u
COATDAMND”
A Romance of the, Aorih Aiianhc
r>y RANDALL PAPPI5H
AUTHOR oj HY LAOY o/ HORTH.' TIA.'P ojthe FOffF^T " ETC.
ac ffc a i/x > co
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I—Robert Hollla, one-time
pe;i captain, who tells the story, is a
guest on Gerald Carrington's yacht Es
meralda. It Is supposed to be a "stag”
party and Hollis is surprised on discover
ing a woman, who evidently wishes to re
suujn unknown, aboard.
CHAPTER II—Hollis, the next night,
succeeds in having an interview with the
woman. She merely tells him her name
Is Vera.
CHAPTER III—Carrington teil3 Ida
guests of tlie coming war, and that lie
Is engineering a copper pool.
CHAPTER IV The ya^ht Is sunk in a
collision and Hollis saves McCann, mil
lionaire, and one of the party.
CHAPTER V- Hollis and McCann res
cue Vera and leave the ship in a small
boat.
CHAPTER \I Hollis and Vera become
friendly, though he Is unaware of her
Identity.
CHAPTER VII—McCann refuses to sub
mit to Hollis' authority, und the latter
enforces it.
CHAPTER VIII—The castawavs are
Sighted by a ship, the Indian Chief, which
takes them aboard.
CHAPTER IX—Tile Indian Chief has
recently been struck by lightning and is
almost a wreck. All the officers are dead.
Hollis meets the owner, who tells i im
the vessel lias a cargo of ammunition,
consigned to the German government.
CHAPTER X—Hollis consents to take
charge of ship and continue voyage. Vera
recognizes an old friend in Robert
Bascom, owner of the Indian Chi. f.
Bascom and McCann are deadly tne
mies.
» nrtr TfiR XI Hissatlsfactlon aniong
the crew quickly develops, and Hollis
selects his officers.
CHAPTER XIT McCann wants to retu
to New York, and tries to corrupt crew.
CHAPTER XIII--Hollis finds himself
forced to confine McCann to a cabin.
CHAPTER XIV Vera and Hollis agree
that for Bast om's sake the ship must he
taken to its destination. Hollis l-arns that
v era is Gerald Carrington’s daugnter.
CIIAPTKR XV- The erew, rea?1»tri^
Cancer of capture by allied warships,
•vlnce disinclination to continue voyage.
CHAPTER XVI—Leaders of the crew
disarm Hollis anti make him a pu.air.er.
"I do; urnl I know more of sea law
than any of those fools who are .steer
lag you into this trouble. You kill
McCann growled something which I
took to be assent, and I was myself
so anxious to ascertain our exact posi
tion as to,have no desire for further
argument. I could be of no possible
value locked a prisoner In that state- I
room; no protection t<> her. Indeed, If
I refused to navigate the vessel, leav
ing the ship to drift blindly through j
these unknown waters, exposed con
stantly to peril, I would be guilty of
a failure to do my duty almost as
great as the crime of these others. On
deck, knowing where we were and the ;
direction in which we were going, the
opportunity might arise for the accom- j
pllshment of much. I grasped the nec
essary instruments from the swinging
shelf, and, with these in my hands,
turned toward the door.
“Come on, then.” I said, ignoring the
fact that I was any longer a prisoner.
‘‘Bring the chart, one of you, and I'll !
point out where we are to you on
deck.”
‘‘.lust hold on a minute,” and Liver
pool, blocking the doorway, pushed me
back with his huge hand. “We’re the
bosses, not you. Lit it out o’ your head
right now, mister, that yer the captain
of tills ship Indian Chief. Blast yer 1
ye ain't nothin’; an’ if yer attempt to
play us any dirty tricks. I’ll smash
yer the same as I would a fly. Ain’t
that right, Mr. McCann?"
“Oh, Hollis understands. Red. lie
knows we’ve gone too far in this game
to take any chances. Let him pass.”
