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PAGE FOUR -- The DEVIL'S MANTLE: 'The Mghts had been tuymed on | in Captain Stone's cabin bepeath the bridge of the Isis, and a group three men, ting of Hum- Garth, Rand, and the yacht's commander, their hands lashed behind their packs, stood herded ere the door closed upon them. mphrey Garth's eyes were hard, his jaws were clamped together, but there was a white agony on his face, and his shoplders droop- od like those of an old man grown weary and spent. Captain Stone's face, on the contrary, was ved, almost apoplectic in his rage end fury. Herman Rand, the oth- er one of the three, was the only one who spoke, he swore low, bit- terly, constantly, his voice flat, without inflection, menacing. From fore and aft slong the ks of the Isis came continuous- bo the sound of high-pitched voices, calling out shrilly one to another the patter of quick, mov- ing feet and the bufp and elatter of objects being moved, as very THE OSHAWA DAILY. TIMES, WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1978 - er ---- obviously, the process ' of looting went on, Suddenly the door of the cabin was flung open, and a fourth man was pelled so violently through the doorway that he pitched to his face on the floor, It was the little red-haired skipper, his trade battered and bleeding, his hands, like those of the others, lashed behind him. The door closed again, Captain Josephus Mumm lay there for a moment blinking In the light, his breath coming in short, hard gasps. "Sorry we can't help you up," said Rand with a mirthless laugh; "but we're in the same case as yourself. You appear 'to have been a bit less fortunate than we were, however -- for we seem to have escaped some of thelr pleas- ant little attentions! Where have you been?" Captain Josephus Mumm sat up, and blinked around him again, He was not at all in a happy frame of mind, He had actea on Peter's - = Financing the Farmer Whether you seek a loan, safety for your funds, or any other banking ser- vice, we invite you to call and consule us. We are glad to discuss and consider all matters in which our experience may value, Jet financial of Oshawa Branch T. W. JOYCE, Manager By Frank L. Packard (Copyright by Public Ledger) advice--and he was not at all sure but that he regretted it now with all the turbulent, fighting soul of him. impulse, when he had come on deck after leaving Peter and a rush had been made at him, had been to empty his revover in- to his assailants, and take what toll he coud before they finished him; but, instead, because of Pe ter's advice, he had, apart from a resort to his fists, allowed his com- bative impulse to carry him no further, "What Rand. The little red-haired man got to his feet now and for the third time blinked around the circle. None of these three men was a friend of Peter, and he would not have trusted one of them for & second with the knowledge of Peter's escape and present where- abouts -- to say nothing of his, Captain Josephus Mumm's, own participation in the affair, Nor was theve any valid reason why he should! It wouldn't relieve Humphrey Garth's feeling any, for instance, to know that Peter was on board the marauding brig with Marion -- Peter, - in Humphrey Garth's eyes, was a murderer of the most abandoned type, and ev- en a degree lower if that were pos- sible, than the crew from the brig itself ito whose hands his daugh- ter had fallen. "What happened!" echoed Cap- tain Josephus Mumm savagely, "Well, I'll tell you! "I got knocked pretty near through the companionway ens trance when that fight was going on over Miss Garth, and none of the swine seemed to have noticed me. I thought I saw a chance to slip below an get a revolver--and that's what I did."" The little red haired man paused, and molisten- er his bruised lips. "And then?" Rand asked, 'Blast 'em--they took it away from me!" gnarled Captain Jose- phus Mumm, "I didn't know thety were watching, That's all!" Humphrey Garth slumped sud- denly down in a chair, "What are we going to do?" he cried out in hollow, shaken tones, "My God, what are we going to do? ""Marion- We must do some~ thing!" The little group with one accord glanced at the man ~-- and each looked quickly away again, No one answered him. Presently the door opened once more, Lahat Khan as dapper and trim as ever in his steward's uniform, happened?" prompted Sensational TRADE-IN Watch Sale ends soon/ BULOVA now! our If you are ashamed of your old watch--don't lay it away in your dresser drawer or strong box! Bring it to us and we will give you A Liberal Allowance on Your Old Watch During the past few days we have traded in over 300 old fashioned timepieces for exquisitely designed fashionable BULOVA WATCHES, See the big pile of old watches in our windows, It tells what a wonderful suc» cess this sale has been, REMEMBER! During this sale your old watch is worth real money -- and it ° h i no how old or badly broken it is, This sale won't last indefinitely. Act promptly if you want to wear one of these new BULOVA W