cold colli blood blond but self defense would put n R different 1 color ou on his the scruples If It she could only get to 10 Kana Rana slip sill tier her pistol kilo Into his hands rl release a e his hands bonds I Stilt still stillI I there liar e was no opportunity and sh slit she could think of no subtle expedient to contrive her br ends She would woula have ho liked Irked to fling tUng herself her self across the Intervening space nail and put both arms tenderly about t those drooping shoulders P If II I dared I l would now Bow surprised tile they would be Rand nand Id I'd say kiss kles me I dare say they would all drop tier Her teeth dead deed of astonishment chattered nervously her knees kneel trembled trembled trem bled cold little smiles wrinkled kid her II tips lip pI I am em going to laugh she thought I know I am simply going to scream with laughter low absurd this Is Going to sea lea with a band of murderers Ridiculous dont don't do such euch things Such things dont don't happen I must be losing my mind I dare due say I am cra crazy y as they think on the Island bland A low dry chuckle gurgled through her cold coM lips The Theman man at her bel side turned Cold he muttered They dont don't put themselves out much to give service servo sere ice eh Gays Gay's reply was an Indistinguishable murmur but she guarded her thoughts more closely The men meo smoked thirstily She felt they were not fellows of a common hand but separate each for himself except Ronald Ingram lodge Hodge and the little Chinaman and ond the men who manned this boat bont The others held bell aloof aloot nor did Ingram show any spirit of ot camaraderie to one ne of ot them It was some lome sinister ter personal business that brought these men mn together Suddenly In the darkness ahead the lights of ot a ship showed up lights green end and red and pale Gay Cay fingered her pistol nervously tempted to fire are desperately for help taking the chance that help would come corne Watching warily she waited n II moment The boat bOllt seemed to beheading be beheading heading direct for the ship not avoiding It yes they were making for It That ship then was Carmans Garman's Gar Car mans man's where they were taking Hand Hond There was no signaling between bet the two that she could see ste but the great majestic monster of the sea slow slowed d came to a stop and the small boat bont pulled alongside Ronald Ingram nodded toward the prisoner Bring him Hodge he U sR ii 1 Come On In In Ingram Cold Ingram-Cold Cold as al the Devil said and then ran quickly up the ladder ladder lad lad- der 11 first of ot all Hodge and the Chinaman pro prodded ded Hand up und and shoved him to the ladder ladder lad lad- der which he climbed nimbly enough though he must have bare been stiff stilT with the cold and the exposure re as ns were UI they y nil all Gays Gay's first was to crowd forward to go up the ladder ludder after him but remembering rem In time that u 11 nearer view clew of her person might dlo dUclose close o a lack of mannishness In spite of ot her hoots boots line unit and knickers she hung modestly hack One after ufler another they hurried d up and the Chinaman her tier forward Already udy the lute ship was heading east eust as the men shambled forward for Into the corridor anti and up the stairs stull's Into the warm bright smoking room slipped a 1 Into Inlo a 11 corner In the shadow of or the door and crouched there watchful catlike came In with the prisoner shoved sho him unceremoniously Into 11 a n sent seat on the opposite side of the thedoor thedoor thedoor door b beyond yond Gays Gay's sight end and wert welt quickly out ont again She Shu slid forward In her Sent seat and peered around the projection of thedoor the thedoor thedoor door to 10 the opposite corner where whre hand Hund sat alone dejected and sullen bis Li chin far for down In the woolen collar of his coat Daring the bright t lights light she got UP DP and crossed the room quickly slipping Into the seat beside him her arm ann ly 1 ly lying ing log against his hi At the unexpected touch and pressure pres pre sure he be threw himself back la in till hie seat suddenly and end looked at ot her I For or Forthe orthe the tho first time she saw his bis face She never knew how she he repressed the cry crl of horror that rose Instinctively to her lips at the sight eight of ot him She had never seen him before The face Cace was sly vicious hard bard the most evil face of ot all she had bod seen leen that night It was not Rand Band She was alone at sea sell with the murderous band let lIer flesh crawled upon her quiverIng quiver quiver- Ing nerves as I she shrank back brick She was sure be he could not ant fall fail to hear the great pounding of her heart In her ber throat the sob lIob on her ber lips Rand nand Rand Band I The I-The The name beat la in her ears throbbed In her pulses pulse Sheer terror panic seized her ber She grew grew frantic In to terror and despair She edged away from him farther further farther until she rea reached hed the door where she peered out Into the dim corridor Now and ond then sounded the whir of bells bell from below the spit of ot steam m and the pound of the engines In tn creased The corridor was empty dimly light ed eel Gay Gny edged outside the door and stood a moment uncertainly Doors down the corridor to the right and the left One stood alood open open open-a a cabin cabin- there were nere chairs a desk |