“Well,” growled the giant, stepping
nslde, “L just wanted him ter know. 1
don’t kill nobody’ in cold blood; but I'm
goln’ ter take keer of myself an’ my
mates. Yer git toe, skipper?"
“Yes. I get you,” I answered a bit
wearily. “So let it go at that, my man;
1 know the time to light, and the time
to keep quiet. Now let’s go on deck.”
CHAPTER XVIII.
A Compromise ar.d an Interruption.
Except for the absence of the regu
lar officers from their stations, I should
not have known any especial change
had taken place on board the ship.
Outwardly everything appeared about
ns usual as I emerged behind Liver
pool, with McCann trailing behind. The
latter paused to Insert the key into the
lock of the door, and I Indulged in one
swift glance about the apartment.
“Bnseora occur! ' : his own state
room ?”
Liverpool r. !od ungraciously
enough.
“And Miss ■ lug ton retains hers?”
“We are i ; 1 ere to be interviewed,
Hollis." brok "I Onnn sharply. “Go
along on <ie< • and keep your tongue
to yourself.”
Realizing that silence was my best
wot* on, I made no response, hut
climbed the stairs. The decks were
clean—had evidently been scrubbed
that morning, and nowhere could I
perceive any signs that the ship was
in the hands of mutineers. Liverpool
gripped my shoulder.
“Up the ladder with you,” he or
dered. ‘There's too little time left for
gaping about here.”
There were two men at the wheel,
although one could have attended to
the service^ as the. shin was at halt
spend, and Ihe sen fur "from heavy, T
recognized hoili faves, Put couldn't re
f,|dl their nuiftes; the shorter fellow,
deeply pitted, exhibited a fresh Se:ir
where I liad struck him with my hoot
heel the night before. He grinned good
naturedly, and pointed to the bruised
Hesh, as I caught Ids eye. White was
evidently the temporary officer in
| charge, and the brutality of ids face
"as clearly revealed in the bright light
ns he leaned against the rail. How
ever, J had scarcely time to more than
glance about, as the sun was already
at the zenith. The others stood around
silent, watching as I figured out out
position on the back of an old enve
lope. i took rny time at it, not only
ft out my own anxiety to be accurate,
hut also becnffse of oilier thoughts in
my mind, yet the calculation was com
pleted at last, and I lifted my eyes
to McCann’s gaze.
“Well?” he said.
I gave him the figures.
“You are sure this is correct?”
“As sure as I can lie; the chronom
eter hasn’t been corrected since the
ship left Baltimore; except for jios
silile variations on that account, the
figures are right. Spread out the chart,
and I’ll show- you where we are within
ten miles. When did you furl the
sails r
“After we started up the engines
again; while we had all hands on
deck."
“Well,” I announced, after a mo
ment of measuring, “that would tally
pretty close with the figuring. Our
present position is just about here,
where I put the red cross.”
McCann took the compasses from my
hand, and began to measure distances.
“Two hundred and ten miles to the
northern extremity of Newfoundland—
is that it?”
“A trifle more, I should say.”
“This is St. Johns here; what south
ing does that give?”
“Over two hundred.”
He studied the map a few moments
\ longer, the three men talking eurnest
I ly while I left them, and walked over
to the starboard rail. It was of no
particular Interest to me where they
decided to go—the one port meant the
same to me as another. McCann got
up, rolling the chart in his hand.
“There Is no use, then,” he called, !
“of our going farther north?”
I turned and faced him.
“Not If your port is St. Johns; the
course would he sou’-sou’west. Is
there anything more wanted of me at
present?”
McCann turned nnd spoke to the
others, both answering him In low
tones.
“No,” he said stiffly. “We will send
for you If y(j*i are needed ngain on
deck.”
“I am expected to keep below?”
“Below, and to your stateroom. If
you attempt to converse with any of
the crew, you will be locked in.”
I passed them without a word, and
clambered down the ladder to the main
deck, aware of the grinning faces of
the men at the wheel. Humiliating as
the situation was, this was no time for
resistance, or the exhibiting of a spirit,
of revolt. White crossed over to the
rail and watched until I vanished with
in the companion. I realised his pres
ence without so much as glancing up.