ATCHES--unexcelled for reliability and beauty of workmanship, PATRICIA--This beautifull big EE Fre gi pr pr LITA" ______ white gol engra movement Ed) ARTAN --A highly parE 4 Aled ed case. 82075 r model $2475 MEN! To be prosperous you must look prosperous. Wear one of these handsome BurLova Strap Watches. You will always be proud of it, 3 We have in stock a com- i Burova Watches for ladies and gentlemen. All styles and shapes-- from $25.00 to $2500.00 - er BASSETT'S ON OSHAWA'S MAIN CORNER a '| month--perhsps more! stood in the doorway, He was smiling softly, as he bowed pro- foundly to the occupants of the cabin, we Rand took am abrupt step fo ward. "Ab--you!" he exclaimed gruf- fly,"l bad an impression that ev- erybody else on board, except our- selves here, had been made pris- oners below decks somewhere you however, appear to be still functioning, and from that damn- ed smile on your face quite at your ly What's the meaning of t " a Rand" 'sald Lahat Khan, Humphrey Garth from hia chair: ; "First of all come in here and untie these lashings on our wrists!" he ordered sharply. Lahat Khan shook his head. "Sir, I regret so much!" he said bladly., "In a little while, per- haps, if Mr, Garth and his friends are wise, they will be set free. Those are the words of Tajal Al, who is the chief of those who have come aboard the Isls, ana who has come now to talk to yom See--he is here!" He st a aside from the doorway, and a tall figure, awarthy of face, in white, well-fitting European dress, came forward into the cabin. "Gentle- men," announced Lahat Xhan smoothly, as he closed the cabin door again, and took his place be- side the newcomer, "this is Tajal AN" mA Tajal AN Humphrey Garth, tugging sud- denly and furiously at his bonds, made a menacing movement for- ward as he instantly recognized the man as the one who a little while ago, out on deck there, had given orders to have Marion car- ried aboard the brig. A revolver appeared All's hand, 'Mr, Garth," he said sharply and in fluent English, "that sort of thing will do you no good what- ever, Your hands are tied in more ways than one, I have only to raise my voice and my men who are waiting outside that door will come in; or, if necessary, I could, of course, shoot you myself where you stand," Humphrey Garth stood still, Rage, grief, fury, a mad anxiety possessed him. His brain, chaotie as it was, warned him of the fu- tility of any act that would preci- pitate violence; but the soul of him seemed to desire one thing alone--to come to physical grips with this sea-thief and cut-throat in whose power Marion now was. "I'd give all that I'm worth," said Humphrey Garth, hoarsely, 'to get my two hands around your throat." Tajal Ali shrugged his shoul- ders, and replaced the revolver in his pocket. "You will have an opportunity of giving & considerable portion of what you are worth, Mr, Garth," be said evenly, 'without resorting to such extreme measures, In fact, to come directly to the point, that is what I want--two hundred thou- sand pounds in return for your daughter," Humphrey Garth stared at the other's face, He was conscious of high cheek bones, of eyes that glit- tered brightly through narrow slits of a sort of phlegmatic cruelty ex- pressed in every feature of bestial- ity in the curve of the lips and the distended nostrils--and it was as though something cold and death- like had clutched suddenly at his heart, as Marion in all her fresb young beauty rose up in agonizing contrast before his eyes. "My word--damme!"' The ex- clamation came fiercely from the little red-haired skipper. No one else spoke, Humphrey Garth stared around him. Rand and Captain Stone, both with set faces and angry eves, bad seated themselves on the edge of the latter's settee. Captain Jose- phus Mumm, leaning against the wall, was scowling ferociously. Garth's eyes came back to fix on Tajal Ali's face, He was dimly aware that some faculty within him was striving to assert itself-- not a bargaining faculty----if neces- sary he would give his all where Marion was concerned at any time. This man asked for money for Mar- fon--he was not absolutely sure that he had caught correctly even the amount demanded---that wasn't it. Oh, yes, he knew now: It was the training of a lifetime asserting itself, The business details! "In gold," sald Tajal Ali with 2 faint smile. "Gold!" Rand's voice came from the setee in a savage, contemptuous laugh. "What do you think this is ~--=2 traveling mint?" "I think it will be-- to the ex- tent of two hundred thousand when you return," sajd Tajsl Ali cooly, The Bargain "What do you mean?" demanded Humphrey Garth, "Do you mean that I am to go back to Sydney, or somewhere else, gather together that sum in gold and bring it here to you?" "To wherever you are instructed to bring it," amended Tajal Al ecurtly. "I mean just thet." "But -- but meanwhile -- my daughter?" Garth burst out. "What about my daughter?" "She will remain"'--again Tajal Alf shrugged his shoulders--*in my very good care until you re- turn." 7 ) Behind bis back