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Show The Mutiny of the Albatross . THE STORY Floyd Unwin and Howard Bettington taka dinner with an old college chum, Alfred Gibbons, financial magnate. Unwin produces pro-duces a written pledge taken by the three at college to help each other In adversity, explaining that he needs financial assistance assist-ance to educate his Bon Bob and and daughter Mary. Gibbons agrees tomake a place for the daughter In his organization. Mary Unwin la stenographer to a wealthy debauchee, Elgar Rad-way. Rad-way. Calling at Gibbons' office, as arranged. Mary Is asked to betray her employer's secrets and refuses. Radway plans an ocean voya&e to recover from the effects ef-fects of dissipation. Mary is to go as secretary, her brother to accompany her. Bettington, painting on the Maine coast, is kidnaped, and taken aboard Rad-way's Rad-way's yacht. His clothes are found by Gibbs, a fugitive from Justice, who dons them and goes to Bettlngton's studio, and there falls to his death. Bettington Is questioned by a man known as the "Boss." He Is shown an account ac-count of Gibbs' death, the body being Identified as Bettington. The "Boss" Intends to hold Radway Rad-way for Jl, 000,000 ransom. Bettington Bet-tington Is told he will be forced to assist. Radway becomes des- perately ilL CHAPTER VII Continued "Please leave me," she said. "I want to be alone." When the door was shut she looked down at the white face. There he lay, who had trampled her heart In the dust ; who had satisfied her ambition for a little while, and then given her . so large a measure of unhapplness. - She wondered why, as she gazed at the heavy-lidded, half-closed eyes, she had not long ago shaken herself free of him. She supposed It was because of his dominance. Such dominance as his had captured a girlish fancy and she had never been able to rid herself her-self of It . . . Women, she told herself wearily, are so different from men. Less gross, or more stupid . . . which was It? When she rang the hell It was for Captain Hallett she sent "How. soon can we get back to New York?" she demanded when he had recovered re-covered from his astonishment at the spectacle. . He considered a moment "I'm afraid we won't get there In time. I mean," he suid lu confusion, for he had a natural delicacy at such a moment, "we may have to bury him at sea." "Very well," she said, "1 will leave It In your hands. And Captain Hallett, Hal-lett, you complained that Mr. Uadway did not give you complete charge. 1 shall remedy that Tell the steward to come to the library." She looked with the utmost distaste at this small grinning man. "I have told Captain Hnllett," she aid quietly, "that he has absolute control now." "Hasn't he been captain heretofore, raadam?" Clements returned. N "You know what she means," Hallett Hal-lett said fiercely. "I don't want to peak disrespectfully of the dead, but Mr. Radway was too easy with you. He gave you authority you hadn't any right to, and Mrs. Radway Is taking that away from you. Isn't that what you mean, ma'am?" "Exactly. You understand, Mr. Clements?" "I fear I do not, madam. Captain Hnllett suffers from an inability to think clearly or correctly. You will Invariably find such characteristics a. with his type of skull, lie Is narrow and prejudiced and seems my enemy although I have tried to help hlra." "Help me I" Hallett snorted. Clements still addressed his remarks to Mrs. Radway. "With your permission, permis-sion, madam, I will announce Captain Hallett's promotion to the men. It will amuse them." "l'lease let us have no violence," Mrs. Radway said sharply. She had seen a baleful light in the captain's eye and had noted the clenched fist and the step forward. "I'll attend to him later," Hallett said, breathing hard. "I hope you will do nothing of the tort," she said. "Personally, 1 have I witnessed none of the slights you refer re-fer to. I have only noticed that you are uniformly uncivil to Doctor Waite and never lose an opportunity to speak 111 of Clements." "They're two of a kind," he said doggedly. She made a gesture of weariness. "I want to hear nothing more about It" "It's my duty to tell you," he per sisted. "There's something wrong with the crew." "You are captain," she reminded him. "I'll show them I am," he cried and made his way on deck. Slowly Mrs. Uadway went to Mary's stateroom. The girl was dressing hurriedly; hur-riedly; she feared she was late. "My dear," said the elder woman. "We are going back to New York. Mr. Radway died last nl:;ht" f Then, suddenly, she broke down and i wept tumultously. Mary tried In vain to stem this torrent of tears. "She must have loved him, after all," thought the girt She was not to know how much of relief was mixed in this seeming SXlef. After all these years Evelyn By Wykdham Martyh COPYRIGHT IN THZ O. a WNU Service Radway found herself free. No more need she fear all those subtle cruelties cruel-ties with which he had so often amused himself, or look forward to succeeding years with dread. "You must send your parents a wireless," wire-less," she said when she was more composed, "but I can't spare