There came to me, as I paused at the
foot of the stairs, a sudden eagerness
to speak to Vera, to explain to her the
situation, and bring to her a word of
comfort. I crossed over hastily and
rapped at her stateroom door. I felt
The Key Turned and She Stood Fac
ing Me.
sure there was a movement within, ■
lull no response. With lips close to
the wood, I spoke.”
"Miss Vera.”
“Who is it?"
“Hollis; may I have a word?”
The key turned, and she stood facing
me, her eyes tilled with startled wel
come.
“Why—I thought; they told mi—oh!
I a in so glad!”
“They told you what?”
^“Why, nothing' direct. Hut there was
lighting hist night. I—I heard the
Struggle on deck. and then here in the
cabin; and when 1 started to leave
nt.v mum I eneountered McCann and
seme nt i he erew. They were dragging
Leayord down the stairs, and his face
j was all blood.”
“You were not injured?”
I “No; the big man with the red hair
threatened me. but Met'ami interfered,
and thrust me hack into the stateroom.
I lie told me to lock the door, and not
to make any noise. I—I thought they
, had killed you.”
! "Well, they tried hard enough, hut,
as you see, I am very much alive still,
i Thej trapped me in the forecastle.
I'o you know what has become of the
• o; hers?”
She shook her head.
"What I've told is all I know. Those
, villains have control of the ship?"
I related the story to her swiftly,
j concealing nothing. At the last she
asked:
“That Is all? You know no more?”
“No.”
“Then the others must be alive, and
; nr> hoard. Surely you would have
heard if any had been killed?”
“1 believe so; they would not kill if
possible to avoid it. as such a crime
would render their own case more des
perate.”
"What—what are you going to do?”
“I rankly. Miss Vera. I do not know,”
1 confessed. “1 have had no time to
I think, and my head still throbs so from
i blows that I hardly realize the situa
[ ti°n. I cannot hope to fight these men
alone, and there can he no Immediate
| danger — tfle.v are sailing the ship
j toward St. Johns.”
“You believe they will take to the
boats, and leave us aboard?”
“That would he their only safe
: course. They would never dare sail
the Indian Chief into that, or any
other harbor. They must land as ship
wrecked seamen, tell their story, and
then quickly disappear.”
“I—I know that—hut—but will they
dare to leave us afloat, to be picked up
by some vessel ?”
1 hesitated, but her eyes compelled
an answer.
“I do not know,” I said soberly. “It
hardly seems possible they can eontem- j
plate such an act of villainy as the .
scuttling of the ship, and leaving us on 1
hoard to drown like rats. That would j
he too horrid a crime for this age. j
White and Liverpool might be brutal !
enough, but surely not Fergus Me- i
Cann.”
“Why not Fergus McCann?”
“His education, his former life, the
civilization in which he has been
reared; he has lived among gentle
men.”
Gentlemen J” she echoed rhe word
In scorn. “Ills associates have been
principally gamblers and rounders. He
is notorious iu New York, and his
money alone gives him entrance to de
cent circles. He doesn't know what
the word gentleman means. If there
Is treachery behind this, it will be the
I'lan of Fergus McCann.”
“You know him better than I.”
“I know of him longer; I have heard
more tales, yet surely you saw what
lie was in the boat?”
“Yon believe, then, the Intention is
to scuttle the vessel?”
“Yes. I do.”
“And leave us helpless on board?”
“Yes, Mr. Hollis.”
1 drew a deep breath, at this direct
verification of my own secret suspi
cion.
“So do I,” I returned in a whisper,
"although I had no tiiought of teiling
you.”
“You have some plan, then? You
have considered what to do?”
“No; hardly that. There will be two
days, at least, before we shall be close
enough to the coast for them to take
to the boats. Much may happen with
in that time; we may be spoken by
some other vessel, even overhauled by
a warship, and manned by a prize
crew.”
“You hope for this?”