Humphey Garth twisted at bis lashed wrists, twist ed at them until the cords cut into the flesh, A week--iwo weeks--a Marion in this beast's power! A sweat bead oozed out upon his forehead. He lunged wp in Tajal agree to pay you the sum you k for," he said steadily, "your are wholly unnecessary. It is quite true there is mo such amount, or any amount evep faint- ly approximating it, aboard this vessel, but my name and word are good for it in any financlal center, and" "It is because I am ]erfectly well aware of that," interrupted Tajal AH with a short laugh, "that my little brig out there is alongside your yacht tonight; it is precisely because Mr. Humphrey Garth is 'good' for two hundred tlousand pounds that your movements have been watched from the hour you sailed from Sydney. "Did you imagine it was merely chance that brought you to the 'rescue' of a ship in distress this evening?" "Watched!" 1t was Captain Stone, the yacht's commander, who spoke now. He jumped to his feet and took a step forward toward Tajal'All, his head outthrust bellig- erently from between hunched shoulders. "I don't understand this! Do you mean to say you knew beforehand what this ship's posi- tion would be at any given hour this evening?" Tajal All turned to Lahat Khan. "Sing for them, Lahat Khan, my friend, with that sweet voice of yours," he smiled; "but sing this time in English so that they may understand." The Singing Steward! And then Lahat Khan laughed--- and began to sing, The words were grotesque, but under the spell of the man's wonderful tenor voice they rolled out musically, rising and falling softly and in perfect ca- dence through the cabin; and the words he sang were those that had been posted on the little. green baize notice board at the head of the main companionway at noon that day--the yacht's latitude and longitude her run in knots for the previous twenty-four hours, the hat Khan laughed again. The four men stood *for a mo- ment as though spellbound, staring at Lahat Khan, "The singing steward!" the little red-haired rkipper, "Aye!" said Captain Stone. "Aye!" His voice choked; and then with a sudden rush of fury: "You --you sneaking, rat-eyed little devil, you've been broadcasting my ship's position from the lounge, have you? That's what you've been up to in there with, your damned duster and your smirking face! Well, I'll wipe the smirk off it for- ever if ever I get free of this and have the blessed luck to lay my hands on you again!" "Captain Stone is very angry," murmurcd Lahat Khan; "but he will not do what he says, though I shall still be on this ship with him for many days." --~ "What do ypu mean by that?" snapped Captain Stone, "That you will he under his or- ders," interposed Tajal Ali sharply; "or you and this ship together will be under--" He jerked his thumb expressively downward. Humphrey Garth slumped again into the chair he had previously occupied. "Let's get to the bottom of this," he said thickly. "You imply that Lahat Khan came aboard here for the express purpose of keeping you informed of the yacht's position each day, and that from the mo- ment we left Sydney you were planning to trick us ad you did to- night?" "Exactly," said Tajal Ali, a half- mocking, half-menacing note in his voice. 'And there was very little trouble about it, We heard that Mr, Garth, the millionaire, whose fam- ous yacht possessed even a broad- casting set, was about to make a gasped Resident Manager: A.L. HUDSON & Co, z MEMBERS : NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGH CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE WINNIPEG GRAIN EXCHANGE STANDARD STOCK and MINING EXCHAN NEW YORK PRODUCE EXCHANGE (Am'te), NEW YORK CURB MARKET (Ass'te) Oshawa Office Times Dullding Tele phone 2700. C. N. HENRY rA---- trip to the islands, accompanied by his daughter, We needed only to put somebody else in the place of a certain steward, It was not difficult The steward---what was his name? --Robherts?---- was offered a posi- tion he could not refuse, And I think you will admit, Mr. Garth, that the references and cre dentials presented by Lahat Khan would insure any applicant the sit- uation, Your broadcasting set took care of the rest." Marion--As Security "And how," said Humphrey iarth in a strained voice, "you want 200,000 pounds for my daugh- ter." "Bring my daughter back on board here at once and I'll give you 200,000 pounds now," he said, Th give you my check for it, and while, of course, I have not actually got that amount on deposit, I will wireless my bankers to meet the check--or I'll sign anything else you like in the way of security," Tajal Ali smiled tolerantly, "I prefer your daughter----as security," he said. "I am not inter. ested in checks, or agreements, or 'bonds, or papers of any sort--not even bank-notes, Such things have been known to have been traced. We will deal in gold, Mr, Garthe and in nothing but gold, And you will not see your daughter again until the full amount has heen de- livered to me." 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