you Mary. You must not leave me when we get ashore. I have had very few loyal friends In my life and I need some now." On deck Captain Hallett was already al-ready asserting himself. He stopped squarely before Bettington, who was pacing up and down. "A word with you," he said peremptorily. per-emptorily. "I command this ship, nud I'll have no plotting or Insubordination." Insubordina-tion." "Quite right." said Bettington mildly. "I was talking to Mrs. Radway awhile back, and I said that you and your pal, the steward, were two of a kind." "I am always sure of a kindly pat on the back from you," Bettington answered.' an-swered.' It was not so easy to return meek answers to a man of Hallett's type. "I had an Idea you men of the sea were bluff, hearty sort of fellows, and yet you tell me you have been saying things to Mrs. Radway which were unwarrantable. ... It Is that your mariners' way of giving a man a square deal?" "A square deal for square men Is my motto," Hallett retorted. "I say what I mean and I mean what I say. I don't like you." How Impossible It seemed to be able to make a confidant and allay of such an incarnate prejudice as this! He watched Hallett cross to the wireless house; there must be some sort of kindliness In the man, for he put his arms about the shoulders of his nephew and young Unwin in a friendly friend-ly fashion. "The fool," Bettington muttered. "Those three and I are the only ones aboard to guard the women if there's trouble; he makes it very hard for me." He turned to see Clements coming toward him. "Doctor." said the steward loud enough for the captain to hear. "I'd be glad If you'd have a look at my throat. It feels like tonstlitis." "HI, you steward," Hallett called, "I'm using your quarters for the rest of the trip. You can berth amidships." amid-ships." Bettington, as he followed Clements Clem-ents to his doctor's office, wondered what rage was tearing at the vitals of this lithe, deadly man. "If Hallett only knew It," said Clements, Clem-ents, "the noise he Is making is really his death rattle." He flung himself Into a seat "There's nothing the mat ter with my throat but he Isn't allowed al-lowed to come In here without your permission; that's shipboard etiquette. Hallett has practically told Grau-maun Grau-maun that If the wireless Isn't ready for sending messages In a few hours' time, he'll put hlra In Irons." "That won't hurt you," Bettington said. "Why look on It as a great misfortune?" mis-fortune?" "Because with Graumann out of the way they'll put the Instrument In shape. . I can't have It known that Radway Is dead." "It will have to be-known. We are running back to New York now." "But we shan't get there. Listen to me, Orme. I thought when I saw him lying dead that the whole game was up, just as you did. But It isn't Mrs. Radway is a rich woman in her own right and she is Radway's sole heiress. She will be one of the richest women In a world of rich women. If I could get a million from Radway, I cai. get It Just as easily from her." Bettington shook his head obstinately. obstin-ately. "The cases are not parallel. Mrs. Radway Is not money mad. Her fortunes for-tunes are not dependant on her personal per-sonal exertion." "You miss the whole point of It," Clements returned. "She, like Radway, Rad-way, will see that a million is the easiest way out" "Out of what?" Bettington cried sharply. "Difficulties, I shall not specify them. One is named Sum and the other Is known as Metzger." "Impossible," Bettington assorted. "What about Hallett and the others?" "You have heard the death rattle In his throat As to the others, what are they but boys? There will be no trouble at all. I think I can prevail upon Mrs. Radway to see what Is best to be done. I count on your Influence with her. Naturally Hallett has tried to Influence her and most likely something some-thing of what he has said has made her uneasy. She will realize that her position aboard Is different now. Radway Rad-way was the conventional protection and now he Is removed. Inevitably, she will become more reserved, but that will not mean she has ceased to have confidence In you." Bettington experienced keen pleasure pleas-ure In this comforting thought. It was quite probable that she would feel as Clements said. "What do you want me to do?" he manded. "This Is my plan," said Clements. "I want her assurance that the money will be paid. If she agrees to do this without consulting lawyers or friends, I shall let that fool of a captain run the Albatross into the East river and rant and dictate as he chooses. I shall attend to him at my leisure. She will refuse at first ; she will certainly want to consult some one. Women always do. I shall forbid her to tell Hallett. He would never allow It on a ship he commanded. He couldn't He's the obstinate, honest sort, who would meet death for a prejudice and think he was dying for principle. She will talk to you." "And she'll find me backing yon up very strongly." What was a million dollars compared with the immunity it bought! "I am going to see her now." Clements Clem-ents rose without any appearance of haste. "It may be she will call you