St. Johns is a naval base; the
closer we approach the harbor the
more apt we are to encounter a Brtt
ish cruiser.”
Her fingers grasped my sleeve.
1 »ut, Mr. Hollis, if all these hopes
fail, and there should he no rescue, Is
there not something we cun do? Must
<ve remain here helpless, just waiting
for death to come?”
I took the little hands in mine ten
derly, and, with an effort, controlled
my voice.
“Perhaps so, but we cannot be too
cautious. Our only chance is to retain
our freedom, and arouse no suspicion
'hat we are plotting together. Can you
learn where the others are confined,
and get the word to me?”
“Yes,” she said. “I—I think T can."
W hat is it you think you can do.
Miss Carrington?” said a voice quietly.
McCann stood in tlie open passage
way lending to the steward’s pantry,
less than fifteen feet distant, a satiri
cal smile on his lips, as lie observed
our familiar position. How long he
had been there, and what portion of
our conversation he had overheard, I
had no means of knowing, and for the
instant 1 stood speechless, my brain
a blank. Not so with Vera. With a
laugh, ringing out as naturally as
though in full appreciation of some
sudden gleam of humor, she withdrew
her hands from mine, turned and faced
him. executing a mocking curtsey.
“Hardly fair. Mr. McCann,” she said, 1
“to steal upon us like that.”
“Perhaps not,” he answered grimly,
“Imt just now I am privileged to do
as I please on board tills ship. Answer
my question—whut is it you think you
cun do?"
“Perhaps an answer will be embar
rassing.’’
“Stop the play-acting." he burst
forth, advancing about the stair rail.
“What were you talking about? I want
a dtroct answer?”
The girl's long lashes shaded her
eyes, hut there was not the slightest
falter to her voice.
I “Captain Hollis,” she said softly, al
most regretfully, “had asked me if—if
| • thought I could learn to—to like hint,
and 1 said 1- 1 thought I could. That—
that Wits nil.”
McCann stared at the innocent,
downcast face as though he half be
lieved the words her lips uttered were
deliberate lies; then lie laughed mirth
lessly.
"I see." lie said with sarcasm. “No
misfortune along other linos is suffi
cient to interrupt Mr. Hull,s' love-tnak
,ng. My congratulations, cup!.in. on
f veil this measure of success.”
The hot blood Hushed my face, not
so natch at the words as the tone with
which they were uttered. They con
veyed to me a deliberate insult, tin
ding with a memory of the purpose
he charged me with during our last
liter view. He had not quite uuder
i stood me before, but now he felt con
vinced that under all the veneer I was
tis kind: and he instantly felt thm
1 le knew just how to deal with my case.
I “Your congratulations are appreei
| '.ted for what they are worth,” 1 an
! swered, unable to wholly restrain my
;e!f. “Eut we will let the dis ussion
1 end here.”
"Oh, will we? Well, perhaps you
will recall t tat circumstances have
changed since our hist talk. You are
uo longer captain of this ship—I am;
uid T will say what I please on board.
The first thing I propose doing Is to
tell Miss Carrington who and what
you are.”
Her eyes flashed over my face, then
sought his.
“Do 1 understand,” she asked clearly,
“that I have been before a topic of
conversation between you? What was
the occasion?”
McCann laughed, not in the least
embarrassed, and evidently convinced
that his position was sufficiently
strong to give him a clear advantage.
“Hollis’ natural modesty prevents
his answering, but as a disinterested
party, I will take upon myself to ex
plain. The truth is I comprehended
“You Dog of a Liar!"
from the first the real object of this
fellow in seeking your friendship. 1
even compelled lilm to acknowledge
ihat your father’s money was the main
attraction.”
I stepped forward, unable longer to
restrain the action.
“You dog of a llur!” I snhl fiercely.
"I know you are armed, but—”
"Wait, Captain Hollis,” and her fin
gers caught my arm. “This matter In
volves me, and I wish to hear the facts.
Go on, please.”
McCann grinned into my face, but
kept one baud behind him, gripi lug his
revolver.
"There Is not much to tell,” he went
on, almost jauntily. “I saw exactly
how things were going before we left
the boat. I knew Hollis’ reputation
ashore, and determined to warn you of
Jiis purpose, but had no opportunity.
Besides, 1 felt you hud so poor an opin
ion of me that probably you would uot
listeu.”
“You were greatly mistaken, Mr. Mc
Cann,” she said pleasantly. "I would
have gladly received your advice. You
were my father's friend.”
I could read the man’s surprise in
ills face. The graciousness of her
words was a shock, yet his egotism
made him instantly her victim.
‘Wou mean you trusted me? That
you would have listened?”
“Most assuredly. How could you
think otherwise? I knew you were not
yourself in the boat, and the treat
ment to which you were subjected was
brutal. I owett'my life to you equally
■with Captain Hollis, and am very
grateful. 1 have never forgotten that
you have been a guest iu our home,
a business associate of my father’s.
Why should 1 uot have confidence in
you?”
I looked at her in amazement, but
her eyes never met itdne. What did
this mean? Was the girl acting a part?
Was she endeavoring to deceive him,
or was she speaking now in deadly ear
nest? Nothing in her manner, or in
the tone of her voice, gave me a clue.
As for McCann, the very expression of
his face plctuVed his delight, Ids con
viction of her sincerity. It was almost
too good to be true, yet his was not a
nature to doubt his own attractiveness.
“I—i—y„u surprise me,” he stam
mered, absolutely forgetting my pres
ence. “I—I assure you I was actuated
by the highest motives in all my ef
forts. My—my duty was to you, and
your father.”
He turned and faced me, the bully
ip him. surging to the sijrfacew ,
“I will converse with Miss Currlng
ton alone.”
To resist would have been utter fool
ishness. I could see the gleam of the
gun in his hand, and realized that
he only required an excuse to use it.
More, there was nothing in the expres
sion of the girl's face to inspire me to
resistance. She did not even glance
toward me, or exhibit the slightest in
terest.
With hands clenched in impotent
rage, not even venturing a reply, I
stepped backward. As 1 crossed the I
threshold McCann closed the door, and
I heard the key turn in the lock.
Trembling still with auger, and dazed
by the strange action of the girl, I
sank back upon the stool, realizing my
utter helplessness. All she had done
and said appeared so natural it never
really occurred to me ouce that she
might be acting a part, seeking in this
way to gain McCann’s confidence, in
order to win front him the information
we required. It was only as I sat there
hi silence, brooding over every detail,
that titis possible conception began to
slowly dawn upon my mind. That she
could (rust ilio man 11» any wav mi®
|>ra< ticully impossible, f»>r he hinl re
vealed to her his true character in so
many ways the memory could not he
hint red out.
As the full knowledge of this truth
grew apparent, I was able to view all
that had occurred Inter in n different
light. She hud simply accepted her
one chance; had grasped with womanly
intuition the single weapon left at
her command. Girl as she was hi
.tears, her experience in the world had ,
heeii dial of a woman, and she instinc- j
lively realized her power—the power
of wealth, of beauty, and of youth. It
had been beautifully done, so deftly
accomplished as to deceive even me. |
Aye! ami the method had succeeded |
with Met'aitn. 1 recalled the expres- |
sion of snrirlse, of gratification, of |
a wakened pride on the tnanVfuee. He
had no power of resistance left ; he
was already putty In her hands.
Trite, hut would he remain so? The
game she played was a dangerous one;
if she ventured too far she would ills
cover the brute lurking in hint still.
And he had the power, the physical
power, to wreak vengeance once In*
sitsph loncd deceit. And there was no
one to help her If she made a single
false step—absolutely no one; she was
a lamb among wolves. Those fellows
would never release me again, not for
a moment. I would he compelled to
take observations, to calculate posi
tion, to trace our sailing course on the
chart, hut not for art instnni would 1
he left again unguarded, either on
•leek or In the cabin. McCann would
see to that.