In while I am there. You will be Indignant, Indig-nant, angry, threatening, until I point out the strength of my position. Then you will see light." What a damnable situation to be In ! Bettington was a man who detested deceit and now he was committed to the practice of It In order to safeguard safe-guard the woman for whom he cared. ife3 The Girl Was Dressing Hurriedly; She Feared She Was Late. He wondered If he could explain that his actions were dictated solely In the Interests of Mrs. Radway and his friend's daughter. Hallett's unfortunate unfor-tunate enmity, which had infected the wireless operator and Bob, would make any effort to explain the real situation impossible. Hallett would scent a plot, shout loudly enough for some of the crew to hear of his opinions, and Bettington would lose his usefulness. Captain Hallett read the burial services for those who die at sea and Mrs. Radway beheld all that was mortal mor-tal of her tyrant sink Into the green water. All hands were mustered to the last rites and she saw, for the first time, to what men the Albatross was entrusted. There was a ravening raven-ing look about these creatures gathered gath-ered together by the steward; they reminded re-minded her of the crews she had read of as gathered by crimps for service in merchant vessels of another day. She was relieved when the captain dismissed them to their stations. "Mary," she said kindly, "run away and talk to your wireless boy; I want to be alone." She wondered how she would order her life now that there would be none to coerce her. She no longer wanted the care of great houses or the ordering order-ing of splendid entertainments. Of political ambitions she had none left. Mary Unwin should live with her and If she married Crosby Todd she would see that the girl never wanted, as she suspected the parents had. To make people happy: that was the most pleasant pleas-ant task of all. Resolutely she banished ban-ished all thoughts of Bettington from her mind. Later, she hoped, he would call upon her. She needed new friends and the wider outlook they might bring. Her train of thought was broken by Clements. "I want a few minutes' talk with you, madam," he began. She hesitated a little. She was In no mood for business. She supposed it was something to do with the catering. cater-ing. This was a department over which her late husband had exercised his own supervision. "Tomorrow morning," she told him. "I am not feeling very well today." "I fear that will be too late," he answered. an-swered. She had a premonition that what he wanted to say must be of great importance. im-portance. But she did not let him know that his presence had a constricting con-stricting e.Tect upon her as though some malign Influence had fastened upon her heart "What is It?" sr.e asked. Ha looked around him. There were several people od deck. Bob Uowin. V his sister and Crosby were groupod together. Uamner was polishing brasses near the bridge; Hallett was lu the chartroom and a deckhand, named Mike, at the wheel. "I must not run the risk of being Interrupted," he said gravely. "I suggest sug-gest the library, madam, If you will permit it." When she had taken a seat below and had told Clements to sit, she asked him for what reason he needed privacy. pri-vacy. "I have observed you for some time now, Mrs. Radway," he began, "and 1 think you will keep calmer than most women when I tell you what you t must hear." She noticed that he had dropped the use of "madam.". He was no longer the obliging and civil steward. Although Al-though he was courteous, his manner was that of an equal. "What I have to say," he continued, "directly concerns the safety of, among other people, Miss Unwin. I am going to ask you to promise me you will not consult Captain Hallett or his nephew on what I tell you. They are too much prejudiced to be of value." "And if I decline?" He reflected a moment "I am going to rely on your Intelligence Intel-ligence when you have heard my news to do as I advise. Mrs. Radway, you must know that I am not a steward at all. I assumed this grotesque and braided jacket for special reasons. The death of your husband upset my plans." "Then what are you?" she demanded. Clements was glad she did not show fear, although he was sure she experienced ex-perienced It. He knew there was no creature so difficult to deal with as an hysterical woman. "A collector of coins. You might call my hobby by a harder name. At considerable cost I Induced Mr. Radway Rad-way to buy this boat Gathering the crew together was another Item. It was my intention to hold your husband hus-band to ransom for a million dollars." He outlined his plan and the reasons rea-sons for which he believed success would have been certain. But he made no mention of the forger's name. "You horrify me," she cried, "and I am glad your plans have come to naught" But have they?" he returned. "That's just the point I admit 1 feared they had at first. You are his heir, Mrs. Radway, and I shall tax you the same sum. If you agree to pay me the money and swear not to take any legal steps against me, I will engage that the trip back to New York will