The afternoon passed, dragging its
weary hours. Nothing happened to re
lieve the monotony and dread of soli
tude. No one approached the door of
the stateroom, not even to offer me
food, and my ears were able to dis
tinguish no sound of movement in the
main cabin. Occasionally footsteps
passed along the deek overhead, and
once or twice I heard the voice of Liv
erpool sing out some order to the men
forward. The sun sank, its rays glint
ing across the waters, and telling me
the ship held to Us southwest course,
but the oceapj so far as 4 could se§.
remained desolate, the hurt sob unbro
ken by a glenm of sail, or smudge of
smoke. No echo of a cry reacned me
from any lookout aloft. The vessel
proceeded quietly, no effort being
made, apparently, to achieve speed. I
l judged our rate would not exceed eight
i knots, and decided there was either
a scarcity of men in the stokehole, or
else they were conserving fuel to at
tain greater speed during the hours
of darkness. The bright sunlight be
gan to fade into a purple dusk.
(Continued Next Week.*
No. 10060.
REPORT OF THE CONDITION
of the
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF HITTI6
At Huttig, in the State of Arkansas,' at
the Close of Business Nov.
20th, 1917.
RESOURCES. .
Loans and Discounts .... $ 73,786.98
U. S. Bonds deposited to secure circu
lation (par value) . 6,250.00
Securities other than U. S. bonds, (not
eluding stocks) owned unpledged . 2.585.2S
Stock ot Federal Reserve Bank (50 per
cent of subscription) . 850 00
aiue cf L citing Hoo'e 2.400.00
urniture and Fixtures . 1,700.00
eai estate ownee other than banking
house . 361.50
awful reserve with Federal Reserve
Bank . 12,718.31
ash in vault and net amounts due
from national banits . 62,779 25
Total of Item1 4,15,
16. 17 and 1> 562.“’9.25
.hecks on banks located o tsid of cuy
or town reporting oan* an. othe
cash items .... 1,350 40
Redemption fund with L
and dje from U. S. T.ea..ure h i 2 50
Total
I_l ABIL.IT IE
5165,094.19
25,000.00
3,600 00
Capital Stock, Paid in $
Surplus Fund
Undivided’Profits $3,790.15
Less current expenses.
interest and taxes paid 2,b79 07 1,111.06
Circulating notes outstanding 6,250 00
Demand Deposits:
Individual Deposit; subject to check £6,366 42
Certificates of deposit due tn I ss than
30 days (other i an borrower money) 1.334.00
Cashier's Checks outstandin, 1,061 47
Total Demand Deposits® 1 £8.761.89
Certificates of Deposit 353 00
Total time deposits ... $35h oO
Liabilities other than those abate siaiau 16.24
Total *16. ,0:4.19
■'tale ol Arkansas, County of Union, ss:
1, C. T. Thompson, .a.hier oi the abovt-ncmed
oank do solemnly swear that the above statement
hue o the best of my knowbage and belief.
C. T. THOMPSON, Cashier.
correct—Attest:
F. W. SCOTT. j .
C. A. BEROY.
T. B. WEAVER, '♦«
Directors.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2Bth day
of November. 1917.
E. R. FORD. Notary Public,
RECAPITULATION.
RESOURCES.
Loans and Discounts ...$
Cverdralts .
U. S Bonds to secure circulation ..
Bonds, Securities, etc
Siock in Federal Reserve Bank
Banking House and Fixtures .
e ther teal estate owned..
Cash and Exchange
Redemption Fund » .
73,786 98
NONE
6.250.00
2,585.25
850,00
4.100.00
361 50
76.B77.96
312 60
Total *ib5;09ri.lS
•UABILIT’ES r
Capital Stock paid in $ 25.000.00
Surplus fund and undivided profits . 4,7 11.06
Circulation. 6.250.00
Deposits . 129.114 89
Other Liabilities. 18.24
Total. . $165,094.19
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She never disappoints us because
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Try it.
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HIGHEST?"41^
AWARDS