be swift and free from unpleasantness, un-pleasantness, Hallett will never need to know anything." "I shall not pay you. I will not lend , myself to such an Infamous thing." "Then you will put yourself to a great deal of trouble," he said In an even tone. "Much more trouble than you can Imagine. Let ns take the thing In detail. You Inform Hallett Very well. He will try to Intimidate the crew. He will find himself, If I can save him in time, In Irons. Leary, one of my men, assumes command and we turn again south. We shall coal at the Bahamas." "You will have to give in some time or another. The authorities will look for us." "Oh, no. Miss Unwin will have written writ-ten to her parents, stating that you are remaining away for an indefinite period. The same hand which was to have forged your husband's letters will forge hers. Letters from you will be received by your attorneys In New York to the same effect I have left nothing to chance." "But after a time you will have to give In. You cannot keep us away for ever." "After a time, my dear lady that is, If you wear out my patience you will not want to return to your native land; nor will the girl Mary. Come ... A .7. ...... .1... Jt..S. AJ. JK.J. A A now, you are a woman of the world. Consider the situation ; consider the type of men there are aboard. . . . I observed that during the service just over, you could not help looking at the chief engineer. He is the man with the crooked nose and the eyes like polished jet. There Is a man who is hard to handle. And you may have seen the man called Sam. He Is the broad ape-like creature with the rolling roll-ing walk and enormous face. In his less angry moods he likes the solace of youth." Evelyn Radway put her hands over her burning face. "Stop ! stop I" she cried. Most vividly viv-idly the horrors presented themselves to her which he had but hinted at. They were ravening wolves. She wondered won-dered how many more of them were hidden In the secret places of this horrible vessel to come out like jungle jun-gle animals in the darkness. Little Mary Unwin, who had been allowed to come on the trip because she had promised to take care of her! "I am glad you see what lies In store if you are foolish enough to force my hand. You are helpless. It is fortunate a man of my temperament Is in command." He wondered what sudden thought changed her face. She was looking at him with almost a pleading way. "Is is Doctor Waite one of your men?" "No. What makes you think that? He could see that her relief was enormous. "Cuptain Hallett told me you and he were so much together." She felt ashamed that she had doubted him. She ought to have known that he was one of the dependable loyal men of the stuff true friends are made of. There was one man aboard on whom she could rely for guidance. Clements Clem-ents made the surgeon's position even more reasonable. "My health Is Indifferent and I have needed his care. I suppose you wish to talk this over with him. Warn him that a word to Hallett his nephew or the Unwins, and there will be bloodshed Instantly.- If once fighting begins even 1 can't say when it will cease." He did not try to emphasize matters. mat-ters. He could see that she had made up her mind. She would not let Hallett Hal-lett know. The, matter of the payment pay-ment would be taken up when she was In a more composed frame of mind. The coming interview with Andrew Orme would be of great service serv-ice to him. A million dollars! With his lion's share of it, what might not his next carefully planned coup realize? Most criminals have longed to be able to start anew with the knowledge knowl-edge the years have brought them and freed from those marks of identification identi-fication which the police record so well. Perhaps In all the history of crime there had been no such case as that of the man who called himself by the name of Clements. Not again would be run the risks that he had once taken. With money, he could always al-ways hire men for the rougher work. He roused himself from these pleasing pleas-ing reflections when Mrs. Radway rose to her feet. She was a beautiful woman. There was little to marvel at In the doctor's surrender to her charm. He rather liked the man he thought of as Andrew Orme, and he hoped Andrew Orme liked him. The minor operation of which he had spoken was in reality one of extreme delicacy ; no bungler must attempt It He intended to keep Orme with him permanently. Facial surgery was not old enough for anyone to state with certainty how well it would last. "I think I should like to see Doctor Waite," Mrs. Radway said. "I will send him in, but caution yon not to lot hlra try sny violence with me or endeavor to make Hallett an ally. If he disobeys your warning he may be dooming you to a worse danger dan-ger than he knows." Bettington was in his room. "Mrs. Radway wants you. Everything Every-thing has turned out as I wished. She will warn you not to be violent to me; she thinks you are her only friend. It ' will not be difficult ; already al-ready she believes in you. You have no prejudices to overcome." (TO BE CONTINUED) . AA 4. A4. A VA AAA . AA A 4 AA A |